Unable to backup NFS on Linux

[Eric Leung_2]

Configuration:
Redhat Linux ES3 (all packages updated via RHN) was setup on a HP Netserver LH3. It mounts a number of dirs. exported from HP-UX 11.00, AIX v5.2 and AIX v5.3 using autofs service. NFS v3 was used.

Omniback v4.1 was used to handle the backup for the mounted dirs on the Linux server. Omniback agent was succesfully installed on the Linux box.

Problem:
Dir from HP-UX 11.00 can be successfully backup while Dir from AIX v5.2, V5.3 cannot be backed up and the backup job hanged. An error message "nfs: server not responding, still trying" displayed on the Linux console. Please note that the AIX dirs can be accessed on the Linux server before backup starts.(i.e. the NFS setup should be OK)

Would any expert can give me some assistance on this.

[Steven E. Protter]

The Linux machine is reporting that it lost contact with an NFS server it was supposed to mount.

This could be due to network problems, duplicate ip's on the network, or the server that was mounted going offline.

There should be an error message on the machine that is the hostname in the error message.

Further, when Linux exports NFS, the default configuration may not permit correct connections to the Linux server. /etc/exports needs to be examined for statements that limit the hostnames that can connect.

SEP

[Rajesh SB]

Hi,

***
An error message "nfs: server not responding, still trying" displayed on the Linux console.
***
This message indicates problem with NFS Server side. The Linux system not able to access the NFS share.

Here nothing to do with Omniback.

Regards,
Rajesh

[Eric Leung_2]

Thanks for your advices!

I agree with you both that there shouldn't be any problem on Omniback side.

However, I also believe that there was no problem on both network, server and NFS setup because they behaved normally before the backup started. In addition, the problem is repeatable and reproducible.

Based on my finding, the "equations" should be:
Omniback = OK
Linux NFS <-(HP-UX) = OK
Linux NFS <-(AIX) = OK
Omniback + Linux NFS<-(HP-UX) = OK
Omniback + Linux NFS<-(AIX) = Not OK

[John Waller]

Why are you using omniback to backup the AIX filesystems via NFS on your Linux server, there is an omniback disk agent for AIX which could be installed.
The problem could be due to network performance. Omniback can obtain outstanding performance (10Gb in 22 mins to an Ultrium3 from a disk agent remote to the tape drive). It may be the network card on your AIX server is only running at 10Mb/s where as the HP-UX server is 100Mb/s and Omniback has problems detecting the change in performance as it is backing up via the NFS link.

[Mario_135]

Hello,
First I want to say my English is medium level :) If I make a mistake please forgive me.

Ok, I have a question for John Waller.
I'm looking for disk agent for AIX. Could you tell me where can I find it ?
Give me link if you can.

[Mario_135]

Oh, god - sorry for my supid question :)
It was installation server.