vRanger 7.6.3 - User Guide

Adding a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository

Adding a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository

The Quest DR Series disk-based data protection appliances optimize storage utilization and reduce network bandwidth requirements with in-line deduplication, server-side compression, and compressed and deduplicated replication.

The Quest DR Series include the following appliance types:

•	DR4000 System: This version consists of preinstalled Quest DR System software on a Dell™ PowerEdge™ R510 appliance platform.

•	DR4100 System: This version consists of preinstalled Quest DR System software on a Dell PowerEdge R720xd appliance platform.

•	DR6000 System: This version consists of preinstalled DR6000 system software on a Dell PowerEdge R720xd appliance platform. This version differs from the DR4100 by including a higher level of base system hardware.

The Quest DR Series supports Common Internet File System (CIFS), Network File System (NFS), and RDA protocols. The RDA protocol provides a logical disk interface for the Quest DR Series system, and enables better coordination and integration between vRanger and the Quest DR Series system and provides for client-side deduplication of vRanger backups.

 

NOTE: Quest recommends that you use the RDA protocol when using a Quest DR Series system as a repository.

For more information about the Quest DR Series systems, see the Quest DR Series System Administrator Guide.

Adding a Quest DR Series system as an RDA repository

Adding a Quest DR Series system as an RDA repository

The following process describes how to add a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository. The following procedure assumes that:

•	You have a properly configured the Quest DR Series appliance that is accessible to the vRanger machine.

•	You created at least one storage container to be used as a Logical Storage Unit. When creating the storage container, use the options:

▪	Connection type: RDA

▪	RDA type: RDS

•	You have designated an RDA User account.

•	You configured your firewall to enable the following TCP ports.

▪

9904

▪

9911

▪

9915

▪

9916

▪

9920

 

NOTE: For information on setting up the preceding configurations, see your Quest DR Series documentation.

To add a Quest DR Series system as an RDA repository:

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click anywhere, and click Add > Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA).

2	In the Add Quest Rapid Access Repository dialog box, complete the following fields:

▪	Repository Name: Enter a descriptive name for the repository.

▪	Description: [Optional] Enter a long-form description for the repository.

▪	DNS Name or IP: Enter the DNS name or IP address of the Quest DR Series system.

▪	RDA Username: Enter a user account that can be used to log in to the device. On the Quest DR Series system, only one user account exists, and the user ID for that account is backup_user. You can only change the password for this account; you cannot create an account or delete the existing account.

▪	RDA Password: Enter the password for the user account. The default is: St0r@ge!

▪	Logical Storage Unit: Enter the name of the storage container. Ensure that the container is created before you add the device. You cannot add the device if the specified container does not exist on the device. When creating the storage container, use the options:

▫	Connection type: RDA

▫	RDA type: RDS

▪	Port Number: Leave this value at 0 to use the default.

3

Click OK.

The connection to the repository is tested and the repository is added to the My Repositories pane and the Repository Information dialog box.

vRanger checks the configured repository location for existing manifest data to identify existing savepoints.

4	If vRanger finds existing savepoints, click the applicable button:

▪	Import as Read-Only: To import all savepoint data into the vRanger database, but only for restores, click this button. You cannot back up data to this repository.

▪	Import: To import all savepoint data into the vRanger database, click this button. vRanger is able to use the repository for backups and restores. vRanger requires read and write access to the directory.

▪	Overwrite: To retain the savepoint data on the disk and not import it into vRanger, click this button. vRanger ignores the existence of the existing savepoint data and treats the repository as new.

Configuring repository replication

Configuring repository replication

Data Replication is configured through the My Repositories pane of the vRanger interface.

 

TIP: For more information on repository replication, see the Quest DR Series System Administrator Guide.

The following procedure assumes that:

•	You have configured at least one Quest RDA repository in vRanger.

•	At least one other Quest DR Series appliance with RDA is available in your environment to serve as the replication target. You do not have to add this device to vRanger.

To configure Replication:

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click the Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository, and select Configure Replication.

2	In the Configure Replication dialog box, complete the following fields:

▪	Repository Name: Enter a descriptive name for the repository.

▪	Description: [Optional] Enter a long-form description for the repository.

▪	DNS Name or IP: The DNS name or IP address of the Quest DR Series system.

▪	RDA Username: Enter a user account that can be used to log in to the device. On the Quest DR Series system, only one user account exists, and the user ID for that account is backup_user. You can only change the password for this account; you cannot create an account or delete the existing account.

▪	RDA Password: Enter the password for the user account.

▪	Logical Storage Unit: Enter the name of the storage container. Ensure that the container is created before you add the device. You cannot add the device if the specified container does not exist on the device. When creating the storage container, use the options:

▫	Connection type: RDA

▫	RDA type: RDS

▪	Port Number: Leave this value at 0 to use the default.

3

Click OK.

The connection to the device is tested and the device is added as a repository is added to the My Repositories pane and the Repository Information dialog box.

After replication is configured for a repository, the Configure Replication option is disabled for that repository.

 

IMPORTANT: After a repository is configured for replication, you must select a synchronization method before replication occurs. For information on manual and automatic synchronization options, see Managing repository replication.

Editing a replication configuration

You may edit an existing replication configuration to update credentials or timeout values. You may also use the Edit Repository Details dialog box to view free space for the repository.

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click the Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository, and select Edit Replication Configuration.

2	In the Edit Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) dialog box, edit any of the following fields:

▪	Repository Name

▪

User Name

▪

Password

3	Alternatively, view the Free Space field for up-to-date information about this repository.

4	If you edited any of the fields, click Update.

 

NOTE: For information on disabling repository replication, see Disabling repository replication.

Removing a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository

Removing a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository

The process for removing a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository is the same as removing any other repository type.

To remove a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository:

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click the Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository, and select Remove.

The Remove Repository dialog box appears, showing the savepoints in the selected repository.

When removing a repository, you have the option of keeping the savepoints on disk or deleting them. To remove the storage unit associated with the repository, you need to remove the savepoints. If replication is configured for this repository, you are also given the option to delete the savepoints in the replicated repository.

2	Select Delete all savepoints in this repository.

 

CAUTION: This step deletes the savepoints from the repository disk, not just the vRanger database. Exercise caution when deleting savepoints.

3	To delete the savepoints in a replicated repository, select Delete all savepoints in replication repository.

4

Click OK.

5	When the Delete Savepoints dialog box appears, click OK to delete the savepoints.