Solution for backing up big amount hospital image files to NBU

[FlyMountain]

We are currently using NBU to protect our big amount of hospital image files. It generates a lot of traffics, makes the catalog really big and blocks us from using TB based NBU license. We have to make an offisite copy for these images files for long term, wondering if anybody has similar situation but better alternative backup soutions.

[RamNagalla]

hi 

you would need to provide more details about your enviornment..

1) what is the backup Master server OS and Netbackup version?

2) what is the storage that you are using as a destination?

3) what is your full backup size?

4) what is the retenction that you are currently managing for the backups?

[FlyMountain]

thanks for your reply. Here is the details.

      1. NBU 7.1.0.4 on HP-UX IA 11.31

      2. Disk: VTL for primary copy, Tape libary:  HP MSL4048 for offsite copy

      3. Full backup of all images files (PACS, AGFA....):  40TB

      4. Retention: weekly incr (retention: wo months), monthly full (2years), yearly full (infinity)

We are thinking to make some changes:

     1. use archive solution or LTFS to make the second copy once and only once

     2. change the retention to weekly incr, quarterly full

[Yogesh9881]

What is the meaning of "hospital image files"    is it database or flatfile data ??

[RamNagalla]

yes, i would also probably suggest on your retenctions..

are you not taking daily incrmentals...?

monthly full (2years), yearly full (infinity) will definatly increase your catalog size..

you would also need to think about catalog archiving for the older images... 

[Nicolai]

My guess is Xray image files.

[wan2live]

You can create multiple copies using SLP's and put them in different volume groups at the same time. Images do not de dupe well so you will be using tape forever for those images and in the long run SLP is going to be the most cost effective solution than just vaulting.

[Yogesh9881]

 Nicolai,

Xray image files can be PNG/JPG/PDF/etc.... & it will be in MB.

[Omar_Villa]

You mentioned you use VTL, who is the vendor? I ask because there is a good difference when you run InLine Deduplication if you are using DataDomain or if you have Falconstor with SIR makes things a bit different on performance based on the Array behind the VTL. Some times tuning at this levels can improve significantely backup speeds.

[FlyMountain]

FalconStor VTL.

Actually we lately took out the VTL from all image backups and only one stream to physical tapes since we don't get often instant restore request. All images we have onsite secondary copy (not by NBU), we are only making  an offsite protection long term copy.

We are struggling with following.

1. since the image files (xray...) never change, we are not sure how many offsite copies will be engough since we are making quarterly and yearly.... we are thinking we may only need to make one full backup in the begining, then followed by incr...

2. since the TB license is counting by full backup size, it blocked us moving from NBU traditional to TB license. we are really going to pay much more if we do.

3. we are looking for archiving solution instead of NBU for all image file protection. Any suggestion?