NetBackup Image Replication from Appliance to Media Server (MSDP)

[mohsinmansoor]

Hi,

I am working on a deployment that will require replicating images from NetBackup Appliances to the Media Servers (with MSDP pools) running on IBM AIX and windows. I wanted to know that is it supported to do replication between NetBackup Appliance and Media Server with MSDP? I am also attaching a diagram.

[Marianne]

Yes. Perfectly supported. Appliance is also MSDP.

You can do manual duplication or configure SLP to backup to one STU and duplicate to the other.

See this TN and all links referred to in the TN: 

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO36280
About optimized MSDP duplication within the same domain

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Acording to this (http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO89176 ) its not possible.

[RiaanBadenhorst]

He wants inter domain (AIR) Marianne :)

[Marianne]

Sorry - did not look at the diagram.

I still feel it is possible.

AIR is supported between MSDP in different domains. 
Appliance is also MSDP.

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

[RiaanBadenhorst]

I also feel its possible, just putting down what is documented. #symconfusion

[Marianne]

Riaan, HOWTO89176 in your post above says that MSDP to MSDP is supported.

5230 appliance is nothing other than 'MSDP in a box'.

[Nicolai]

I am on the "Yes that shoud be possible" team also.

I am grabing some text from the NBU 7,5 SLP best pratice and it say :

The Auto Image Replication feature supports one-to-one, (one source domain sending backups to one 
target domain), one-to-many, and many-to-one configurations. 

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO73205 - Page 12 

mohsinmansoor: I recommend you take a look at the "Considerations for using Auto Image Replication" in the above mentioned document.

[RiaanBadenhorst]

I know its MSDP, I just put down what it says in the document. It would not (or should not) mention appliance separately if it was considered as MSDP. Don't you think?

[Marianne]

I still see in the TN that ' Media Server Deduplication Pool' is supported which includes 52xx appliances IMHO.

There is nothing in the doc that indicates these appliances are not supported...

Weird how we read and interpret the same doc differently.... 

[Nicolai]

inadvertent mistake by the author I think. Maybe a Netbackup newbe  ?

[RiaanBadenhorst]

A doc is not very well written if its up to interpretation :)

I didn't say appliances are not supported, the doc lists source and targets. The combo the poster requires, mix between APP > MSDP (traditional on own server) is not listed.

MSDP > MSDP

MSDP > PD

APP > APP

###that is the way I'm reading it. That they are listed as pairs of source and targets, not just a random list of what can be a source / target.

[Marianne · Accepted solution]

Because 52xx appliance is 'MSDP in a box' it means the requirement in the opening post is to do AIR with:
MSDP > MSDP

Perfectly supported as per HOWTO89176, NBU Admin Guide I, TECH154323, SLP Best Practice....

[mohsinmansoor]

Hi Everyone, Yes the requirement is to do AIR between an Appliance and an MSDP pool created on Media Server runnin on AIX operating systems. Going through the technotes and documents suggested by all of you, I think that it is supported from an MSDP Appliance to MSDP pool on a media server. Because as Marianne said, technically Appliance is a Media Server having its internal storage and MSDP configured. But unfortunately I couldnt find any technote about this. That was the reason at first place, for me to open up this thread. The only thing i am now concerned about is the version of NetBackup running. I think Appliance versions are -5 the NetBackup Enterprise versions. So does the Appliance version 2.6.0.1 equals NetBackup 7.6.0.1? Because i think the version of MSDP matters for AIR.

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Yes, 7.6.0.1 is 2.6.0.1 and they should match up to the 2nd .

[mohsinmansoor]

I also got a reply from a Symantec employee via email. that it is supported from Appliance to MSDP pool on a media server.

[RiaanBadenhorst]

I got confirmation about it as well form Symantec.