vRanger 7.8.3 - Integration Guide for Quest QoreStor

Understanding Quest QoreStor

•    QoreStor features and concepts

QoreStor features and concepts

This topic provides an overview of the primary features and concepts in QoreStor.

•    Deduplication and compression

•    Replication

•    Supported protocols

•    Rapid Data Access (RDA)

Deduplication and compression

QoreStor uses various data-reduction technologies, including advanced deduplication algorithms, in addition to the generic and custom compression solutions that prove effective across many differing file types. Data deduplication and compression is addressed in the following areas:

•    Deduplication: This technology eliminates redundant copies of data and in the process it decreases disk capacity requirements and reduces the bandwidth needed for data transfer. Deduplication can be a major asset for companies that are dealing with increasing data volumes and require a means for optimizing their data protection.

•    Compression: This technology reduces the size of data that is stored, protected, and transmitted. Compression helps companies improve their backup and recovery times while helping reduce infrastructure and network resource constraints.

In general, offers advanced deduplication and compression capabilities to reduce the time and cost associated with backing up and restoring data. Based on deduplication and compression technology, eliminates the need to maintain multiple copies of the same data. This lets customers keep more data online longer and reduce the need for tape backup dependency.

Using its deduplication and compression technology, can help achieve an expected data reduction ratio of 15:1. Achieving this reduction in data means that you need fewer incremental storage operations to run and it provides you with a smaller backup footprint.By removing redundant data, deliver fast reliable backup and restore functionality, reduce media usage and power and cooling requirements, and improve your overall data protection and retention costs.

Replication

Replication is the process by which key data is saved from storage locations, with the goal of maintaining consistency between redundant resources in data storage environments. Data replication improves the level of fault-tolerance, which improves the reliability of maintaining saved data and permits accessibility to the same stored data.

      QoreStor uses an active form of replication that lets you configure a primary-backup scheme. During replication, the system processes data storage requests from a specified source to a specified replica target, which acts as a replica of the original source data.

Replicas are read-only and are updated with new or unique data during scheduled or manual replications. QoreStor can be considered to act as a form of a storage replication process in which the backup and deduplication data is replicated in real-time or via a scheduled window in a network environment. In a replication relationship between two QoreStor instances (or a QoreStor and a DR Series system), this means that a relationship exists between a number of systems. One system acts as the source and the other as a replica.

Replication is done at the container level and is one directional from source to replica; however, since replication is done at the container level you can set up various containers to meet your specific replication requirements for your specific workflow. This form of       replication is supported for the CIFS, NFS, Rapid CIFS, and Rapid NFS protocols and is fully handled by QoreStor.

While replication of NFS, CIFS, Rapid NFS or Rapid CIFS containers is managed by QoreStor, RDA with vRanger container replication is managed by vRanger

      If the source and target systems (replica or cascaded replica)are in different Active Directory (AD) domains, then the data that resides on the target system may not be accessible. When AD is used to perform authentication for systems, the AD information is saved with the file. This can act       to restrict user access to the data based on the type of AD permissions that       are in place.

Supported protocols

QoreStor supports the following file system protocols:

•    Network File System (NFS)

•    Common Internet File System (CIFS)

•    Rapid Data Access (RDA)

•    Rapid Data Storage (RDS)

Rapid Data Access (RDA)

RDA is developed by Quest and provides a logical disk interface for use with network storage devices. RDS allows for better coordination and integration between QoreStor backup, restore, and optimized duplication operations with vRanger and Quest NetVault Backup.

QoreStor and vRanger integration is done using the Rapid OFS (ROFS) plug-in developed by Quest. The ROFS plug-in allows vRanger control over backup image creation, deletion, and duplication. RDS allows deduplication operations to happen on the client-side so that network traffic can be reduced.

The RDS protocol allows the supported backup applications to communicate directly with QoreStor and determine whether a specific chunk of data exists on the system. If the data exists, only the pointers need to be updated on QoreStor, 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.

Installing and configuring QoreStor

•    Installing QoreStor

•    Configuring your QoreStor server

Installing QoreStor

Prerequisites

Before installing QoreStor, ensure that the following requirements have been met:

•    Review the QoreStor Installation Guide and QoreStor Interoperability Guide for information on system requirements and supported platforms. Ensure that the server on which you are installing QoreStor meets the installation requirements.

•    You must use a supported version of vRanger and QoreStor. For more information, see the Q.

•    Review the QoreStor Installation Guide and QoreStor Interoperability Guide for networking and port requirements.

Installing QoreStor

To install QoreStor:

1    Download QoreStor from the Quest website.

2    Copy the QoreStor installation files to the QoreStor server.

3    Set execution permissions on the installation files using chmod. For example:   

$ chmod a+x qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin

4    With elevated privileges (either as root or with the sudo command), execute the installation script according to one of the two options below :

a    qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin -- -f –p <repository_path> -m <metadata_path> --mode=<demo|cloud-optimized|standard|large> --accept-eula --install deps

where

-f specifies that the installer should automatically apply firewall rules to open the necessary ports l

-p <repository_path> specifies the repository path l

-m <metadata_path> specifies where the dictionary and journals should be stored.If not specified, the repository path will be used. l

--mode=<demo|cloud-optimized|standard|large> specifies the installation mode. Refer to the QoreStor Installation Guide for more information on installation modes.

demo: 100GB max storage, 1GB dictionary l

cloud-optimized: 43TB max storage, 64GB dictionary l

standard: 150TB max. storage, 256GB dictionary l

Large: 360TB max storage; 256GB dictionary l

–accept-eula: implicitly accepts the EULA and bypasses the prompt to accept the terms and conditions of the EULA

–install-deps: implicit permission to download and install the nfs-utils and policycoreutils packages if they are not already installed

b    $ sudo ./qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin

and follow the prompts to:

▫    provide a path for the storage directory

▫    [Optional] provide a separate path for metadata storage

▫    select an installation mode. Refer to QoreStor installation modes for more information

▫    add firewall exceptions

Logging in to QoreStor

To access the UI, you must connect via a supported browser.

1    In a supported browser, navigate to https://<hostname:5233>

2    Log in with the default credentials:

▪    username: admin

▪    password: St0r@ge!

Configuring your QoreStor server

The information below is summarized for ease of use. For detailed configuration information, see the QoreStor User Guide.

The information presented in Managing storage groups and containers is specific to the integration with vRanger. For more information on integrating vRanger with a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository, see the Quest vRanger User Guide.

Installing a License

You can add a license to QoreStor through either the QoreStor GUI or the command line interface.

To install a license:

1    In the navigation menu click System Configuration.

2    Scroll to the License Information section at the bottom of the page.

3    Click Upload License.

4    Click Choose File and select the license file. Click Open.

5    Click Apply.

Managing storage groups and containers

To organize your data, you can easily create storage groups and create containers within those storage groups on your QoreStor system. A storage group allows you to create separate storage policies for different data groups and the different capacities utilized on a single QoreStor. After initialization, QoreStor contains a single default storage groupe named DefaultGroup.

In QoreStor, data is stored in containers, which are stored in storage groups. Some containers function like a shared file system. These types of containers can be assigned a specific connection type, for example, NFS/CIFS or RDA (including both OST and RDS clients). Containers can then be accessed using NFS, CIFS, or RDA.

Creating a storage container

Containers function like a shared file system that can be accessed using the following connection types:

•    NFS/CIFS

•    NFS

•    CIFS

•    RDA

•    RDS

Creating an RDS connection type container

To create an OST or RDS connection type container, follow these steps:

1    On the navigation menu, click Storage Groups, and then select the storage group for which you want to create a container. (If you are only using the DefaultGroup storage group on your QoreStor system, you do not need to select a group.)

2    In the storage group list, click the storage group to which you want to add a container. Click Add Container.

3    For the container Name, type the name of the container, and then click Next.

Container names cannot exceed 32 characters in length, must start with a letter, and can be composed of any combination of the following characters: l

▪    A-Z (uppercase letters)

▪    a-z (lowercase letters) l

▪    0-9 (numbers). Do not start a container name with a number. l

▪    dash (-) or underscore (_) special characters

4    For Protocol, select Quest Rapid Data Storage (RDS).

5    Click Next.

6    Leave LSU Capacity as Unlimited.

7    Click Finish.

Installing and configuring QoreStor

•    Installing QoreStor

•    Configuring your QoreStor server

Installing QoreStor

Prerequisites

Before installing QoreStor, ensure that the following requirements have been met:

•    Review the QoreStor Installation Guide and QoreStor Interoperability Guide for information on system requirements and supported platforms. Ensure that the server on which you are installing QoreStor meets the installation requirements.

•    You must use a supported version of vRanger and QoreStor. For more information, see the Q.

•    Review the QoreStor Installation Guide and QoreStor Interoperability Guide for networking and port requirements.

Installing QoreStor

To install QoreStor:

1    Download QoreStor from the Quest website.

2    Copy the QoreStor installation files to the QoreStor server.

3    Set execution permissions on the installation files using chmod. For example:   

$ chmod a+x qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin

4    With elevated privileges (either as root or with the sudo command), execute the installation script according to one of the two options below :

a    qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin -- -f –p <repository_path> -m <metadata_path> --mode=<demo|cloud-optimized|standard|large> --accept-eula --install deps

where

-f specifies that the installer should automatically apply firewall rules to open the necessary ports l

-p <repository_path> specifies the repository path l

-m <metadata_path> specifies where the dictionary and journals should be stored.If not specified, the repository path will be used. l

--mode=<demo|cloud-optimized|standard|large> specifies the installation mode. Refer to the QoreStor Installation Guide for more information on installation modes.

demo: 100GB max storage, 1GB dictionary l

cloud-optimized: 43TB max storage, 64GB dictionary l

standard: 150TB max. storage, 256GB dictionary l

Large: 360TB max storage; 256GB dictionary l

–accept-eula: implicitly accepts the EULA and bypasses the prompt to accept the terms and conditions of the EULA

–install-deps: implicit permission to download and install the nfs-utils and policycoreutils packages if they are not already installed

b    $ sudo ./qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin

and follow the prompts to:

▫    provide a path for the storage directory

▫    [Optional] provide a separate path for metadata storage

▫    select an installation mode. Refer to QoreStor installation modes for more information

▫    add firewall exceptions

Logging in to QoreStor

To access the UI, you must connect via a supported browser.

1    In a supported browser, navigate to https://<hostname:5233>

2    Log in with the default credentials:

▪    username: admin

▪    password: St0r@ge!

Configuring your QoreStor server

The information below is summarized for ease of use. For detailed configuration information, see the QoreStor User Guide.

The information presented in Managing storage groups and containers is specific to the integration with vRanger. For more information on integrating vRanger with a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository, see the Quest vRanger User Guide.

Installing a License

You can add a license to QoreStor through either the QoreStor GUI or the command line interface.

To install a license:

1    In the navigation menu click System Configuration.

2    Scroll to the License Information section at the bottom of the page.

3    Click Upload License.

4    Click Choose File and select the license file. Click Open.

5    Click Apply.

Managing storage groups and containers

To organize your data, you can easily create storage groups and create containers within those storage groups on your QoreStor system. A storage group allows you to create separate storage policies for different data groups and the different capacities utilized on a single QoreStor. After initialization, QoreStor contains a single default storage groupe named DefaultGroup.

In QoreStor, data is stored in containers, which are stored in storage groups. Some containers function like a shared file system. These types of containers can be assigned a specific connection type, for example, NFS/CIFS or RDA (including both OST and RDS clients). Containers can then be accessed using NFS, CIFS, or RDA.

Creating a storage container

Containers function like a shared file system that can be accessed using the following connection types:

•    NFS/CIFS

•    NFS

•    CIFS

•    RDA

•    RDS

Creating an RDS connection type container

To create an OST or RDS connection type container, follow these steps:

1    On the navigation menu, click Storage Groups, and then select the storage group for which you want to create a container. (If you are only using the DefaultGroup storage group on your QoreStor system, you do not need to select a group.)

2    In the storage group list, click the storage group to which you want to add a container. Click Add Container.

3    For the container Name, type the name of the container, and then click Next.

Container names cannot exceed 32 characters in length, must start with a letter, and can be composed of any combination of the following characters: l

▪    A-Z (uppercase letters)

▪    a-z (lowercase letters) l

▪    0-9 (numbers). Do not start a container name with a number. l

▪    dash (-) or underscore (_) special characters

4    For Protocol, select Quest Rapid Data Storage (RDS).

5    Click Next.

6    Leave LSU Capacity as Unlimited.

7    Click Finish.

Installing and configuring QoreStor

•    Installing QoreStor

•    Configuring your QoreStor server

Installing QoreStor

Prerequisites

Before installing QoreStor, ensure that the following requirements have been met:

•    Review the QoreStor Installation Guide and QoreStor Interoperability Guide for information on system requirements and supported platforms. Ensure that the server on which you are installing QoreStor meets the installation requirements.

•    You must use a supported version of vRanger and QoreStor. For more information, see the Q.

•    Review the QoreStor Installation Guide and QoreStor Interoperability Guide for networking and port requirements.

Installing QoreStor

To install QoreStor:

1    Download QoreStor from the Quest website.

2    Copy the QoreStor installation files to the QoreStor server.

3    Set execution permissions on the installation files using chmod. For example:   

$ chmod a+x qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin

4    With elevated privileges (either as root or with the sudo command), execute the installation script according to one of the two options below :

a    qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin -- -f –p <repository_path> -m <metadata_path> --mode=<demo|cloud-optimized|standard|large> --accept-eula --install deps

where

-f specifies that the installer should automatically apply firewall rules to open the necessary ports l

-p <repository_path> specifies the repository path l

-m <metadata_path> specifies where the dictionary and journals should be stored.If not specified, the repository path will be used. l

--mode=<demo|cloud-optimized|standard|large> specifies the installation mode. Refer to the QoreStor Installation Guide for more information on installation modes.

demo: 100GB max storage, 1GB dictionary l

cloud-optimized: 43TB max storage, 64GB dictionary l

standard: 150TB max. storage, 256GB dictionary l

Large: 360TB max storage; 256GB dictionary l

–accept-eula: implicitly accepts the EULA and bypasses the prompt to accept the terms and conditions of the EULA

–install-deps: implicit permission to download and install the nfs-utils and policycoreutils packages if they are not already installed

b    $ sudo ./qs_inst_6.0.0.589.bin

and follow the prompts to:

▫    provide a path for the storage directory

▫    [Optional] provide a separate path for metadata storage

▫    select an installation mode. Refer to QoreStor installation modes for more information

▫    add firewall exceptions

Logging in to QoreStor

To access the UI, you must connect via a supported browser.

1    In a supported browser, navigate to https://<hostname:5233>

2    Log in with the default credentials:

▪    username: admin

▪    password: St0r@ge!

Configuring your QoreStor server

The information below is summarized for ease of use. For detailed configuration information, see the QoreStor User Guide.

The information presented in Managing storage groups and containers is specific to the integration with vRanger. For more information on integrating vRanger with a Quest Rapid Data Access (RDA) repository, see the Quest vRanger User Guide.

Installing a License

You can add a license to QoreStor through either the QoreStor GUI or the command line interface.

To install a license:

1    In the navigation menu click System Configuration.

2    Scroll to the License Information section at the bottom of the page.

3    Click Upload License.

4    Click Choose File and select the license file. Click Open.

5    Click Apply.

Managing storage groups and containers

To organize your data, you can easily create storage groups and create containers within those storage groups on your QoreStor system. A storage group allows you to create separate storage policies for different data groups and the different capacities utilized on a single QoreStor. After initialization, QoreStor contains a single default storage groupe named DefaultGroup.

In QoreStor, data is stored in containers, which are stored in storage groups. Some containers function like a shared file system. These types of containers can be assigned a specific connection type, for example, NFS/CIFS or RDA (including both OST and RDS clients). Containers can then be accessed using NFS, CIFS, or RDA.

Creating a storage container

Containers function like a shared file system that can be accessed using the following connection types:

•    NFS/CIFS

•    NFS

•    CIFS

•    RDA

•    RDS

Creating an RDS connection type container

To create an OST or RDS connection type container, follow these steps:

1    On the navigation menu, click Storage Groups, and then select the storage group for which you want to create a container. (If you are only using the DefaultGroup storage group on your QoreStor system, you do not need to select a group.)

2    In the storage group list, click the storage group to which you want to add a container. Click Add Container.

3    For the container Name, type the name of the container, and then click Next.

Container names cannot exceed 32 characters in length, must start with a letter, and can be composed of any combination of the following characters: l

▪    A-Z (uppercase letters)

▪    a-z (lowercase letters) l

▪    0-9 (numbers). Do not start a container name with a number. l

▪    dash (-) or underscore (_) special characters

4    For Protocol, select Quest Rapid Data Storage (RDS).

5    Click Next.

6    Leave LSU Capacity as Unlimited.

7    Click Finish.