NetWorker: How to delete Data Domain System using nsradmin in offline mode

Summary: This article provides step-by-step instructions for safely deleting a Data Domain (DD) system from the NetWorker server using the command-line interface (CLI). Ensure that you have administrative privileges (Windows) or root access (Linux) before proceeding. ...

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Instructions

Use case:

This operation is needed when a decommissioned Data Domain cannot be deleted from NetWorker Management Console (NMC) through the standard interface. In such cases, where the graphical interface is no longer effective or applicable, this alternative method is necessary. 

 

CAUTION: Do not delete Data Domain systems which are active; meaning, configured in backup or clone actions. Also, do not delete Data Domains which contain valid backups or clones which may be needed for restore operations.

Prerequisites:

  • Administrator access on Windows or root access on Linux
  • Completed Server Protection backup job, collect bootstrap save set details: mminfo -B
  • Copy of the res folder from the NetWorker server resource database (NSRDB)
    • Linux: /nsr/res/nsrdb
    • Windows (Default): C:\Program Files\EMC NetWorker\nsr\res\nsrdb
NOTE: If any issues are observed, you can revert to the copy of nsrdb created before making any changes, or perform NetWorker server disaster recovery (nsrdr) using the bootstrap save set.

Steps to Delete the DD System:

  1. Stop NetWorker Services
    Linux: systemctl stop networker
    Windows (Run Command Prompt as Administrator): net stop nsrexecd /y
  2. Verify No Stale Processes Are Running
    Linux: ps -ef | grep nsr
    Windows: tasklist | findstr nsr
    Ensure that no residual NetWorker processes are running before proceeding.
  3. Make a copy of the nsrdb folder located in /nsr/res to a safer location.
  4. Delete the Data Domain Device Using nsradmin
    From the command line, navigate to /nsr/res directory and run the following: 
    nsradmin -d nsrdb

    Once inside the nsradmin prompt, perform the following commands:
    nsradmin> . type: NSR Data Domain; name:DataDomainName
    nsradmin> show name
    nsradmin> print
    nsradmin> delete type: NSR Data Domain; name:DataDomainName

    Replace DataDomainName with the name of your DD System. 
    Confirm deletion when prompted by typing yes.
    To verify successful deletion:
    nsradmin> print

    If deletion is successful, the message "No resources found for query" is displayed.
    Exit the nsradmin prompt by entering quit:
    nsradmin> quit

Additional Information

NetWorker: How to use the nsradmin command-line utility to manage NetWorker resources

Affected Products

NetWorker Family, NetWorker
Article Properties
Article Number: 000340383
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 08 Jul 2025
Version:  1
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