Using NDMP to backup VNXe remote filesystem

Question

Hi all,

Can a VNXe or VNX replicator remote file system be used for backup using NDMP?

I have a customer who wants two way replication but only has an NDMP license for one array.

My thinking is that they could backup the target replica NFS file system but it depends if this is available without being failed over.

Anyone have experience of this?

Thanks

Ian Smart

rajnvr1 · Accepted Answer

So I think you are saying that you can use NDMP to backup the file system at the target without failing over?

I presume you have to take a VNXe snapshot at target using Replication Manager and back that up or can you backup the target file system directly?

I could not make out the question correctly so I would explain the working of NDMP backup if it is connected on the destination side

You will have 2 replication manager snaps on source and destination for the replication of the LUN.
When you connect the NDMP to the destination then you will have 1 more Automatic NDMP checkpoint of the Destination to backup the LUN.
The NDMP server uses the Checkpoint to backup rather than using the FS. this is done so that the FS is kept away from the load of NDMP backup process.

Thanks,

Rohan.

brendm · Answer

Hey Ian -

I'll need your help on differentiating the two: the VNX and VNXe are within the same family, but they do not have all the same functionality.

If you can outline more of the ask I can involve the right engineers in getting you a direct answer.

Cheers,
Matt

rajnvr1 · Answer

The Best thing that I can suggest as of now it to use the VNXe for the backup purpose.

You can replicate the VNX file system to VNXe and then you can connect the VNXe to NDMP and then backup.

This will help VNX to take only the load of Replication rather than Replication and NDMP.

And more over you can use the NDMP backup even when the FS is failed over.

smarti2 · Answer

Matt, This would be VNXe at both sites. Thanks for your help. Ian

smarti2 · Answer

Rohan,

So I think you are saying that you can use NDMP to backup the file system at the target without failing over?

I presume you have to take a VNXe snapshot at target using Replication Manager and back that up or can you backup the target file system directly?

Ian

smarti2 · Answer

Thanks for your answers, I will try this out on the next VNXe install.

VNX