Avamar: How to manage Checkpoint Backups on Data Domain

Summary: This article outlines how to manage checkpoint backups (CP-Backup) with Avamar and Data Domain.

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Instructions

A checkpoint backup of an Avamar grid can be used for checkpoint restores in a disaster recovery event for Avamar.

The checkpoint backup is a special backup of the Avamar checkpoint stored on the Data Domain.

Note: Checkpoint backups are only available for the single-node Avamar and Avamar Virtual Editions (AVE).
 
 

Where there is an attached Data Domain (DD), this is configured in the Avamar User Interface (AUI), by selecting "System" -> "Data Domain" -> "Edit" -> "Use as target for Avamar Checkpoint Backups":

checkpoint backup option

 

To list the available checkpoint backups, run the following command from the Avamar command line:

ddrmaint cp-backup-list --ddr-server=<dd hostname/ip> --ddr-user-name=<ddboost username> --ddr-password=<ddboost user password>
 

Example:

ddrmaint cp-backup-list --ddr-server=ddve-v713 --ddr-user-name=ddboost --ddr-password=DellPassword

cp.20241105150114 2024-11-05 12:20:23 ------- --- ---  partitions  3 avamar-1709325232 ave-v1910
cp.20241105150405 2024-11-05 12:22:21 ------- --- ---  partitions  3 avamar-1709325232 ave-v1910
 
 

To check the checkpoint backup contents on the Data Domain:

a. Identify the Avamar hfscreate time from the Avamar command line:

avmaint hfscreate
 

b. Enter bash mode on Data Domain Data Domain: How to enter BASH Mode (Support and Engineering Only) and mount the file system with the hfscreate value from above:

mount localhost:/data/col1/avamar-<hfscreate> /data
 

c. List the checkpoint backup directories: 

ls -ltr /data/GSAN/
 

The following is an example of a checkpoint backup directory:

!!!! ddve-v713 YOUR DATA IS IN DANGER !!!! # ls -ltr /data/GSAN/cp.20241105150405

total 1339
-rw-rw-rw- 1 ddboost admin     520 Nov  5 10:22 gsanbackup.xml
-rw-rw-rw- 1 ddboost admin    3003 Nov  5 10:22 ddr_info
drwxrwxrwx 2 ddboost admin   15970 Nov  5 10:22 data03
drwxrwxrwx 2 ddboost admin   15625 Nov  5 10:22 data02
drwxrwxrwx 2 ddboost admin   23402 Nov  5 10:22 data01
-rw-rw-rw- 1 ddboost admin 1310720 Nov  5 10:22 backupupgradefiles.tar
 

d. Remember to unmount the file system:

umount /data
 
 

The following command is used to take a manual checkpoint backup:

cpbackup --cptag <checkpoint>
 

Example:

cpbackup --cptag cp.20241105150405
 

The checkpoint value can be found by listing all checkpoints on the Avamar:

cplist

Affected Products

Avamar Server, DD OS
Article Properties
Article Number: 000244907
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 02 حزيران 2026
Version:  7
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