Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Symantec Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option
The software described in this book is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Legal Notice Copyright © 2008 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Symantec, Backup Exec, and the Symantec logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries.
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Contents Chapter 1 Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option ........................................................ 7 About the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option .................................... 8 About the DL Appliance configuration states and configuration policies ..................................................................................
Contents Viewing properties of unconfigured virtual disks on a storage array ............................................................................. Viewing properties of physical disks on a storage array ................. Renaming a virtual disk or storage array .................................... About the All Virtual Disks device pool in the Storage Provisioning Option .........................................................
Chapter 1 Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option This chapter includes the following topics: ■ About the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option ■ About the DL Appliance configuration states and configuration policies ■ About the Backup Exec license keys ■ About creating a Backup Exec services account ■ About virtual disks in the Storage Provisioning Option ■ About hot sp
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option The Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option provides you with automated discovery, provisioning, and management of the disk storage resources that are connected to the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL B
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About the DL Appliance configuration states and configuration policies About the DL Appliance configuration states and configuration policies The DL Appliance operates in one of two configuration states: standard or advanced. Backup Exec automatically determines the configuration state by checking the type, size, and configuration of the physical disks within the storage enclosure.
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About the DL Appliance configuration states and configuration policies Table 1-3 DL Appliance configuration policies Configuration policy Description Automatic with confirmation With the Automatic with confirmation policy, Backup Exec first determines the total amount of disk space that is available in a disk group.
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About the Backup Exec license keys Table 1-3 DL Appliance configuration policies (continued) Configuration policy Description Manual Backup Exec does not configure the disk groups or hot spares. You can use the Dell™ OpenManage™ Server Administrator to create virtual disks or to configure hot spares.
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About virtual disks in the Storage Provisioning Option Any new or existing account that you designate for Backup Exec services is assigned the following rights: ■ Authenticate as any user and then gain access to resources under any user identity. ■ Create a token object, which can then be used to access any local resources. ■ Log on as a service.
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About virtual disks in the Storage Provisioning Option You can configure three low disk space thresholds for the virtual disks. As available disk space reaches each threshold, Backup Exec sends an alert. When the available disk space on the virtual disk reaches the third threshold, the alert warns you to create more disk space immediately.
Introducing the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance and the Backup Exec Storage Provisioning Option About hot spares in the Storage Provisioning Option About hot spares in the Storage Provisioning Option A hot spare is a physical disk that logically takes the place of any physical disk that fails in a striped with parity disk group. You should specify a hot spare that is at least the same size as the physical disk with the least capacity in each disk group.
Chapter 2 Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option This chapter includes the following topics: ■ Completing the Backup Exec installation by using the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance Configuration Wizard ■ About configuring virtual disks during initial startup ■ About using the Backup Exec Command Line Applet with the Storage Provisioning Option ■ About recovering the DL Appliance using the Intelligent Disaster Recovery option Completing the Back
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option Completing the Backup Exec installation by using the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance Configuration Wizard Note: Before you complete the Backup Exec installation, find the Backup Exec license keys. These keys are required to complete the installation. To purchase license keys for additional Backup Exec agents and options, contact your Dell representative.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option Completing the Backup Exec installation by using the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance Configuration Wizard Note: If you create a virtual disk with an application other than Backup Exec, you must configure it before Backup Exec uses it as a device for jobs. See “Configuring an unconfigured virtual disk for use with Backup Exec” on page 52.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option Completing the Backup Exec installation by using the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance Configuration Wizard Creating a bootable CD image for the DL Appliance Dell recommends that you create a bootable CD image for the DL Appliance. You can use the Intelligent Disaster Recovery Preparation Wizard to create the bootable CD image.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option About configuring virtual disks during initial startup About configuring virtual disks during initial startup After you finish with the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance Configuration Wizard, and you start Backup Exec for the first time, virtual disk creation takes place. Backup Exec does the following: ■ Detects the configuration state of all storage enclosures that are attached to the DL Appliance.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option About using the Backup Exec Command Line Applet with the Storage Provisioning Option Table 2-1 Alert response descriptions (continued) Response Description No When you click No, Backup Exec stops virtual disk configuration. If you select No, the alert does not automatically appear again unless you do the following: Close ■ Scan the storage array. ■ Change the hardware configuration.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option About using the Backup Exec Command Line Applet with the Storage Provisioning Option Table 2-2 Command line switches for the Storage Provisioning Option Function Operation View physical disk properties -o531 Switch Description Outputs the properties for a specified physical disk on a storage array. Returns a 1 if the command succeeds or a -1 if the command fails.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option About using the Backup Exec Command Line Applet with the Storage Provisioning Option Table 2-2 Function Command line switches for the Storage Provisioning Option (continued) Operation Switch Description -ucf:unconfigurable Returns a 1 if the disk cannot be configured because it is in a bad state. Returns a 0 if the disk is available for configuration so that Backup Exec can use it.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option About using the Backup Exec Command Line Applet with the Storage Provisioning Option Table 2-2 Function Command line switches for the Storage Provisioning Option (continued) Operation Switch Description -vi:virtual disk ID Required. or -vn:virtual disk name -w Rename a virtual disk or a storage array Specifies the ID or the name of the virtual disk on the storage array. Waits for the present operation to finish.
Installing and configuring Backup Exec by using the Storage Provisioning Option About recovering the DL Appliance using the Intelligent Disaster Recovery option You can find information about the Command Line Applet and other switches in a PDF document named BEWSCommandLine_.pdf. This document is located in the Backup Exec installation directory.
Chapter 3 Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec This chapter includes the following topics: ■ About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec After Backup Exec detects disk groups and configures the virtual disks, it creates a Storage Arrays icon in the Devices view under the media server name. Each virtual disk appears under the storage array to which it belongs.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Figure 3-1 Storage Arrays icon and the All Virtual Disks icon Viewing storage array components in Backup Exec You can view the storage array components in Backup Exec: To view storage array components in Backup Exec 1 On the navigation bar, click Devices. 2 Expand Storage Arrays. 3 View the storage array components.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec 3 In the task pane, under General Tasks, click Properties.,and then click the General tab. 4 On the General tab, view the following information: Name Displays the name that Backup Exec assigns to the storage array. The name is ARRAYx, where x is a number that is incremented each time that you add a storage array. You can edit this field to rename the device.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Total capacity Lists the expected amount of total raw capacity of all the physical disks in the storage array. If a storage array can read the total capacity, then it appears in this field. Otherwise, Backup Exec estimates the total capacity. Used capacity The amount of raw capacity of all of the physical disks in the storage array that have been used.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Hardware health Values for hardware health are as follows: OK. The storage array is online. ■ Warning. ■ The storage array may fail or produce errors, but it is currently operational. The storage array and the virtual disks on the storage array are offline. Backup Exec cannot access them. ■ Critical. The storage array has failed.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Name Displays the name Backup Exec assigns to the virtual disk. The name is VIRTDISK x , where x is a number that increments each time that you add a virtual disk. You can edit this field to rename the device. Names cannot exceed 128 characters. You can choose a name if you use the Dell™ OpenManage™ Server Administrator to configure the virtual disk.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Hardware status Values for the hardware status are as follows: ■ OK The virtual disk is online. Offline The virtual disk is offline. Backup Exec cannot access it. To bring the virtual disk online, refer to the Dell documentation and management software that is supplied with the storage array. ■ Failed The virtual disk has failed. Backup Exec cannot access it.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Disk classification The type of disk group that the virtual disk is on. Backup Exec creates only physical disk groups with a disk classification of Stripe with parity (RAID 5). If another disk classification appears, the disk group was created with an application other than the Storage Provisioning Option.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec See “Setting default options for an individual virtual disk on a storage array” on page 41. Viewing properties of unconfigured virtual disks on a storage array You can view the properties of an unconfigured virtual disk on a storage array. To view properties of unconfigured virtual disks on a storage array 1 On the navigation bar, click Devices.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Hardware health Values for the hardware health are as follows: OK The unconfigured virtual disk is online. ■ Warning The unconfigured virtual disk may fail or produce errors, but it is currently operational. ■ Critical The unconfigured virtual disk has failed. ■ Unspecified The unconfigured virtual disk is in the process of configuration.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Enclosure Identifies the enclosure that the physical disk is in. Slot Identifies the slot that the physical disk occupies. Capacity The total amount of available disk space on the physical disk in this slot. State States are as follows: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Hot spare The physical disk is configured as a hot spare.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec Status Values for hardware status are as follows: OK The physical disk is online. ■ Offline ■ The physical disk is offline. The virtual disks that use this physical disk may also be offline. Backup Exec cannot access them. ■ Failed The physical disk has failed. The virtual disks that use this physical disk may also fail. Backup Exec cannot access the virtual disks.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec To rename a virtual disk or storage array 1 On the navigation bar, click Devices. 2 Expand Storage Arrays, and then select the virtual disk or the storage array that you want to rename. 3 In the task pane, under General Tasks, click Rename. 4 Rename the virtual disk or storage array, and then click OK. The device is renamed.
Viewing general properties, components, and virtual disks in Backup Exec About viewing storage array components in Backup Exec
Chapter 4 Setting default configuration options for virtual disks This chapter includes the following topics: ■ Setting default options for all virtual disks on a storage array ■ Setting default options for an individual virtual disk on a storage array Setting default options for all virtual disks on a storage array You can set the default options that apply to all new virtual disks on the storage arrays. To set defaults for all virtual disks on a storage array 1 On the Tools menu, click Options.
Setting default configuration options for virtual disks Setting default options for all virtual disks on a storage array 3 Set the following defaults as appropriate: Maximum number of backup sets per file Type the maximum number of backup sets to write to a virtual disk. The maximum number can be from one to 8192. The default is 100. If you specify fewer rather than more backup sets in a file, Backup Exec may be able to reclaim disk space faster. For example, you specify 100 backup sets per file.
Setting default configuration options for virtual disks Setting default options for an individual virtual disk on a storage array 4 Threshold 2 Type the low disk space threshold at which you want Backup Exec to send the second of three alerts. The default is 85%, which is a percentage of the total available disk space on this virtual disk. You can change the default, and you can change the amount of space from a percentage to megabytes or gigabytes.
Setting default configuration options for virtual disks Setting default options for an individual virtual disk on a storage array Second threshold Type the second low disk space threshold at which you want Backup Exec to send an alert. You can change the value of the threshold, and you can change the amount of disk space to megabytes or gigabytes. When the amount of used disk space reaches this threshold, Backup Exec sends an alert.
Setting default configuration options for virtual disks Setting default options for an individual virtual disk on a storage array Buffered write Check Buffered write in the following situations: You do not want Backup Exec to automatically detect settings for this device. ■ You want this device to allow buffered writes, which is the writing of large blocks of data. ■ The default setting is On. 5 Click OK.
Setting default configuration options for virtual disks Setting default options for an individual virtual disk on a storage array
Chapter 5 Predicting disk usage, setting thresholds, and configuring alerts using Backup Exec This chapter includes the following topics: ■ About predicting disk usage in the Storage Provisioning Option ■ Configuring an alert for low disk space on storage arrays ■ Configuring disk space thresholds for a virtual disk About predicting disk usage in the Storage Provisioning Option After you install the Storage Provisioning Option, Backup Exec can predict the usage of disk space on the storage arrays.
Predicting disk usage, setting thresholds, and configuring alerts using Backup Exec Configuring an alert for low disk space on storage arrays Backup Exec uses the sample data to estimate the rate at which future jobs will use space in the disk array. Backup Exec computes the statistical average for previous usage and determines any upward trends or downward trends.
Predicting disk usage, setting thresholds, and configuring alerts using Backup Exec Configuring disk space thresholds for a virtual disk 3 Change the following defaults as appropriate: Send low disk space alert x days before Type the number of days before low disk predicted low disk space condition for all space occurs that you want Backup Exec storage arrays to send an alert. The default number is 30 days.
Predicting disk usage, setting thresholds, and configuring alerts using Backup Exec Configuring disk space thresholds for a virtual disk 3 In the task pane, under General Tasks, click Properties. 4 On the Advanced tab, complete the following information as appropriate: First threshold Type the first low disk space threshold at which you want Backup Exec to send an alert. You can change the value of the threshold, and you can change the amount of disk space to megabytes or gigabytes.
Predicting disk usage, setting thresholds, and configuring alerts using Backup Exec Configuring disk space thresholds for a virtual disk Buffered read Check Buffered read in the following situations: You do not want Backup Exec to automatically detect settings for this device. ■ You want this device to allow buffered reads, which is the reading of large blocks of data. ■ If you enable Buffered read, increased performance may result. The default setting is Off.
Predicting disk usage, setting thresholds, and configuring alerts using Backup Exec Configuring disk space thresholds for a virtual disk
Chapter 6 Expanding storage capabilities of the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance by using the Storage Provisioning Option This chapter includes the following topics: ■ About detecting a new storage array enclosure ■ About manually creating a virtual disk About detecting a new storage array enclosure You can expand the storage capacity of the DL Appliance by adding an additional storage array enclosure.
Expanding storage capabilities of the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance by using the Storage Provisioning Option About manually creating a virtual disk If the DL Appliance uses a policy called Automatic without confirmation, Backup Exec immediately creates the virtual disks. It adds the virtual disks to the All Virtual Disks device pool and to the storage array that is found under Storage Arrays. See “About the DL Appliance configuration states and configuration policies” on page 9.
Expanding storage capabilities of the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance by using the Storage Provisioning Option About manually creating a virtual disk To configure an unconfigured virtual disk for use with Backup Exec 1 On the navigation bar, click Devices. 2 Expand Storage Arrays, and then select the unconfigured virtual disk. 3 In the task pane, under Media Tasks, click Configure. 4 When you are prompted, click OK.
Expanding storage capabilities of the Dell™ PowerVault™ DL Backup to Disk Appliance by using the Storage Provisioning Option About manually creating a virtual disk
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting This chapter includes the following topics: ■ Troubleshooting the DL Appliance Troubleshooting the DL Appliance Refer to the Dell documentation and management software for help if the following issues occur with the DL Appliance: ■ The hardware health status for the storage array is Offline. ■ The hardware status for the storage array is Failed. ■ The hardware health status for the storage array is Critical.
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting the DL Appliance
Index A C alert response descriptions 20 alerts configuring for low disk space 46 sample groups 46 sample interval 46 samples per group 46 All Virtual Disks device pool description 37 automatic with confirmation configuration policy 10 automatic without confirmation configuration policy 10 configuration policies 9 Configuration policy automatic without confirmation 10 manual 11 configuration policy automatic with confirmation 10 configuration state advanced 9 standard 9 Configure Storage Array job 16 B
Index L license keys Dell Software License Key product card 11 entering Backup Exec 11 purchasing additional 11 low disk space thresholds first threshold 41 second threshold 41 setting for a virtual disk 41 setting global defaults for virtual disks 39 third threshold 41 P physical disk properties capacity 34 enclosure 34 health 34 slot 34 state 34 status 34 viewing properties 34 policies automatic with confirmation 10 automatic without confirmation 10 S services account assigned rights 11 Backup Exec
Index virtual disk (continued) name 29 renaming 36 second threshold 47 setting defaults 41 setting global defaults 39 Allow x concurrent jobs 39 Maximum number of backup sets per file 39 Maximum size for files 39 Threshold 1 39 Threshold 2 39 Threshold 3 39 setting low disk space thresholds 39, 41 states 13 status 29 third threshold 47 used capacity 29 viewing general properties 29 virtual disks striped with parity 8 59
