NetWorker: NDMP backup of PowerScale fails with error: Failed to allocate reader buffer due to low memory condition

Summary: Changes to the PowerScale OneFS hardware and changes to NDMP jobs to make more memory intense.

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Symptoms

  • NetWorker Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) backup fails with errors:
    • NDMP Service Error: Failed to allocate reader buffer due to low memory condition, try the backup operation later
    • Error message that is found in the NetWorker workflow or backup action logs under /nsr/logs/policy/<workflow>/
    • Error message that is found in the PowerScale support bundle under the nodes in the cluster /<clustername>-1/varlog.tar/log/isi_ndmp_d
  • PowerScale OneFS upgraded. 
  • Changes to NDMP client:
    • NDMP Client is running with a heavy backup load due to configuration.
    • Backup Renamed Directories (BRE) option is enabled under NetWorker NDMP Client Properties.
    • NDMP multistream is enabled under NetWorker NDMP Client Properties.

Cause

PowerScale OneFS code upgrade and NDMP having a heavy backup load with limited memory.

Resolution

  1. User must contact PowerScale support and create a case.
  2. User must provide the PowerScale support bundle to the PowerScale support site.

Optional Steps to provide some relief for the issue, but this must be validated with PowerScale support:

  1. Verify the number of NDMP streams on PowerScale with the command:
# isi ndmp sessions list
  1. Verify the NDMP settings in PowerScale with the command:
# isi ndmp settings variables list

Affected Products

NetWorker Family, PowerScale OneFS
Article Properties
Article Number: 000192843
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 22 Jan 2026
Version:  2
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