BCV backup on SUN systems using HP-UX Backup server

[Mihaita Bighiu]

Hi,

I like to know if somebody was able to do a BCV backup for a SUN system using a HP-UX backup server.
To give you more details:
- all systems are SUN connected to EMC
- there are BCV pairs for some of them
- the backup server is running on HP-UX 11i
- backup software is OB 4.1
- backup device is HP DLT library (model is not relevant)
- during the backup, the BCV disks should be mounted on the backup server.

Thanks,
MB

[Scott Hanson_1]

MB,

Are you trying to do raw disk backups (ie. just backing up from the device file direct to tape over the SAN) or are you mounting filesystems etc?

If the former, then yes we are doing this.

Scott

[Mihaita Bighiu]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your imput. We do not intend to do raw device backup, as there is no option to restore any particular file. Do you have any?

Will be perfect if there is a solution to mount the FS on the backup server. As I know SUN Solarix 8 and HP-UX FS are not identical.

Thanks.

[Vincent Fleming]

MB,

Sun and HP use different disk partitioning formats/paradigms. Therefore, an HP-UX machine cannot mount a Solaris filesystem, and a Solaris machine cannot mount an HP-UX filesystem.

You have several choices on what to do in this case:

1. Perform raw backups of BCVs
2. Backup over LAN from Solaris to HP-UX
3. Use a Solaris machine instead of HP-UX for the backup server.

Choosing between the options you have is a matter of your needs and budget. Option #2 would be the least expensive, but has the drawback of lower performance (but may be adequate for you). You already pointed out the pitfalls of option #1 (difficult to restore individual files). Option #3 would be relatively expensive, as you may need to purchase new hardware and software.

Good luck - I hope you find something that works for you.

[Mihaita Bighiu]

Hi,

Thanks for feedback.
We decided to use a Solaris machine instead of HP-UX for the backup server . :( but I have no choice! Unfortunately raw device backup does not work for us.

Now I have to figure out what are the requirements for OB 4.1 to work on Solaris 8.
I haven't see so many details about OB 4.1 and SUN Solaris. I'll appreciate some ussefull links and tips.

Thanks,
MB

[Quin Hammes]

MB,
Should be no problem. OmniBack supports Solaris 8 just fine. If you are putting the tape directly on the Sun box then you need to add a media agent or just if you are going to mount the BCV and then back it up over the network then the Sun box just needs a disk agent. If it is going to be a direct connection then you just need to add another tape device to omniback. Of course the nice thing is that this does not cost anything extra to do all this. With Netbackup, you would be charged thousands just to do this. If you have any problems using the Sun tape drive in OmniBack, call HP support right away because there is sometimes some very small glitches which need to be resolved but nothing major.


Quin