VERITAS NetBackup and NearStore

Using NetBackup (NBU) to manage data transfers to NearStore

NBU NearStore software enables data stored on client systems to be backed up to a NearStore storage system. A NearStore storage system, together with VERITAS NetBackup, provides an efficient backup and recovery solution for managing data across multiple platforms.

An integrated solution--Data transfers are controlled using the NetBackup Administration Console.
- NetBackup handles most storage system interactions, eliminating the need to use CLI-based commands.
- Backup scheduling, and data recovery are intuitively managed using the NetBackup graphical user interface (GUI).
Single instance storage--Backup file updates do not consume disk space unless blocks in the new backup image differ from blocks in the active file system.

About NBU NearStore

NBU NearStore software allows a NetBackup media server to backup data from multiple platforms, or clients, to a NearStore that is configured as a secondary storage system. These clients include: AIX, Solaris, HP-UX, Linux, Windows NT server, Windows 2000 server, or Windows 2003 server systems.

NetBackup data transfer

The NetBackup master or media server controls the flow of data from the primary storage system (client) to the secondary storage system (NearStore). Client data on the primary storage system is backed up inside a secondary qtree on the Nearstore.

Each data transfer to the NearStore secondary storage system consists of two data streams from the NetBackup media server.

A standard NetBackup tar-style stream
A metadata stream that is common to both Data ONTAP and NetBackup

The tar-style stream is expanded on the NearStore to create an active file system.

Note
NBU NearStore in Data ONTAP 7.1 does not allow administrative access to the active file system. However, you can view the file system from the NetBackup Administration Console. For more information, see the VERITAS NetBackup System Administrator's Guide.

No data block duplication

NearStore avoids duplicating disk blocks by comparing blocks in the most recent backup with the active file system. Incremental updates do not consume disk space unless blocks in the new backup image differ from blocks in the active file system. As a result, multiple backups to the same qtree store only uncommon blocks, and blocks that are common continue to share space.

To view storage savings, use the df -s command:

system*> df -s

Filesystem                used     shared      saved        %saved

/vol/vol0/             1335000          0          0           0%

/vol/flexsle/               96          0          0           0%

/vol/sim/                  292          0          0           0%

/vol/p3/              21304124   14637384   21731976          50%

For detailed information

The following sections discuss ways to enable and manage data transfers to NearStore systems using NetBackup: