Netbackup HA setup

[Joe_ab]

Hello,

currently we have windows server NetBackup server , we need to deploy an HA and DR , which is the best way other than considergin cluster solution ?

[Mouse]

This question calls for a proper workshop to figure out what do you have and what you can afford in terms of tech and what are you business requirements in terms of RPO/RTO. Now if speaking of theoretical options here are a few:

1. Probably the cheapest and easiest option by far is to put the Master into a VM if it was not done already and offload HA to VMware HA and DR to SRM or alternative tools if you use Hyper-V or other DR methods. This will make DR for NBU someone else's problem so it's easy and non disruptive but does not protect from logical corruption such as issues with NBU binaries or OS files. RPO and RPO is very good with this method and recovery can be automated.
2. Next in line would be to set up catalog replication - read NBU HA guide about HA Master with catalog replication without cluster. This will require some changes and additional software such as VVR or other alternatives and does not solve the HA issue, it's more suitable for DR but still cheaper than traditional clustering. Some functions such as NBAC don't work with this method, all listed in the guide. This method protects from logical corruption of binaries. RPO is good with this method but RTO is higher due to manual failover requirements.
3. I know you did not want to consider clustering but it's still there albeit an expensive option and for existing master will need additional consulting engagement to conver the existing machine to cluster, so not doable in-house. However it will provide HA, DR and protection from logical corruption with minimal RPO/RTO.

[Joe_ab]

thank you , we have physical libraries and its not supported under VM option once cannot be an option . I’d really looking for more suggestion

[Michael_G_Ander]

With physical libraries you could consider making a old style HA/DR solution, with duplication, movement of of medias and import at the HA/DR sites or maybe you can do a catalog replication.

A more elegant solution would be replication between MSDPs and then duplication to tape at the HA/DR sites.

[Mouse]

You can virtualise the Master machine, you'd just need to have a physical media server to talk to the tape library. If your master is also a media server then its clustering is not supported since NBU 7.5 or so, hence you don't have many options without changing the architecture.

Also quite important to understand what are you going to do with your data as HA/DR for the master server only helps to get metadata usable but where the data will be backed up to/restored from is also important consideration