NetWorker: How To route Backups using multiple network cards

Symptoms

How to back up NetWorker server and clients using multiple NICs.

Resolution

This article provides examples of how to perform backups using a second network card, based on the following use cases:

Case 1

• Client:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Private LAN]
• Server:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Private LAN]
• Goal: Route all backup data through the private LAN. Metadata communication using the public LAN is acceptable.

Case 2

• Client:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Private LAN]
• Server:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Private LAN]
• Goal: Route all backup data exclusively through the private LAN.

Case 3

• Client:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
• Server:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Public LAN]
• Goal: Route all backup data to the server’s second NIC. Metadata communication using the public LAN is acceptable.

Case 4

• Client:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Public LAN]
• Server:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
• Goal: Route all backup data from the client’s second NIC. Metadata communication using the public LAN is acceptable.

Case 5

• Client:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Public LAN]
• Server:
  • NIC 1 → [Public LAN]
  • NIC 2 → [Public LAN]
• Goal: Route all backup data through the second NIC on both client and server.

Examples

During backup, the following process occurs:

Save --(a)--> Nsrindexd -----(b)--> Nsrmmdbd <--> Nsrmmdbd

• The network path is determined by the hostname configured in NetWorker Management Console (NMC).
• The path for (b) — the actual file data being backed up — is controlled by the NetWorker client’s "Server Network Interface" attribute.

Configuration Guidance

• Cases 1 & 3:
  Set the client’s "Server Network Interface" to point to the second NIC of the backup server.

• Cases 2 & 5:
  Change the hostname of the client to use the IP address of the second NIC on both the backup server and client.

• Case 4:
  Add a permanent static route on the client to direct all data packets to the backup server using the second NIC.

  • On UNIX and Windows, use the route command.
  • Refer to your operating system documentation or search online for platform-specific instructions.