Upgrade path NetBackup from 7.1 to 7.6.1.1

[mohsinmansoor]

Dear All,

We have a NetBackup version 7.1 Master/Media Environment running on IBM AIX 6.1. We are adding a NetBackup appliance (as media server) to this environment. Since the NetBackup Appliance will be on version 2.6.1 therefore we need to upgrade our existing environment from 7.1 to 7.6.1.1

I wanted expert opinion on what should be the path to upgrade NetBackup from 7.1 to 7.6.1.1. I heard from a colleague that first i should go to 7.5, then 7.5.0.4, then 7.6.1 and then 7.6.1.1.

Please guide me on this. According to sort, i can upgrade directly from 7.1 to 7.6.1  and then patch it to 7.6.1.1

Regards,

Mohsin Mansoor

[revarooo · Accepted solution]

Click on this link and follow what sort recommends - as I see you have done already.

https://sort.symantec.com/netbackup

Scroll down to Installation and Upgrade Checklist

Fill in the details. Product is NetBackup Enterprise Server, then click Generate Checklist.

A snippet of what you will get:

Procedure Overview:

Before starting the upgrade to NetBackup 7.6.1.1, it is strongly advised to first check the integrity of your NetBackup catalog and databases via use of the NBCC utility and then to create an online hot catalog backup of your existing NetBackup 7.1 configuration that can be used to recover from in case the upgrade fails and cannot be re-run. See the "Protecting the NetBackup catalog" topic of the NetBackup 7.1 Administrator's Guide for UNIX and Linux, Volume I.

Be sure to review the following upgrade related information (starting with the Upgrade Portal):

• NetBackup 7.x Upgrade Portal
• NetBackup 7.6.1 Upgrade Guide
• "About changes in NetBackup 7.6.1" topic in the NetBackup 7.6.1 Installation Guide for UNIX and Windows
• NetBackup 7.6 upgrade fails when detecting a EMM server that is remote/shared)

If using NetBackup OpsCenter, review the upgrade information in the NetBackup OpsCenter 7.6.1 Administrator's Guide topic, "About upgrading to OpsCenter 7.6.1 On Windows and UNIX".

Install the NetBackup 7.6.1GA release following instruction in the NetBackup 7.6.1 Upgrade Guide. Then install the required 7.6.1.1 patches.
See the Patches section below for the relevant patches for this platform.
To obtain 7.6.1, please refer to the 7.6.1GA Download Information: 7.6.1 Download Information. 

[Marianne]

Correct - you can upgrade directly from 7.1 to 7.6.1  and then patch it to 7.6.1.1 (or 7.6.1.2).

In addition to all docs listed above, please take note of higher minimum memory requirements for the master server - see  NetBackup Installation Guide 

 

[Nicolai]

I am with the statement above - you can upgrade direct from 7.1 to 7.6.1.1

Be aware of catalog conversion time required - this is mentioned in the upgrade guide,

The upgrade is smooth to 7.6.1 IF you have the the background check mentioned in the upgrade guide.

One vitual tool for ensuring a fit Netbackup enviroment is the sort data collector

https://sort.symantec.com/data_collectors

The sort data collector will investigate the current system and report parts not ready for upgrade - e.g missing file systsem space or insuffcient kernel parameters.

Sample report below:

Server name: xxxxx
Operating system: Linux
Operating system version: 2.6.32-358.23.2.el6.x86_64
Architecture: x86_64
Server model: HP ProLiant DL380 G7
Distribution: Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 6.4 (Santiago)

Preinstallation check result for NetBackup 7.6.1.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check results:
    Total system memory check for master server.                              Pass
    Total system memory check for media server.                               Pass
    Total system memory check for client.                                     Pass
    Limit of number of open file descriptors                                  Pass
    Remote/Shared EMM Server                                                  Pass
    Number of semaphores check                                                Pass
    Disk space check for nbdb maintenance operations                          Pass
    Disk space check for NetBackup Deduplication upgrade                Not Applicable
    Operating system version and CPU type for Master Server                  Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for Media Server                   Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for Client                         Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for BMR Server                     Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for NBAC for Server Component      Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for OpsCenter Server               Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for OpsCenter Managed Server       Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for NDMP                           Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for BMR Client/Boot Server         Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for NBAC for Client Component      Pass
    Operating system version and CPU type for SAN Client                     Pass
    Initial install disk space check for Master server                       Fail
    Initial install disk space check for Media server                        Fail
    Initial install disk space check for Client                              Pass
    OS patch level check                                                     Pass
    NetBackup version check                                                  Pass
    Port 13724 availability check                                            Pass
    Port 1556 availability check                                             Pass
    Port 13785 availability check                                            Pass
    Backup Exec software check                                               Pass
    PureDisk Agent check                                                     Pass
    NetBackup PureDisk Deduplication Option check                            Pass
    EEB EEB_NetBackup_7.5.0.7_PET3687087_SET3687086_EEB1 status check        Pass
    File Size                                                                Pass

Informational results:
    Installed NetBackup check                                           Master Server
    User privilege check                                                root
    CPU core quantity check                                             16
    CPU speed check                                                     2400 MHz
    NetBackup available hot fixes                                       None

Errors:
    * The system does not have enough free disk space in the default install
      location for an initial install of this product.
    * The system does not have enough free disk space in the default install
      location for an initial install of this product.

Summary: 94% checks passed, 6% failed.

Now a upgrade attemp on this system would have led to a broken installation because the file system has free space enough