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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

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.

iSCSI

iSCSI

iSCSI or Internet Small Computer System Interface is an Internet Protocol (IP)-based storage networking standard for storage subsystems. It is a carrier protocol for SCSI. SCSI commands are sent over IP networks by using iSCSI. It also facilitates data transfers over intranets and to manage storage over long distances. iSCSI can be used to transmit data over LANs or WANs.

In iSCSI, clients are called initiators and SCSI storage devices are targets. The protocol allows an initiator to send SCSI commands (CDBs) to the targets on remote servers. It is a storage area network (SAN) protocol, allowing organizations to consolidate storage into data center storage arrays while providing hosts (such as database and web servers) with the illusion of locally attached disks. Unlike traditional Fibre Channel, which requires different cabling, iSCSI can be run over long distances using existing network infrastructure.

iSCSI is a low-cost alternative to Fibre Channel, which requires dedicated infrastructure except in FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet). Note that the performance of an iSCSI SAN deployment can be degraded if not operated on a dedicated network or subnet

The VTL container type is designed to work seamlessly with the iSCSI protocol. For details, see the topic, Creating Storage Containers.

VTL and DR Series Specifications

VTL and DR Series Specifications

This topic describes key specifications of VTL support in the DR Series system.

Supported VTL Types — The DR4X00 and DR6000 Series systems support two types of virtual tape libraries.
◦
Standard emulation of StorageTek L700 library
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Dell OEM version of the StorageTek L700 library
 
NOTE: The Dell OEM type VTL is supported only with Symantec Backup Exec and Netbackup data management applications (DMAs).
 
NOTE: Refer to the documentation for your specific DR Series system, which includes DMA best practices whitepapers and the latest Dell DR Series Interoperability Guide, for a complete list of the supported DMAs. Visit the following site and select your specific DR Series system to download documentation: http://www.dell.com/powervaultmanuals.
•
Use of VTL with Virtual DR Series system (DR2000v) — The use of VTL is not supported on the DR2000v.
•
Number of Tape Drives — Each tape library contains 10 tape drives of the type IBM-LTO-4 (‘ULT3580-TD4’)
•
Tapes or Media Sizes— Each library initially is created with 10 slots housing 10 tape media of the default size of 800GiB, which is the equivalent of an LTO4 tape.

You can add additional tapes to the library as needed by editing the container in the GUI or by using the following CLI command:

vtl --update_carts –-name <name> –-add --no_of_tapes <number>

 
NOTE: For more information about using the CLI, see the Dell DR Series CLI Reference Guide.

A library can only contain tapes of the same size. For example, if the library is originally created with 10 tapes of size 10GiB, additional tapes of size 10GiB can only be added.

Tapes of the following capacity are supported:

Tape

Size

Max number of slots supported

LTO-4

800GiB

2000

LTO-4

400GiB

4000

LTO-4

200GiB

8000

LTO-4

100GiB

10000

LTO-4

50GiB

10000

LTO-4

10GiB

10000

•
Maximum Number of DMAs or Initiators Supported — A tape library can be accessed by one DMA or iSCSI initiator at a time.
•
Replication — Replication of VTL containers is currently not supported; however, it is planned for a future release of the DR Series system.
Parent topic 
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