Some basic questions

[DukeR1337]

Hi all

We are setting up our first data domain systems for a while now and I've got some really basic questions. I've already started reading docs but I am too slow atm due to we need to finish some projects which are related to DD, replication, and so on.

Am I able to...

• split traffic on the network adapters Management, Data, Replication?
• schedule time of replication?
• use shares without domain resp. DNS system?

Do I need DNS to replicate??? Is there a way to replicate IP to IP? I've had issue with replication resp. it didn't work when I specified IP addresses or didn't have a DNS environment I assume due to the certificates which are needed to exchange when adding the systems in the system list.

Thank you

[DukeR1337]

Anyone?

[ble1]

Perhaps you should take training   Answers:

• how you split it is up to you, but you can direct traffic over certain networks and that way you can split your traffic (given they all use separate network)
• if you replicate, you want it to be all the time. I assume you have slow link and wish to do this during the night only so suspend replication and unsuspend it again.  I doubt you will have issue since only changed blocks (and not present on the other side) are being replicated. Give it a try first.
• I assume you can use it, but never tried. I think you wish to have DNS place and records for DDs should be in local hosts as well.

[PS-VCORE]

Am I able to...

• split traffic on the network adapters Management, Data, Replication?
  • You can split traffic any way you want to, although I recommend a different VLAN for each of your desired tasks. It does increase complexity during setup as you will need to create static routes for the gateways for each VLAN, but it ensures data flows the right way.
• schedule time of replication?
  • Sure can. Preferred is constant replication, and it is changed blocks only, but you could set it for nightly if you wanted to. This assumes that you're using the built in MTree replication, and not driving replication via a NetBackup SLP (Storage Lifecycle Policy), in which case, you'd have to configure your backup software with windows and rules, not the DD itself.
• use shares without domain resp. DNS system?
  • You can use shares without DNS, just as you can replicate without DNS. The DD's each have a built in hosts file, just as any  other linux-based system does. Create a host entry for each of your sources and targets with their IP address and you should be good to go. If you need to create new certificates, and you may, if these DD's have talked to each other in any manner in the past), it can be done by escaping to root-shell in the DD, which is something EMC backline support can do with you over a WebEx if needed. I DO NOT RECOMMEND you try to manipulate certs on your own, or ever access the root shell unless EMC Support specifically walks you through it.

Do I need DNS to replicate??? Is there a way to replicate IP to IP? I've had issue with replication resp. it didn't work when I specified IP addresses or didn't have a DNS environment I assume due to the certificates which are needed to exchange when adding the systems in the system list.

     The hosts file is your friend

I highly recommend you take some DataDomain training if you have the ability to

[DukeR1337]

Hi guys

Thank you for your feedback guys, I really appreciate. Well it's always the same for our company.... first you sell some really good products to the customers but training is not a big thing.... after a while if you do complain as a technician you are allowed to visit a training! It's on my schedule as soon as possible but until then i need to collect information out of the internet and the community 🙂

Well could you please explain to me a little bit more in detail

• how to split network or tell me where to find that piece of informmation in documentation? Do i need to do it on CLI or in the GUI?
• Also replication schedule would be an interesting thing to know. GU or CLI? Where do I find thid information?

Further we face issue with the time (RTO) with Veeam well for me the situation is clear due to dedup it takes some time to be able to restore files stored an DD. What is the best practice to use disk based storage and DD?

Primary Storage will be backed up by Backup Server (FC) with HDD as a  primary sotrage and for long term using EMC DD?

Desaster Recovery

One of the most imporant points for me at the moment is the following. If I have 1 backup server and two data domains.

1 Datadomain next to the backup server and one system in another location. Shall i do replicataion by Veeam or by DD?

How do I integrate the 2nd domain into Veeam? Let's assume i wil backup on DD1 and this one is replicating to DD2 and DD1 breaks how do i get access to DD2? Do I just add the 2nd DD when i need that one or is there a special design or technology?

Cheers and thank you

[nithin_s]

• how to split network or tell me where to find that piece of informmation in documentation? Do i need to do it on CLI or in the GUI?

         From GUI, Under Hardware ==> Network, you should see all the interfaces. Depending on model/slot, you would have eth0, eth1, eth2, eth3. Take an example here eth0/eth1 being copper and eht2/eth3 as Fiber cards. Fiber cards are ususally dual port and Copper Quad port. You can setup Management as copper (say eth0a and eth1a teamed together) connection. Data movers can be eth2a and eth3a seperate connections no teaming and 10G/Fiber. eth2b/eth3b can be Replication, again 10G seperate connections (alternate one if using DMZ).

This way you achieve redundancy at all levels. Now we can use Replication on a seperate network with ACLs opened but all others including management/data movers on same network for better performance.

• Also replication schedule would be an interesting thing to know. GU or CLI? Where do I find thid information?

DD has different replication techniques, say take an example of MTree replication which sends snapshots every 15 mins. you cant' schedule this DD replication and leave it to run itself. It's very optimized and only changes are sent over network.

Further we face issue with the time (RTO) with Veeam well for me the situation is clear due to dedup it takes some time to be able to restore files stored an DD. What is the best practice to use disk based storage and DD

You can't compare performance of a regular disk storage vs DD and DD is much better. DD restores over a 10G network are very faster with no lags.

[DukeR1337]

Hey

Thanks for that post. Look at this yesterday I was "complaining" about how my company regarding projects and technology and now they gave to me a new datadomain porject......

Well I like it but hey I would like to have training on this first!!!

Well can anyone tell me more about replication based on IP? We will have to site connected by WAN but no DNS, like PS-VCORE mentioned there is a way to setup the whole thing with hostfile and IP.

Can anyone tell me more about this or point me to a document about this? How about certificates is that going to be influenced if we only to stuff with IP rather than DNS names?

Thank you so much

[nithin_s]

I didn't quiet catch the trouble in using DNS vs IP. For Data Domains, you can access the management URL obviously via IP, if a DNS is created that would work too. Each interface is configured with the IP.

So when you setting up replication, you can access the management page via IP and add the destination system also via IP to same Systems Manager and configure replication from replication tab.

Now if you need to define a particular interface to be used for replication, please add a route.

Say A has IP 192.168.1.9 - management

Replication - 192.168.100.9

B has IP 10.268.1.9

Access Systems manager on A using the above IP and use options, add additional system and add B there

Now from Replication tab on A, configure replication between A and B.

Now if you want to use Replication interface from A to B, at A add a route from route/Network tab

route add 10.268.1.9 ( address to B) through 192.168.100.9 (replication interface on A)

[DukeR1337]

Hi

Thanks for this really helpful post. What about the certificates and names? Last time i tried to add my 2nd DD to the GUI of the first one (because this seems to be a prerequiste otherwise i can not choose my replication destination) by IP there was an error.

First it did not work then it worked with an error message regarding hostname issues but it added the system anyway. After a while it disappeared.

Only when I used a DNS solution and add the systems with the DNS name the system remained in the GUI and I was able to choose that one as replication target.

[nithin_s]

I just added a test system with the IP address and it works fine. Whether you enter DNS or IP address, it prompts for a certificate while adding which you need to accept. Once done, the displayed name would be the name of the Data Domain (Host Name) what you configured while installing the DD for further use. I don't see any issues in not having a DNS name for the same.