Data Domain: How to use E‑Lab Navigator to verify compatibility before a DDOS upgrade

Why compatibility checks matter?

A DDOS upgrade can impact:

• Backup applications
• DD Boost or DD BoostFS plug‑ins
• Backup client OS versions
• NFS, CIFS, VTL workflows
• Cloud Tier configurations
• Replication across DD systems
• Hardware interfaces (HBAs, tape libraries, changers, NAS systems)

Even if an appliance model supports the new DDOS release, your interoperability chain may not. Always confirm compatibility first.

What should you gather beforehand?

You need:

• Current DDOS version
• Backup application and version
• Client OS used by backup agents or DD Boost clients
• Protocols in use (DD Boost, BoostFS, NFS, CIFS, VTL)
• Cloud Tier present? Provider and endpoint details
• Replication peer DD systems and their DDOS versions

Important: How DD Boost plug‑ins are handled?

This section clarifies how DD Boost support works across different backup applications.

1. Some backup applications include DD Boost natively:

Examples:

• Dell Networker
• Dell Avamar
• Commvault
• Veeam

For these applications:

• The DD Boost component is integrated into the backup application itself.
• When you upgrade the backup application, the embedded DD Boost integration is upgraded automatically.
• There is no separate DD Boost plug‑in installation.

2. Some backup applications require installing the DD Boost plug‑in:

Examples:

• Veritas NetBackup
• Veritas Backup Exec
• Oracle RMAN
• Other Third‑Party Backup Applications - Any non‑Dell backup applications other than the partners with native SDK integration (e.g., Commvault, Veeam) requires separate installation of the DD Boost plug‑in.

For these applications:

• DD Boost is not built in.
• You must install a DD Boost plug‑in on the media/backup server OS.
• There is no “upgrade” option for the DD Boost plug‑in.
• You uninstall the old plug‑in
• And install the new plug‑in version listed in the E‑Lab matrix.

Implication:

When your target DDOS requires a newer DD Boost plug‑in, plan to remove the old plug‑in and install the new version on all media servers.

3. Why this matters during a DDOS upgrade?

If the DD Boost client on your media server is older than the version required by the target DDOS, connectivity may fail after the upgrade.

Always check:

• Backup app version
• Client OS
• Required DD Boost client version
• Compatible DDOS versions

All this is available in E‑Lab Navigator under: Cyber Resilience → PowerProtect DD Series Appliances → Dell EMC DD Boost → [Your Backup App]

How to use E‑Lab Navigator (step‑by‑step).

1. Go to:

https://elabnavigator.dell.com/eln/elnhome (Customer login may be required.)

2. Navigate to:

Simple Support Matrices → Cyber Resilience → PowerProtect DD series appliances

You now see categories for all DD‑related interoperability components (Scroll down to see them all):

• DD series with Backup Software
• Dell EMC DD Boost
• Dell EMC DD BoostFS
• Dell EMC Cloud Tier
• DD Series Hardware Requirements

Use the section that matches how your environment writes to DD.

How to check compatibility for each protocol or integration.

Below are clear examples to follow.

A) DD Boost (OST) with a backup application

Example: NetBackup 11.x on RHEL 8 upgrading DDOS 8.4 → 8.6

1. Go to Dell EMC DD Boost
2. Click Veritas → NetBackup
3. Find NetBackup 11.x
4. Look for the row with:
• Client OS: RHEL 8
• DDOS versions: Check both 8.4 (current) and 8.6 (target)
• DD Boost Client versions supported
5. If the required DD Boost Client version for DDOS 8.6 is newer than what you use:
• Uninstall old DD Boost plug‑in
• Install the new version listed in the table

B) BoostFS (filesystem‑level Boost)

Example: RHEL client running Oracle RMAN

1. Go to Dell EMC DD BoostFS
2. Click Oracle → RMAN
3. Check for:
• BoostFS version
• Client OS
• Supported DDOS versions

If BoostFS must be updated, download and install the corresponding version.

C) NFS, CIFS, VTL

Example: Veeam using NFS to DD

1. Go to DD series with Backup Software
2. Select the vendor (Veeam)
3. Find your Veeam version and confirm the list of supported DDOS versions

D) Cloud Tier (DD Cloud Tier)

Example: AWS Cloud Tier, upgrading to DDOS 7.6+

Important: DDOS 7.6+ changes the AWS S3 endpoint format:

Old: s3-<region>.amazonaws.com 
New: s3.<region>.amazonaws.com

Update:

• Firewalls
• Proxies
• Allow lists
• DNS rules

Steps:

1. Go to Dell EMC Cloud Tier
2. Review the provider‑specific notes

E) Hardware compatibility

Example: VTL with FC HBAs

1. Go to DD Series Hardware Requirements
2. Check:
• FC adapter model
• Driver/firmware
• Supported DDOS versions

Replication Compatibility

Replication support between DD systems depends on version pairing and replication type (MTree, Directory, Collection, Delta).

Always review:

📘 Data Domain: Replication Version Compatibility Matrix

Upgrade peers in a supported sequence to avoid breaking replication.

If Your Backup App Version Is Not Listed

Example end‑to‑end scenario

Goal: Validate upgrading to DDOS 8.6 for a system running NetBackup 11.x on RHEL 8 using DD Boost.

1. Check compatibility in DD Boost → NetBackup
2. Confirm RHEL 8 has a supported DD Boost client for DDOS 8.6
3. Uninstall old DD Boost client on media servers
4. Install new DD Boost client version listed
5. Check:
• Replication compatibility (KB 000228084)
• Cloud Tier (if applicable)
• Hardware requirements (for VTL/HBAs)

Once all dependencies are supported, schedule the DDOS upgrade.

Final recommendations

• Never upgrade DDOS without validating all integrations.
• If any dependency does not support the target DDOS version:
  → upgrade the dependency or
  → choose a compatible DDOS version.
• For applications with integrated DD Boost (Avamar, Networker):
  → upgrade the backup app
• For applications requiring DD Boost plug‑ins (NetBackup, BE, etc.):
  → uninstall old plug‑in
  → install new plug‑in before or during upgrade