Dell NetWorker 19.9 Administration Guide

Configuring Client Direct backups

1. Ensure that the clients that perform Client Direct backups have a network connection and a remote network protocol to reach the storage device.
   Windows clients can use a CIFS or NFS path, although a CIFS path generally yields better performance. UNIX clients must use an NFS path.
2. Specify the complete path for the destination device in the Device access information attribute on the General tab of the Device Properties dialog box for the destination device.

   Keep in mind the following points when you specify the path:

   • If the storage device is directly attached to a Windows storage node, then the storage node uses a different path than the Client Direct clients. If the storage device is not directly attached to any storage node, then the path is the same for all storage nodes and Client Direct clients.
   • The device access information path should include multiple access paths to cover local and remote use cases.
   • To specify an NFS path, use the NFS_host:/path format regardless of whether the AFTD is local to the storage node or mountable on the storage node. Non-root UNIX/Linux NetWorker clients require this NFS format for Client Direct access.
   • For Windows Client Direct backups, specify a CIFS path instead of an NFS path. A CIFS path generally yields better performance.

   • If you are setting up an AFTD on a Windows storage node, specify the CIFS path first. For example:

     \\fileserver\aftd1
     fileserver:/aftd1
     

   • If you are setting up a UNIX/Linux storage node, specify the NFS path first. For example:

     fileserver:/aftd1
     \\fileserver\aftd1
     

   The following figure shows an example set of paths for a CIFS AFTD.

   

3. If an NFS server provides the AFTD storage for Client Direct backups, then specify the username and password that is required to access the NFS server for the AFTD in the Remote user and Password attributes on the Configuration tab of the Device Properties dialog box for the device.
4. Ensure that the Client direct attribute is enabled on the General tab of the Client Properties dialog box for each Client Direct client.

   Client Direct backups are enabled by default.

   Select View > Diagnostic Mode in the Administration interface to access the Client direct attribute in the Client Properties dialog box.