Can two master server share images without having to import?
We have a master server in remote location which we use to backup our most important application that sits on an AIX server. We have an identical AIX server here onsite which we use for DR purposes and we back it up using another Master server. Recently we conducted a DR test in which took the tape from the remote location and shipped it on-site, I conducted a Phase 1 and 2 import of the image, the import process took over 8 hours because the image is about 1.2 TB in size. Once the image was imported i was able to restore the data to the DR server but that took a long time as well. Is there any way to design the Netbackup topology where the two master servers would be part of a trust group and can share images without having to go through the import process? How can I reduce the time it takes to recover the data?
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hi,
you can achive this by simply copying the catalog image directory from source master to destination master.i was using this sometime ago.
you can find the catalog image directory from the source master server /usr/openv/netbackup/db/images/<clientname> and copy this folder from source master to Destination master srever to the same location /usr/openv/netbackup/db/images/<clientname>, and add the source client into the one test policy in the destination master server to get this configured...
now you can browse the images from BAR window of destination master and do the alternate client restore...
hope this will help to reduce your time...
you can check if AIR feature helps to meet your requirement..
https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/blogs/netb...
I forgot to mention that both of the master servers are Windows based, will this solution still hold true? What would be the file path on a Windows server?
You have never mentioned your NBU version?
The image-copy-method will work up to NBU 7.1.
As from 7.5, the image headers are part of the EMM database. Additional steps are needed for this method.
The Windows path is similar - <install-path>\veritas\netbackup\bin\images.
This method is also known as 'Recovery without Import'. See this short white paper for details:
http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/products/White_Papers/Data_Protection/nbu_wp_replicatingbucatalogs_103003.pdf
Supporting Storage Foundation and VCS on Unix and Windows as well as NetBackup on Unix and Windows
Handy NBU Links
Excuse me for not mentioning the Netbackup version on my initial post. My remote is Server 2003 and Netbackup version 7.1,my local server is also Server 2003 and is already on version 7.5. I will be upgrading the remote server this weekend.
I would not even try to copy 7.5 images to a 7.1 master.
If both masters are on 7.5, you can use 'cat_export' to export images from EMM back to ASCII header files. See this TN: http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO72929
PS: Why not use normal catalog backup and restore to recover images at DR site?
Supporting Storage Foundation and VCS on Unix and Windows as well as NetBackup on Unix and Windows
Handy NBU Links
After upgrading the remote server to version 7.5, I conducted our DR test using the "Recovery without Import" solution provided above. Many thanks to all those that provided thier input.
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