SAN backup

[Brian Lee]

Hi,

I need your help to build SAN backup.

Here is backup environment below;
- 3 k-Class Servers
- 4 Compaq unix Servers
- 2 DLT4000 4/48 tape libraries
- 1 STK9714 tape library

What kind of SAN equipments do I need?
Please help me out.
Thanks.

[Michael Tully · Accepted solution]

Hi,

If you were to run backups you will need to install fibre channel cards into your K class servers, card model A6685A. You will need to get the driver software for them as well. You can get that from here: http://www.software.hp.com/cgi-bin/swdepot_parser.cgi/cgi/displayProductInfo.pl?productNumber=A6685A
I can't help you with the compaq servers in regards to FC cards. Someone else may have the answer to this. You would need to purchase at least a 16 port brocade switch, so that it can all be hooked (zoned) up together.

ALthough I'm not that familiar with tape drive units I'm assuming that they have fibre channel capability. You would then need to purchase some sort of intelligent software to run your backups, omniback/veritas/legato to name a few. Each server would need to have the appropriate kernel drivers in which to use the robotics of the hardware. More specifics could be mentioned once you have selected all parts of your puzzle.

You don't mention disks at all. Perhpas this is a future requirement?

Michael

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi

What backup software do you use ?

I use OmniBack for backup in a SAN enviroment.
I had some problem with JNI FC-HBA and OmniBack but Qlogic worked very well. I use SanBlade 2200 (1GBit) but there is a 2GBit version too.

http://qlogic.com/products/
If your librarys not has FC connection you need a FC-router, for example a Chaparral.
http://www.chaparralnet.com

Then you need FC-HBA for the HP computers and a 16 port switch as Michael says.

[Brian Lee]

Hi,

We are gonna use veritas netbackup.

Michael, our librarys don't have FC connection, so that we need a FC router.
what's difference between "scsi-to-fibre channel bridges" and "FC routers"?

What about FC-SCSI multiplexer?

Thanks in advance.

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi

I don't know if there is an official definition.

A bridge is a protocoll converter FC/SCSI.

A router is more "intelligent", the biggest difference seems to be support for "Extended Copy" . This is used with "Serverless Backup" solutions, data is transfered direct from (SAN-attached) disks to tape. If you don't plan to use this feature a bridge will do the job for you.

Perhaps I am wrong but it seems as most new devices of this kind is routers.

[Brian Lee]

Thanks Leif,

In our environment, what is the best bridge for 2 HP DLT4000 tape libraries- One library has 2 DLT drives and the other has 4 DLT drives.

And if we build SAN backup(LAN-free backup) using Switch and bridge, what spec. should those equipments have?

Thanks.

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi
If you prefer a "HP-only" solution HP har a small FC bridge FC 2/1 LV with one 1GBit FC connetor and two LVD/SE SCSI connections. As the DLT4000 drives has moderate performance i think this is enough if you connect one library to each SCSI bus. This bridge has no support for Extended Copy.

HP has also several switches, for example 16B or 2/16.

Another "HP" alternative is Compaq SAN components.

If you don't need to buy HP products you can save mony. There is several 3-party vendors of SAN components, for example Qlogic (HBA and switches), Gadzox (switches), Emulex (HBA), and Chaparral (routers and Raid controllers).

The problem with a such solution is that not all components is compatible. If you consider a such solution, verify that all components will work together.

[Brian Lee]

Thanks a lot.

[Johan Nielsen]

Hello,
My research so far seems to indicate that the component that has made many SAN backup implementations a less than positive experience is the FC-to-SCSI bridge.

It's my understanding that bridging from SCSI to FC can be done right and I think that starts with carefully choosing vendors and looking at single-vendor, sanctioned, tested solutions.

We have decided to wait for native switch fabric FC tape drives such as 2nd Gen. LTO and the 9840 or 9940.

Good luck.

johan

[Peter Brewster]

Hi,

Configuration needs like your's are handled well by an Omniserve from TD Systems. That is what we do. Configure for any combination of different SCSIs and/or Fibre Channel, on both server-side and target-side. We installed SANs before they were called SANs.

It is probably inappropriate to push product in this forum. Nevertheless it'll do the job for you.

Peter Brewster
peter@tdsys.com

[Keith Clark]

If you are going to use NetBackup, you also need to purchase the Shared Storage Option (SSO). SSO enables the sharing of tapes in your NetBackup environment. Basically every server connected to the SAN becomes a media server, responsible for managing it's own media.

As a general rule of thumb, a SAN connected server using SSO should have a minimum of 100G of data. That is the point that it becomes cost effective.

Keep in mind that when a SSO server uses a tape, that tape "belongs" to the server. This is the same as any media server in Netbackup (can't share tapes between media servers), but if you are using network backups as opposed to SAN, many clients can share tapes in a single media server. This limitation can drastically change your tape utilization.

Here is a glossy brochure (pdf) for SSO:

http://eval.veritas.com/downloads/pro/nbu_4_5_sso_ds.pdf

I would read the admin guide and ensure that you understand all of the limitations with SSO before you proceed. Here are links to the 3.4 and 4.5 admin guides.

http://ftp.support.veritas.com/pub/support/products/NetBackup_DataCenter/mediamgr_dc_adminguide_sso_233840.pdf

http://ftp.support.veritas.com/pub/support/products/NetBackup_DataCenter/246740.pdf

Good luck,

Keith

[Quin Hammes]

I would not suggest Netbackup for your environment based on the size. NBU is a complex and very expensive (10 times more expensive the last time I looked into it) because they charge for clients and media servers while omniback only charge for database extensions (which i never felt do most people any good) and the number of tape drives being used at once.

[Brian Lee]

Hello Quin,

I understand netbackup is very expensive software, but it supports almost all OS while Omniback doesnot. e.g.,
Compaq Tru64 UNIX..

That's why I am going to go with netback.

Thanks.