Chat now with support
Chat with Support

DR Series Software 3.2.6 - Administrator Guide

Introduction to the DR Series System Documentation Understanding the DR Series System Setting Up the DR Series System Hardware Configuring the DR Series System Settings Managing DR Series Storage Operations Monitoring the DR Series System Using Global View Using the DR Series System Support Options Configuring and Using Rapid NFS and Rapid CIFS Configuring and Using Rapid Data Access with Dell NetVault Backup and with Dell vRanger Configuring and Using RDA with OST
Understanding RDA with OST Guidelines Terminology Supported RDA with OST Software and Components Best Practices: RDA with OST and the DR Series System Setting Client-Side Optimization Configuring an LSU Installing the RDA with OST Plug-In Configuring DR Series System Information Using NetBackup Backing Up Data From a DR Series System (NetBackup) Using Backup Exec With a DR Series System (Windows) Understanding the OST CLI Commands Understanding RDA with OST Plug-In Diagnostic Logs Collecting Diagnostics Using a Linux Utility Guidelines for Gathering Media Server Information
Configuring and Using VTL Configuring and Using Encryption at Rest Troubleshooting and Maintenance Supported Ports in a DR Series System Getting Help

RDA with OST for the DR Series System

RDA with OST for the DR Series System

OpenStorage Technology (OST) is developed by Symantec and provides a logical disk interface for use with network storage devices. The DR Series system appliance can use OST via DR Rapid plug-in software to integrate its data storage operations with a number of data management applications (DMAs). Within Dell, OST is part of DR Rapid.

RDA with OST allows for better coordination and tighter integration between DR Series system backup, restore, and optimized duplication operations and data management applications. For a list of the supported applications, see the Dell DR Series System Interoperability Guide.

Integration is done via a RDA with OST plug-in developed for the DR Series system, through which data management applications can control when the backup images are created, duplicated, and deleted. The major benefit of RDA with OST is that it allows the deduplication operations to happen on the client side so that network traffic can be reduced.

The RDA with OST plug-in allows data management applications to take full advantage of such DR Series system features as data deduplication, replication, and energy efficiency. DR Series systems can access the OpenStorage API code through the plug-in, which can be installed on the media server platform choice you make (Windows or Linux). The OST protocol allows the supported backup applications to communicate directly with the DR Series system and determine whether a specific chunk of data already exists on the system. This process means that if the data already exists, only the pointers need to be updated on the DR Series system, and the duplicate chunk of data does not need to be transferred to the system. This process provides two benefits: it improves the overall backup speed, and also reduces the network load.

When RDA with OST is used with the DR Series system, it offers the following benefits:

•
OST protocol provides faster and improved data transfers:
◦
Focused on backups with minimal overhead
◦
Accommodates larger data transfer sizes
◦
Provides throughput that is significantly better than CIFS or NFS
•
RDA with OST and DMA integration:
◦
OpenStorage API enables the DMA-to-media server software communications
◦
DR Series system storage capabilities can be used without extensive changes to DMAs
◦
Backup and replication operations are simplified by using built-in DMA policies
•
DR Series system and RDA with OST:
◦
Control channel uses TCP port 10011
◦
Data channel uses TCP port 11000
◦
Optimized write operations enable client-side deduplication
•
Replication operations between DR Series systems:
◦
No configuration required on source or target DR Series systems
◦
Replication is file-based, not container-based
◦
Triggered by DMA optimized duplication operation
◦
DR Series system transfers the data file (not the media server)
◦
After duplication, DR Series system notifies DMA to update its catalog (acknowledging the second backup)
◦
Supports different retention policies between source and replica
 
 
Parent topic 

Software Components and Operational Guidelines

Software Components and Operational Guidelines

To better coordinate and integrate OpenStorage Technology (OST) with the DR Series system data storage operations, the following guidelines list the required components and supported operations. For details on the supported operating systems and DMA versions, see the Dell DR Series System Interoperability Guide.

The Dell DR Series system licensing is all-inclusive, so that no additional Dell licensing is required to use OST or the optimized duplication capability. The Dell OST plug-in that gets installed on a supported Linux or Windows media server platform is a free download from Dell. However, Symantec NetBackup requires that you purchase a Symantec OpenStorage Disk Option license. Similarly, Symantec Backup Exec requires that you purchase the Deduplication Option to enable the OST feature.

OST Media Server Component:
◦
An OST server component resides on the DR Series system
◦
For Linux media server installations, use the Linux OST plug-in and the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) installer
◦
For Windows media server installations, use the Windows OST plug-in and the Microsoft (MSI) installer
•
Windows-based OST plug-in
•
Linux-based 64-bit OST plug-in
•
Supported Symantec OpenStorage (OST) protocol:
◦
Symantec, version 9
◦
Symantec, version 10
•
Supported Symantec DMAs
◦
NetBackup
◦
Backup Exec
•
Supported OST operations
◦
Backup (Passthrough writes and Optimized writes)
◦
Restore
◦
Replication
Parent topic 

Supported Virtual Tape Library Access Protocols

Supported Virtual Tape Library Access Protocols

iSCSI

The DR Series system supports the following virtual tape library (VTL) tape access protocols.

•
Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP)
•
Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI)
 
 
Parent topic 

NDMP

NDMP

The Network Data Management protocol (NDMP) is used to control data backup and recovery between primary and secondary storage in a network environment. For example, a NAS server (Filer) can talk to a tape drive for the purposes of a backup.

You can use the protocol with a centralized data management application (DMA) to back up data on file servers running on different platforms to tape drives or tape libraries located elsewhere within the network. The protocol separates the data path from the control path and minimizes demands on network resources. With NDMP, a network file server can communicate directly to a network-attached tape drive or virtual tape library (VTL) for backup or recovery.

The DR Series system VTL container type is designed to work seamlessly with the NDMP protocol.

Related Documents

The document was helpful.

Select Rating

I easily found the information I needed.

Select Rating