Need to design solution for Active Active configuration for 2 DC using Netbackup

[Manish_Bhatia]

Hi,

I have to design a solution with Netbackup 7.5.6 on RHEL 6.1. Requirements are mentioned below:

1) 2 DC with 50 km apart

2) Should be in active active configuration

3) Both DC's would have two domians, intranet and DMZ, (separate Netbackup domains for intranet and DMZ)

3) Netbackup 7.5.6 would be used

4) Data Domain will be used in both DC with replication feature

5) Also, we have HP storage in both DC

Please suggest a well versed backup design to fulfiill the above requirements, especially the active active configuration. Also, can we configure the master server on Virtual machines, to overcome the cost. What would be the limitations for using master server on virtual machines.

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Hi,

You could run two (or four) domains on 7.6.0.1. Each domain would have 1 Data Domain Storage (or LSU) and you would then use AIR to replicate between domains (probably dmz to dmz, and intranet to intranet but this is up to you). This configuration would required the latest plugins for DataDomain (and supported DD as per the HCL). For DD you wont' actually turn on the replication feature, but rather let NetBackup start the replications for you.

[Manish_Bhatia]

Thanks, but how about the active active configuration for cross domains. Like for intranet domain for both DC and similarly for DMZ domains. We need A-A configuration for both domains in both DC's. Please suggest for that two. Also, is it not supported with 7.5.6 version. What if, we plan to configure master servers on virtual machines?

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Hi,

All domains are active at the same time, they are independent. The AIR function + DD allows you to replicate the images from one domain and import in another (for restoration in target domain used as a DR site). So 1 site is DR for the other.

AIR with DD is only supported in 7.6.0.1

You can use masters servers in virtual. Only limitation is you cannot connect tape drives to a virtual, but you've got DD so its fine (unless you plan to use VTL on DD).

[Manish_Bhatia]

2 DC named as DC 1 and DC2 DC1 has two domains INB1 and DNB1, similarly DC2 has two domains INB2 and DNB2 INB1 has two nodes Node A and Node B, DNB1 has two nodes Node C and Node D INB2 has two nodes Node E and Node F, DNB2 has two nodes Node E and Node F For active active configuration, we will have to place Node C in INB1 and Node B in INB 2 and similarly for DMZ zone nodes. Please check the file attached for high level diagram

[Marianne]

Using terms such as 'Active Active' and Nodes - are you planning a clustered solution?

Active/Active master is not supported in NBU. Only Active/Passive.

If you are planning to use AIR, the master servers need to be completely independant of one another.

Some reading matter:

NetBackup Clustered Master Server Administrator's Guide 
NetBackup in Highly Available Environments Administrator's Guide 

AIR FAQ: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH154323