Dell Avamar 19.10 Administration Guide

Preface

As part of an effort to improve its product lines, Dell periodically releases revisions of its software and hardware. Therefore, some functions that are described in this document might not be supported by all versions of the software or hardware currently in use. The product release notes provide the most up-to-date information on product features.

Contact a technical support professional when a product does not function correctly or does not function as described in this document.

NOTE:This document was accurate at publication time. To find the latest version of this document, go to Dell Support.

Purpose

This guide describes how to configure, administer, monitor, and maintain the Avamar server.

Audience

The information in this guide is primarily intended for system administrators who are responsible for maintaining servers and clients on a network, as well as operators who monitor daily backups and storage devices.

Revision history

Table 1. Revision historyThe following table presents the revision history of this document:
Revision	Date	Description
09	August 2025	Added the Best practices for updating Cloud Tier policies topic.
08	April 2025	Updated the following sections: Data Domain system properties Avamar replication on same Data Domain system with cloud tier data
07	March 2025	Updated the "Enable limited backup management," "Change server passwords and OpenSSH keys" and "Add a user to a domain" section.
06	September 2024	Updated the following sections: Enable Data Domain Retention Lock in Compliance Mode Password rules for operating system user accounts Password rules for Avamar software user accounts Password rules for Avamar software common password Added the section "Password rules for Avamar keystore passphrase password".
05	August 2024	Updated the "Log locations on Linux and Mac computers" section.
04	July 2024	Updated the following sections: Enable period lock Enable Data Domain retention lock in governance mode Delete backup when retention lock is in governance mode
03	March 2024	Updated the following sections: Configure Dell Connectivity Enable Data Domain retention lock in governance mode
02	February 2024	Updated the following sections: Install workflow packages on the Avamar server View the event catalog
01	January 2024	First release of this document for Avamar 19.10

Typographical conventions

Table 2. Style conventionsThe following type style conventions are used in this document:
Formatting	Description
Bold	Used for names of interface elements, such as names of windows, dialog boxes, buttons, fields, tab names, key names, and menu paths (what the user specifically selects or clicks)
Italic	Used for full titles of publications that are referenced in text
Monospace	Used for: System code System output, such as an error message or script Pathnames, filenames, prompts, and syntax Commands and options
`Monospace italic`	Used for variables
`Monospace bold`	Used for user input
[ ]	Square brackets enclose optional values
\|	Vertical bar indicates alternate selections - the bar means "or"
{ }	Braces enclose content that the user must specify, such as x or y or z
...	Ellipses indicate nonessential information that is omitted from the example

Where to get help

The Avamar support page provides access to licensing information, product documentation, advisories, and downloads, as well as how-to and troubleshooting information. This information may resolve a product issue before contacting Customer Support.

To access the Avamar support page:

Go to Dell Support.
Type a product name in the Enter a Service Tag, Serial Number, Service Request, Model, or Keyword search box.
Select the product from the list that appears. When you select a product, the Product Support page loads automatically.
(Optional) Add the product to the My Products list by clicking Add to My Saved Products in the upper right corner of the Product Support page.

Documentation

The Avamar product documentation provides a comprehensive set of feature overview, operational task, and technical reference information. To supplement the information in product administration and user guides, review the following documents:

Release notes provide an overview of new features and known limitations for a release.
Technical notes provide technical details about specific product features, including step-by-step tasks, where necessary.
White papers provide an in-depth technical perspective of a product or products as applied to critical business issues or requirements.

Knowledgebase

The Knowledgebase contains applicable solutions that you can search for either by solution number (for example, KB000xxxxxx) or by keyword.

To search the Knowledgebase:

Go to Dell Support.
Under the Support tab, click Knowledge Base.
Type either the solution number or keywords in the search box. Optionally, you can limit the search to specific products by typing a product name in the search box and then selecting the product from the list that appears.

Online communities

Go to Community Network at Dell Community for peer contacts, conversations, and content on product support and solutions. Interactively engage online with customers, partners, and certified professionals for all products.

Live chat

To engage Customer Support by using live interactive chat, click Join Live Chat on the Service Center panel of the Avamar support page.

Service requests

For in-depth help from Customer Support, submit a service request by clicking Create Service Requests on the Service Center panel of the Avamar support page.

NOTE:To open a service request, you must have a valid support agreement. Contact a sales representative for details about obtaining a valid support agreement or with questions about an account.

To review an open service request, click the Service Center link on the Service Center panel, and then click View and manage service requests.

Enhancing support

It is recommended to enable Dell Connectivity and Email Home on all Avamar systems:

Dell Connectivity automatically generates service requests for high priority events. To configure Dell Connectivity, see Avamar Administration Guide for detailed steps.
Email Home sends configuration, capacity, and general system information to Customer Support.

Comments and suggestions

Feedback helps to improve the accuracy, organization, and overall quality of publications. Perform one of the following steps to provide feedback:

Go to Content Feedback Portal, and submit a ticket.
Send feedback to DPADDocFeedback@dell.com.