Sharepoint farm backup

Question

Hi Guys,

I have a SharePoint farm with:

2 x machines Web

2 x machines app

2 x machines SQL( cluster )

My question is:

I must create a group with all machines?

Or, only one web machine, one app machine and the virtual ip of the sql cluster?

Thanks in advance.

CarlosRojas · Answer

Hi Pterson,

There is lots of documentation and KB's explaining how to configure NMM to backup SharePoint, however in order to answer your question we need to know first if you are backing up SharePoint 2007 or 2010, and which version of NMM and build are you currently using.

If SharePoint 2007 you need to register WSS writer in one of the WFE servers and, once you do that run the following command to retrieve the list of savesets on that server and all dependencies:

nsrsnap_vss_save -v -?

Then you need to create one client entry for each of the clients and include all of them in the same group.

You will need to run the same command in every client to retrieve the valid savesets.

If SharePoint 2010 you need to register WSS writer in all WFE servers, then follow the same steps as described above.

Also note that all the clients should be included in a snapshot type group.

To register WSS writer you need to go to SharePoint installation path and run the following command:

SP 2007:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\bin

stsadm -o registerwsswriter

SP 2010:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\bin

Thank you.

Carlos.

CarlosRojas · Answer

Hi Pier,

Is your SQL server a cluster? If so you need to use a different command:

nsrsnap_vss_save -c Virtual_Client_Name -?

Please take a look at the following KB for further information:

https://solutions.emc.com/emcsolutionview.asp?id=esg114320

Thank you.

Carlos.

pfrassino · Answer

Hi,

since I'm configuring the same stuff and I'm not a sharepoint expert; I've seen on the sql servers in the farn that "nsrsnap_vss_save -?" command does not show any database, while the sql server has 5 dbs ( and master, model .. db ).

Have I to use the remote access field on the client with a password to have all the dbs backed up ?

On the sharepoint frontend systems I see maly entries with the same command even if I run it as a local system administrator.

Is this behaviour stated somewhere on the admin guide ? I'm right or I totally miusunderstood the problem ?

Thanks in advance for any suggestion

PierPa

pfrassino · Answer

Carlos, oh yes, I've used '-c ' but from local machine administrator. If I run the same command, for SQL servers only in the farm, using a SQL admin it works, therefore it seems I have to modify something for the client definition in networker ( have I to use remote connection as in the SQL module usage ?) Thanks PierPa

CarlosRojas · Answer

Hi Pier,

Remember that if Windows 2008 or 2008 R2 you need to run CMD as Admin, otherwise you won't get elevated rights.

Also please ensure you run NMM Config Checker to avoid falling into any permissions issue.

Please note that for SharePoint 2010 there are a couple of parameters you would need to change to get the name of the SQL DB's instead of the GUID for the DB's. You will also need to check the remote access option for the SQL DB's, which must be enabled.

For NMM backups you don't need to add any username nor password in the Remote User fields, in fact if you do backup will be most likely fail. All has to be configured with the SQL Services login information and SharePoint services login configuration.

Remember that for SharePoint backups you should be using a SharePoint administrator user with rights enough over the SQL DB's.

Let us know how it goes.

Thank you.

Carlos

pfrassino · Answer

Carlos,

I'm a little bit confused. I read several times the NMM manual but there is no reference about the usage of a particular user to backup Sharepoints and SQL sharepoint entities.

It seems that I have to separate things in two different clients

:

1) the first backing up APPLICATIONS:\Microsoft Office SharePoint Services

2) the second backing up APPLICATIONS:\SqlServerWriter with a specific user in the remote user/password field ?

Am I right? The user can be a domain user or has to be a local admin ?

Thanks in advance for any clarification

PierPa

PetersonPS · Answer

Hi Carlos,

I read on NMM Application Guide the following:
"After NMM 2.3 is installed, running a save set other than
DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ on a NetWorker 7.6 SP2 client, gives error."

So I'm with a doubt. How I can to do backup of specific files/folder?
For exemplo:
E:\documents\ \

Thanks in advance.

CarlosRojas · Answer

@ Pier:

Pier, What I meant in regards to permissions is that you need to have SQL and SP services correctly configured with the right login information, and also check the SQL DB's to allow remote connections.

Yes, you need to install NMM in all servers of the farm, and create a client entry in NetWorker for each of them and include all of them in the same snapshot group.

Savesets/Services available for SP 2010 are:

APPLICATIONS:\Microsoft Office SharePoint Services

APPLICATIONS:\Microsoft Office Search

APPLICATIONS:\Microsoft Office SharePoint Search

And for SQL server:

APPLICATIONS:\SqlServerWriter )If using SQL server and not SQL embedded)

Also remember to backup IIS, which is required for DR of SP:

SYSTEM COMPONENTS:\

C:\Inetpub

@ Peterson:

This refers to the usage of the "save.exe" command, but as you know, for NMM backups you need to use the nsrsnap_vss_save.exe backup command.

Basically that information tries to clarify that you need to use nsrsnap_vss_save .exe backup command in a snapshot client/group, if you don't set that bakcup command, and set a saveset name other that DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ then bakcup will fail.

DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ is the only saveset that requires the usage of save.exe, and that client should not be included in an snapshot group. This is a normal group/client intended to perform a DR backup.

Thank you.

Carlos.

NetWorker

Sharepoint farm backup

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