Celerra Backup to tape

what Celerra unit do you have ? What backup software you might be able to use ?
If you do not use backup software, what's going to keep catalog of data residing on your tapes ? Have you investigated if NDMP over IP is supported by your backup application.

Hi,

We are designing the solution at the moment. We are looking at NS22FC (i believe this is an integrated system with storage) as the celerra, and Networker as the backup software. Does the clariion in NS22 act as the storage system in NDMP backups ?

About NDMP over IP, I havent looked at it, as this is quite new to me (Iam from a Clariion background). What would you think is the ideal solution in this scenario.

Thanks
Sai

you could use NDMP with a tape directly connected to the Celerra data mover or use NDMP to send it via TCP/IP to the backup server - provided that backup software implements the tape server and is supported for 3-way NDMP

Just remember that NDMP is for file-level Celerra NAS data - you cannot use it for backup/restore of ISCSI LUNs or Clariion Fibre Channel LUNs

Your EMC technical contact should be able to help you design a solution

yes, Clariion is used for back-end storage in this integrated unit. I would get your NAS SE engaged so you can explain your environment and they would work with you on different options that would work best for your business.

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I think the best option would be to use NDMP directly from the Celerra to Tape. If the Celerra is integrated (with Clariion) I presume, I wont be able to use the Clariion's storage directly, right? I mean, I will use the Celerra's interface to read and write data, but internally it would use the storage on the Clariion.

Sorry if my questions are basic, Iam getting a hang of Celerra now.

Thanks
Sai

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry ive got myself mixed up. The servers will be using CIFS/NFS as their mechanism to store data on the Celerra. I wouldnt need to zone them into the fabric. Only the Celerra, Tape Drive would be on the Fabric. On that note I can do away with the FC switch and connect the Tape directly to the Celerra. Does this make sense?


Thanks
Sai

Hi,

Thanks to all who have replied. Iam all clear now with how to design this.,

in conclusion

I wil use a NS22FC which will be connected to a FC switch. My application servers will also be connected to that FC switch, hence the data will be on the NS. My Tape Library (Dell TL4000) will be connected to the FC Switch. I will Zone all my systems accordingly.

For NDMP, I will have a Backup Server (networker) to manage the metadata of the Backups. and Celerra will backup the data directly to Tape via NDMP.

If iam wrong, please correct me.

Thanks again for your help
Sai

just to clear - any FC LUNs that you use by directly attaching clients to the Clariion FC ports you have to backup from the clients
Typically would would either install an agent or a storage note on these clients

you cannot use NDMP backup for that

same for any ISCSI LUNs that the Celerra can provide

For the NAS shares that are managed by the Celerra you could use NDMP. If it isnt too big and you dont care about multi-protocol attribrutes you could also mount them on the backup server and use a network backup.

Hi,

Thanks again. Sorry for not being too clear earlier, but what you mentioned seems like the idea in my head. The hbas on the server will be plugged into an FC switch. I can also connect the celerra into the switch to provide fiber channel storage.

This is a branch office, but there is no mention of Datacenter in our discussions, hence i believe all branch office data will be managed locally. There is a huge geographical distance between the main office and the branch office, so a fast link would be too expensive. Hence I believe there wil be a local Networker server to manage the backups.

Thanks again
Sai

i see ..the NetWorker server does not need to be connected to the SAN at all, at least not for NDMP. What type of tape library do you have ? So you need to make sure that you can connect your tape library/drives to the auxiliary port on Celerra either directly or via fiber switch, and then make sure NetWorker can communicate with Celerra via ip. NetWorker will issue a command to Datamover to start NDMP backup ..datamover will start sending data to its locally attached tape drive.

like Rainer said ..if you are going to create LUNs and attach them directly to your servers ..you will not be able to utilize NDMP, you will need to use NetWorker agent and perform your typical backup (could be over the SAN or over the network). If your servers will be attached to Celerra via CIFS or NFS ..then you can use NDMP. Correct me if i am wrong Rainer.

makes sense

just keep in mind that if you attach a tape drive directly to the Celerra its going to be NDMP only - so if you need to backup other hosts you need other tape drives.

And you have to purchase a Networker NDMP license.

Thats why I said that for lower amounts of NAS storage you might be able to live with network backups

what application/purpose these servers will be serving ?

Hi,

pretty basic..theres a Domain controller and an exchange server.

and yes, we will be backing up only the Celerra. The two servers will VSS their OS and storage on to the Celerra as a copy on a regular basis, which will be then backed up.

Thanks Guys.

Now if i can figure out how to give points....help?