vRanger 7.8.1 - Integration Guide for EMC Data Domain Boost (DD Boost)

Configuring vRanger

Configuring vRanger

vRanger requires some basic configuration before data protection can begin. The bulk of this configuration is driven by the Startup Wizard which starts the first time the application is opened. For more information, see the Quest vRanger Installation/Upgrade Guide.

The following topics describe the primary configurations you need to make.

•

Adding vCenters or hosts: Before you can begin backups, you must add one or more VMware® vCenter™ or ESXi™ servers to the vRanger inventory. To add a vCenter, you must have credentials with Administrator access to the vCenter, along with root-level credentials for each host managed by the vCenter. vRanger provides the option to exclude hosts from the vRanger inventory, which also excludes them from licensing.

•	Adding repositories: Repositories are where vRanger stores the savepoints created by each backup job. For the purposes of this integration, an EMC® Data Domain® Boost (DD Boost™) repository should be used.

The DD Boost server must be fully configured and running before adding it as a vRanger Repository. For procedures on how to add a DD Boost server as a repository, see Managing repository replication.

Adding an EMC Data Domain Boost (DD Boost) repository

Adding an EMC Data Domain Boost (DD Boost) repository

The following process describes how to add an EMC® Data Domain® Boost (DD Boost™) repository. The following procedure assumes that:

•	You have a properly configured Data Domain appliance that is accessible to the vRanger machine.

•	DD Boost is licensed and enabled on the Data Domain device.

•	You have designated a DD Boost User account.

 

NOTE: For information on setting up the preceding configurations, see your EMC Data Domain documentation.

To add an EMC Data Domain Boost Repository:

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click anywhere, and click Add > EMC Data Domain Boost (DDB).

2	In the Add EMC Data Domain Boost 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 IP or FQDN for the Data Domain device.

▪	User name and Password: Enter the credentials for the account selected as the DD Boost User on the Data Domain device.

 

NOTE: For information on creating a DD Boost user name, see your Data Domain documentation.

▪	Storage Unit: This field specifies the Storage Unit configured on the Data Domain device. Select one from the drop-down menu, or enter the name for a new Storage Unit and vRanger creates one for you.

 

IMPORTANT: The supported characters are alphanumeric characters and ~!@#$^_+`-={}[],.

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

Replication is configured through the My Repositories pane of the vRanger interface. The following procedure assumes that:

•	You have configured at least one DD Boost repository in vRanger.

•	At least one other Data Domain device with DD Boost enabled is available in your environment to serve as the replication target. You do not have to add this device to vRanger.

•	All devices used in replication have a Replicator license installed.

To configure replication:

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click the Data Domain Boost 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: Enter the IP or FQDN for the Data Domain device.

▪	DD Boost User name and Password: Enter the credentials for the account selected as the DD Boost User on the Data Domain device.

▪	Storage Unit: This field specifies the Storage Unit configured on the Data Domain device. Select one from the drop-down menu, or enter the name for a new Storage Unit and vRanger creates one for you.

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 EMC Data Domain Boost repository, and select Edit Replication Configuration.

2	In the Edit EMC Data Domain Boost Repository 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 an EMC DD Boost repository

Removing an EMC DD Boost repository

The process for removing an EMC® Data Domain® Boost (DD Boost™) repository is the same as removing any other repository type, except that you also have the option of removing the storage unit used by the repository. There is a hard limit on the number storage units that can be configured on a Data Domain device, which makes removing unused storage units an important maintenance effort.

To remove a DD Boost repository:

1	In the My Repositories pane, right-click the applicable EMC Data Domain Boost 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, select Delete DD Boost storage unit, and click OK.

The savepoints are deleted, along with the storage unit associated with the repository.