Looking at upgrading from Windows to Linux Server for Primary and Media Servers

[dhatfield]

Hi Guys,

Our business has some Primary/Media Servers running Netbackup 10.2.01 and they are on Windows Server 2016.

We are looking at upgrading and as I understand it, there are extra feature available in Linux than there are in Windows environments. Is this the case?

Also, are RHEL and SUSE the only support OS environments that you can install Netbackup Server?

[StefanosM]

You are right. In the old days, netbackup was the same no matter where you put it.
With the last versions Linux is the way to go, if you need all netbackup futures.

You can use the server migration tool to move netbackup from windows to linux
https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/downloads/update.UPD162444Read all the documents carefully, as there are some backup futures that are not supported.

[davidmoline]

Hi @dhatfield 

As @StefanosM  says the server migrator tool is the way to go (and with the latest version now supports source primary servers up to 10.3.0.1). As long as the primary server is just that (and doesn't have any disk storage attached) you may as well leave it on Windows (there would be little to gain from moving to Linux from a feature standpoint). The decision here may be best made by what OS your team can support best.

For your media servers there is no sensible way to migrate from Windows to Linux (as is available for the primary), the best option is to build a new one and either duplicate backups on disk from the old to new, or just let the old backups on your windows media servers expire (or a combination of both if you have some long retention backups). As indicated, there are more feature available with Linux (in particular MSDP-C).

For operating system support for master and media servers, you really only have the choice of RHEL or SUSE, Centos (version 7 can be used for master/media but this is an old OS). Oracle Linux can be used for media servers - but technically this doesn't allow MSDP-C to be used. The best bet is to check the software compatibility list for what is and isn't supported. 

David