Data Domain: BoostFS Issues with Security Scanner Software or Apps

Summary: Boostfs on the Linux and Windows client behaves unexpectedly when Security Scanner or Security Applications scans or accesses files inside a Boostfs mount point.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Symptoms

BoostFS mounted drive, or mount-point becomes unresponsive.

The backup operations from the application may fail with unsuccessful reads and writes on the files on the mount point. Example: 
​​Apr 19 10:15:09.853 29214 2269886208 [E] [ddp log] [721E:7FC860125190] ddcl_ddcp_pwrite: Error in ddcl_ddcp_pwrite. [ERR=5002]
Apr 19 10:15:13.990 29214 2269886208 [E] [ddp log] [721E:7FC860125190] ddcl_ddcp_pwrite: Error in ddcl_ddcp_pwrite. [ERR=5002]
 
Boostfs seems like having frequent disconnections and retry errors. 
Feb 24 19:52:46.803 423080 2833229568 [I] bfs_node_lookup: failed to obtain a connection; file=/image/azprd/20210224_test/data_D-AZPRD_I-1811368087_TS-CITBSP_FNO-1061_auvo0tkc err=2
Feb 24 19:52:46.803 423080 2833229568 [E] bfs_node_retry_conn: lookup failed path=/image/azprd/20210224_test/data_D-AZPRD_I-1811368087_TS-CITBSP_FNO-1061_auvo0tkc err=2
Feb 24 19:52:46.803 423080 2833229568 [E] bfs_open: lookup failed file=/image/azprd/20210224_test/data_D-AZPRD_I-1811368087_TS-CITBSP_FNO-1061_auvo0tkc err=2
Feb 24 19:52:46.803 423080 2833229568 [P] BFSPROC_EXIT_bfs_open: rc=-11

Performance Degradation. The read or write (backup or restore) operations become slow.

Cause

  • The Security Scanner Software or Applications installed on the machine scans the Boostfs mount point as well along with other drives and folders
  • BoostFS does not recommend multiple applications including the Security Scanners to access BoostFS mount point simultaneously.
  • This may result in failure depending on the nature of the access since we have a single file context maintained in the BoostFS.
  • Also, anti-virus/security scanner software may prevent some file-system specific operations.

Triaging:

Check for the "app-info" in Boostfs log messages. This would be populated with the Anti-virus/Security Scanner software names. Here "s1-agent" and "s1-fanotify" are the security scanner application names 
ddboostfs_0_0.log:265760:Apr 21 16:51:09.048 26822 1603430144 [D] bfs_get_app_info: app_info=s1-agent
ddboostfs_0_0.log:266094:Apr 21 16:51:10.102 26822 1603430144 [D] set_conn_app_info: app_info=s1-agent
Feb 24 19:52:46.803 423080 2394937088 [D] bfs_get_app_info: app_info=s1-fanotify
This means that the scanner software is accessing the Boostfs mount point.

Check the Application in DDBOOST Connections Detailed in DD ASUPs 
DDBOOST Connections Detailed with-fips-mode
----------------------------Active Clients: 5Clients:
Client                             Idle   CPUs   Memory(MiB)    Plugin Version                                                 OS Version                                Application Version   Encrypted   DSP   Transport     FIPS mode
--------------------------------   ----   ----   -----------   ---------------   --------------------------------------------------------   ------------------------------------------------   ---------   ---   ---------   -----------

c3po01                    YES      14        64,152   7.7.4.0-1017373                 Linux 4.1.12-124.67.3.el7uek.x86_64 x86_64        BOOSTFS:7.7.4.0-1017610 FUSE:2.9.4 s1-agent          NO   YES        IPv4            NO
Finally, check the settings of Scanner applications if it includes the Boostfs mount points/mounted drives.

Resolution

It is recommended to perform anti-virus scans outside the Boostfs operations window.

Check if Security Scanner Application settings can be modified to exclude the Boostfs mount points from Scanning and any other operations performed by it.

Additional Information

  1. This article applies to all BoostFS versions irrespective of any Security Scanner Software installed on it.
  2. The reported issues pertain to multiple security scanners, including Carbon-Black, McAfee, Fanotify, s1-agent, CrowdStrike, and more.

Affected Products

Data Domain
Article Properties
Article Number: 000215701
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 26 Jan 2024
Version:  4
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.