Avamar: How to Retrieve Source Client Configuration Details for BMR Using BMRB-meta Tool

Prerequisites

• Perl installed on the system (Linux or Windows). For Windows, download from Perl Download. (Exterank Link)
• Access to the Avamar Server or to the client’s system_info area files or BMR logs.
• Appropriate permissions to read files on the Avamar Server.

Download the Tool

Obtain the BMRB-meta tool and README from the Dell Solutions download links provided here

• Tool: Solutions (dell.com)
• Readme: Solutions (dell.com)

BMRB meta Tool

• This tool helps identify the source client configuration and retrive log information that is important when doing BMR.
  • Make and model of the client
  • BIOS or unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)
  • Critical/non-critical disk layout: Size and order
  • The tool can retrieve this information from the following sources:
    • system_info area files
    • BMR logs with debug.
    • Directly from Avamar Server
  • The tool is written in Perl, so it can be used on most of the Linux based boxes and Avamar Server.

Running the BMRB-meta Tool

• Use the following syntax.
  • Avamar Server:

    perl BMRB-meta.pl <path_to_a_client_on_Avamar_Server> <backup_label_number>

  • Linux/ WIndows:

    perl BMRB-meta.pl <path_to_system_info_files_OR_BMR_restore_log_with_avvss_debug

Example Usage

• Retrieve configuration for client server-1.domain.com with backup label 123.
  • Avamar server:

    perl BMRB-meta.pl /clients/server-1.domain.com 123

  • Linux/Windows box:

    perl BMRB-meta.pl /home/user1/sys_data_info
    perl BMRB-meta.pl /home/user1/BMR_logs
    perl BMRB-meta.pl "c:\logs\my_logs"

  • Running the tool without any parameter prints a short note how to run the tool:

    perl BMRB-meta.pl
    
    ##################################################################################
    Run the script using the parameters outlined below:
    perl BMRB-meta.pl <path_to_a_client_on_Avamar_Server> <backup_label_number>.
    perl BMRB-meta.pl <path_to_system_info_files_OR_BMR_restore_log_with_avvss_debug>.
    ################################################################################## 

Additional Resources

• How to retrieve system_info area files: Avamar - How to retrieve the system_info area files from an Avamar backup
• How to enable debugging in BMR:  Avamar BMR - Enabling debug in Avamar Bare Metal Recovery Wizard