This article summaries 2013 Chinese ATE activity: " Networker Installation and Upgrading". The original thread is https://community.emc.com/thread/170541.

Question 1:

Is the index of the backup file saved in the Default pool?

Answer:

By default, index and data will be backed up into the same pool (bootstrap will be always backed up into a local device). If no suitable pool can be found according to the pool filter rules, data or index will be backed up to the Default pool. If you prefer to save data and index/bootstrap separately (into different pools), please refer to http://community.emc.com/message/706290.

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Question 2:

Can Networker skip major versions when upgrading? For example: upgrading from 7.4 to 7.6 or 8.0. Can the original license still be used after upgrading?

Answer:

Networker can upgrade across major versions, but there are some differences when upgrading to different versions. If you want to upgrade from Networker pre-7.4 (7.2 or 7.3) to 7.6, you must first upgrade to 7.4, then upgrade to 7.6. If you upgrade 7.4 to 7.6, a temporary upgrade code will produced automatically in the process, the code is valid for 45 days, and you must apply for a new license from licensing department within 45 days. It is only free of charge during the warranty period. So if you are upgrading 7.4 to a new version, please ensure that it is in the effective maintenance period. If you are upgrading 7.5 to 7.6, the upgrade process does not need temporary upgrade code. 8.0 versions can be upgraded only directly from 7.6 or above. You cannot upgrade directly from 7.5 or lower. So if you want to upgrade Networker from 7.4 to 8.0, you must first upgrade to 7.6, then upgrade to 8.0. For upgrade details, please refer “Technical Guidance to Upgrading EMC Networker 8.0” and “Upgrading to Networker 7.6.x Technical Note”.

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Question 3:

Is it necessary to reconfigure tape library AFTD etc., after an upgrade of Networker from lower to higher versions? What kind follow up work needs to be done?

Answer:

After upgrading, it is not necessary to reconfigure AFTD, unless the server, storage node or tape library was rebooted before the upgrade and it did not make a persistent binding which may then lead to port sequence confusion or problems.

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Question 4:

There is a need to replace a number of old computers. How do you migrate the Networker server, storage node, and client-side and ensure that there will be no data loss during migration?

Answer:

The process is complicated and there are many operations that need to be done, such as changing hostname, resetting boot code, etc. You can refer to the documents for server migration, such as Networker Disaster Recovery Guide through the related article below.

“Moving NW Server to another machine with a different hostname”

http://solutions.emc.com/emcsolutionview.asp?id=esg67467

In addition, it is recommended to contact the EMC implementation specialist to complete a Networker migration.

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Question 5:

What is the meaning of withdraw volume and deposit volume?

Answer:

“Withdraw” is to move a tape from a library drive or slot to an I/E slot (mail slot). When a tape is in an I/E slot, you can open the door of the tape library and take out the tape. “Deposit” is to move a tape from an I/E slot (mail slot) to a slot. When a tape is in an I/E slot, you can “Deposit” the tape and it will be moved to the slot.

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Question 6:

What information does barcode labels record? Once the information is recorded, can it be changed later? How does Networker makes use of barcode labels?

Answer:

Barcode labels are provided by the library manufacturer to quickly and easily recognize tapes. Generally, every library has its barcode reader, a machine to read barcode labels. The barcode reader is on top of the autochanger. Once a barcode label is affixed on a tape, the library could use the barcode label to recognize this tape. For example, if the barcode label of the tape in slot 1 is 00001L4, as Networker can collect the information from the library, the tape label will be shown as 00001L4 in slot 1. In other words, once a barcode label is affixed on a tape, Networker will use this barcode label to show this tape. For tapes without barcode labels, Networker will assign it a virtual label.

There are two options in Networker: Bar Code Reader and Match Bar Code Labels. If the barcode label feature is enabled by a physical library, these two options will be enabled by Networker automatically and cannot be disabled (they will be grayed out). If the barcode label feature is not enabled by the physical library, you can choose to whether to enable these two options or not. If you enable them, Networker will use barcode labels to recognize tapes. Otherwise, even if barcode labels are affixed on tapes, Networker will regard them as tapes without barcode labels.

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Question 7:

If you move the tape whose bar code labels is 00001L4 from slot 1 to slot 2, what will happen?

Answer:

If you move a tape from slot 1 to slot 2 through the tape library or operating system, Networker will not know the movement. The result is Networker will still consider the tape in original slot 1. You must reset the tape library to let Networker get the latest information. If you want to use Networker to do the operation, you need to reset the tape library, otherwise errors will occur. After the reset, Networker will re-scan the tape library, so that it displays the latest status of the tape library on the GUI. If you do not reset, you cannot move a tape from one slot to another slot on Networker NMC.

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Question 8:

If two tapes have the same barcode, one is an old tape and the other is a new tape and the old tape has been taken out and stored for a long time. Is it feasible that restore the data from the old tape?

Answer:

It is not feasible. You must use a different barcode. If you are using the same barcode, Networker will only recognize the current tape. If it is really necessary and you want to copy the data from old tape to the new tape because the tape itself is too old, you can make a clone Networker tape. However the two tapes must still use different barcode.

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Problem 9:

As you said “After the reset, Networker will re-scan the tape library”, does “re-scan” here mean inventory check? Why is doing an inventory on tapes with barcode labels faster than tapes without barcode labels?

Answer:

Inventory is an operation to recognize tapes again. It is different from re-scanning during the library initialization. Inventory will move tapes to drives while autochanger with a barcode reader will scan all slots and drives when resetting the library. Inventory will record information such as tape locations (in which slots or drives). Then, Networker will obtain the information by means of drivers. As for tapes without barcode labels, Networker will use its own way to recognize them. This is accomplished through the software layer and therefore the speed could be slower.

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Question 10:

NMC can be opened only with the computer that has Networker Client and NMC softwareinstalled. Is this true? How do you open NMC on Linux?

Answer:

You just need to install NMC on a Networker client. You can open NMC remotely from other computers via http: \ \ : 9000 . Before doing this, you need to install compatible version of JRE which is listed in the documentation and authorize the NMC console server administrator to manage Networker. You can follow process below:

If the NMC console server is Windows, enter the Networker Server using:

nsraddadmin-u "user = administrator, host = console_server"

nsraddadmin-u "user = system, host = console_server"

If the NMC console server is Linux, enter the Networker Server using:

nsraddadmin-u "user = root, host = console_server"

If you want to open NMC on Linux, you can access it via http: \ \ : 9000

Author: Leo Li