SnapProtect - Advanced Configuration - NAS iDataAgent
- Understanding the CommCell Console
- Configuring User Defined Backup Sets
- Creating User Defined Subclients
- Configuring Multiple Streams for Backups
- Assigning a Subclient to a Billable Entity
- Modifying User Accounts for a File Server
- Configuring Pre and Post Processing for Backups
- Configuring a Subclient for Pre-Post Processing
- Setting Up Post Processes to Run during Failures
- Changing User Account for Executing Pre-Post Commands
- Configuring Filters for Backups
- Configuring Storage Virtual Machines on NetApp Arrays
- Detecting and Adding Storage Virtual Machines on NetApp Arrays
- Configuring Storage Virtual Machines as a NAS Client
- Configuring a NetApp Client as a Cluster or a Physical File Server
- Associating a Storage Virtual Machine with a Cluster or a Physical File Server
- Managing File Servers
- Configuring Libraries and Drives Attached to a File Server
- Additional NAS Features
- Modifying an Agent, Backup Set or Subclient
- Deleting an Agent, Backup Set or Subclient
Understanding the CommCell Console
NAS iDataAgent uses the following main components to perform backup and restore operations from the CommCell Console.Backup Set - collective information of all the data that needs to be backed up for the client.
Subclient - defines the data to be backed up.

Configuring User Defined Backup Sets
A default backup set is created as soon as the NAS client is added. The default backup set includes a default subclient which will backup all the data in the file server.
You can create user defined backup sets to group a set of selected data. A user defined backup set will contain its own default subclient.
Creating a User Defined Backup Set
- In the CommCell Browser, expand Client Computers | <Client>.
- Right-click NAS and select All Tasks | Create New Backup Set.
If you create a user defined backup set, you cannot perform incremental or differential backups for any backup set. However, for NAS clients using the NetApp file server, there are no limitations on the type of backups that can be performed for the default backup set.
- In the New Backup Set Name box, type a name.
- Click OK.
Creating an On-Demand Backup Set
On Demand backups allow content to be specified as an external input at the time of initiating a backup. Whereas traditional backups are performed using subclients, which contain fixed content configured prior to performing the operation, On Demand backups allow you to specify content each time you perform a backup.
Creating a Content File
Content for On Demand backups is defined through a Content File, which is a text file that defines the location of the data that you want to protect. The Content File contains the fully qualified paths from the root directory to the directories and devices which you want to back up. The Content File must be placed on the CommServe or the MediaAgent.
The following examples demonstrate the specific format for entries in the Content File for NetApp File Server:
/vol/vol0/Dir1
/vol/vol0/Dir2
The following examples demonstrate the specific format for entries in the Content File for Celerra File Server
/fs1/Dir1
/fs1/Dir2
Do not use filters, wildcards, or regular expressions in the Content File.
Using the Content File Stored on a MediaAgent
If you want to use the content file stored on a MediaAgent, create the following additional setting on the MediaAgent:
- In the CommCell Browser, expand Storage Resources | MediaAgents.
- Right-click the <MediaAgent> in which you want to add the additional setting, and then click Properties.
- Click the Additional Settings tab.
- Click Add.
- In the Name box, type OnDemandLocalFilePath.
- In the Category box, enter NAS.
- In the Type list, select STRING.
- In the Value field, type the full path of the content file.
- Click OK.
- Click OK to close the MediaAgent Properties dialog box.
Creating On-Demand Backup Set
After creating the Content File defining the content to be backed up, create an On Demand Backup Set.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client>.
- Right-click NAS and select All Tasks | New On Demand Backup Set.
- In the New Backup Set Name box, type a name (up to 32 characters).
- Click OK.
Once an On Demand Backup Set has been created, it cannot be changed into a traditional backup set.
Creating User Defined Subclients
As file servers may contain large amounts of data, you can create user defined subclients to manage your backups, such as the following:
- To backup specific file systems or a portion of a file system.
- If you want to back up different directories on a file server.
For example, a file server has two directories that you want to back up. Create a user-defined subclient that consists of /fs1/dir1 and another user-defined subclient that consists of /fs1/dir2.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | <Backup Set>.
- Right-click the Backup Set and select All Tasks | New Subclient.
- In the Subclient Name box, type a name.
- Click the Storage Device tab.
- In the Storage Policy list, select a storage policy name.
- Click the Content tab.
- Select a root volume or file system from the Backup Content Path list and enter the path of the directory.
- Click Add.
If the selected data is already included in any other subclient in the same backup set, it will be excluded automatically from that subclient. However, if it is included in any other backup set, it will not be excluded and will get backed up twice.
- Repeat steps 7 and 8 to include all the volumes, files, and directories to be backed up.
- Click Close.
- Click OK.
Use the following guidelines while specifying the content for a subclient:
NetApp |
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Configuring Multiple Streams for Backups
The Multi-Streaming feature enables multiple data streams per subclient for data protection operations. This allows backups of multiple paths in a subclient to run concurrently, as part of the same job, thus reducing the total number of running jobs. This feature is dependant on the number of available resources (drives) and can be useful in the following scenarios:
- A subclient contains multiple data paths.
- A subclient is configured to back up the entire file server.
Note: For NetApp SnapProtect backups, multiple paths on the same volume can only use a single stream. Configuring multiple streams for NetApp SnapProtect backups is only useful when there are paths to multiple volumes in the subclient content.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | <Backup Set>.
- Right-click the <Subclient> in the right pane and click Properties.
- Click the Advanced Options tab.
- In the Number of Data Readers box, type or select the number of data streams.
The actual number of concurrent backup streams employed during a backup job is limited by the number of resources available to the Storage Policy. The number of available resources will be limited if other subclients are also using the same Storage Policy or a specific content path requires more time for backup.
- Click the Storage Device tab.
- In the Storage Policy list, click a storage policy name.
- Click OK.
The number of streams configured in the Storage Policy should be equal to, or greater than the specified Number of Data Readers.
Assigning a Subclient to a Billable Entity
You can assign a subclient to a particular billable entity in the Subclient Properties dialog box. This is useful if you want to assign subclients in the same Backup Set to different billing departments.
To assign a subclient to a billable entity:
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | <Backup Set>.
- Right-click the <Subclient> in the right pane and click Properties.
- Click the Advanced Options tab.
- From the Billable Entity list, select the name of a billable entity.
- Click OK to save your settings.
Modifying User Accounts for a File Server
The NAS iDataAgent requires a user account to access the file server to perform backup and restore operations. If the file server access information has been modified, follow the steps given below to change the user account settings.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client>.
- Right-click NAS and click Properties.
- Click NDMP Properties.
The NDMP Server Properties dialog box appears.
- Select the Change Password check box.
- In the NDMP Login box, type root.
- In the NDMP Password box, type the corresponding password.
- Click OK.
- Click OK to close the NAS Properties dialog box.
Configuring Pre and Post Processing for Backups
You can add and modify Pre/Post processes for a subclient. These are batch files or shell scripts that you can run before or after certain job phases. For example, you can use an echo command to check the level of a backup. Similarly, you can include a case statement within a script to run specific operations based on the level of the backup job.A Save As Script file can also be run as a pre/post process, if you include the absolute path of the associated input file in the script file.
Configuring a Subclient for Pre-Post Processing
The Pre/Post Process commands are executed on the MediaAgent associated with the active drive pool of the storage policy that is assigned to the subclient. Ensure that the required batch files or shell scripts are available on the MediaAgent where the Pre/Post commands are executed.
Follow the steps given below to specify the Pre/Post commands for a subclient:
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | BackupSet.
- Right-click the <Subclient> in the right pane and then click Properties.
- Click the Pre/Post Process tab.
- Depending on the process you want to set up, enter the path of the batch file or the shell script in one of the following boxes:
- PreBackup Process
- PostBackup Process
- Click OK.
Setting Up Post Processes to Run during Failures
By default, a specified post process command is executed when a backup job is completed or killed.Use the following steps to run a post process when the backup operation does not complete.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | BackupSet.
- Right-click the <Subclient> in the right pane, and then click Properties.
- Click the Pre/Post Process tab.
- Enter the path of the batch file or the shell script in the PostBackup Process box.
- Select the Run PostBackup Process for all attempts check box.
- Click OK.
Changing User Account for Executing Pre-Post Commands
For a Windows MediaAgent you must specify the user account and password required for executing the Pre/Post commands.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | BackupSet.
- Right-click the <Subclient> in the right pane, and then click Properties.
- Click the Pre/Post Process tab.
- Depending on the process you want to set up, enter the path of the batch file or the shell script in one of the following boxes:
- PreBackup Process
- PostBackup Process
- Click Change.
- Select one of the following user accounts:
- Use Local System Account - Select this option to use the local system account on the MediaAgent for executing the Pre/Post Process commands.
- Impersonate User - Select this option to use an authenticated user account for executing Pre/Post commands. However, if the specified user account is not available on the MediaAgent, backup jobs using Pre/Post commands will fail.
- Click OK.
Configuring Filters for Backups
You can set filters to exclude certain files and directories from backups. Filters can also be used to exclude system-related files which consistently fail during a backup operation.
Follow the steps given below to configure filters for a subclient:
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | NAS | <Backup Set>.
- Right-click the <Subclient> in the right pane and then click Properties.
- Click the Filters tab.
- Under Exclude these files/folders/patterns, click Add.
- In the Enter Path box, type the paths or names of files and directories that you want to exclude.
If you want to specify a file name pattern, you can use wildcards in the filter strings. The filter strings are case-sensitive.
For example: If you want to filter all the filenames starting with LICENSE, specify LICENSE*. However, filenames starting with license (in lowercase) will not be filtered.
- Click OK.
You can modify or delete existing filter strings. Any modification to the filter configuration is effective during the following backup.
Use the following guidelines while entering the filters:
BlueArc (Hitachi NAS) | You can specify an unlimited number of filters for each subclient. |
EMC Celerra |
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Hitachi | Filters are not supported. |
Dell NetApp |
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Configuring Storage Virtual Machines on NetApp Arrays
The detect and add option allows you to automatically detect and add Storage Virtual Machines (vfilers or vservers) on either 7-Mode or Cluster-Mode NetApp Arrays. When a Storage Virtual Machine is added through the detect and add option, an array management entry and a deconfigured NAS client are automatically created for the Storage Virtual Machine. The tunneling option is set by default on the array management entry that corresponds to the Storage Virtual Machine. The tunneling option enables snap operations to be triggered on the Storage Virtual Machine via the cluster/physical file server.
The type of file server, whether physical or virtual, is automatically detected when you add the NetApp array entry or the NAS client.
Detecting and Adding Storage Virtual Machines on NetApp Arrays
This option allows you to detect and add the Storage Virtual Machines on a physical NetApp file server, either 7-Mode or Cluster-Mode. The Storage Virtual Machines are automatically added as arrays with tunneling enabled.
Prerequisites
- A NAS client with a corresponding array entry must already be present for the cluster/physical file server.
- Ensure that the NAS client is configured as a cluster/physical file server before you detect and add. For instructions on configuring the NAS client as a cluster/physical file server, see Configuring a NetApp Client as a Cluster/Physical File Server.
- The CommServe must be able to communicate with the array.
To detect and add Storage Virtual Machines:
- Expand Client Computers, right click the <Physical File Server/Cluster Client> , and then select Properties.
The Client Computer Properties dialog box appears.
- Select the Storage Virtual Machine tab, and then click Detect.
A list of Storage Virtual Machines appears below.
- Select each of the virtual servers that you want to include in the cluster, and then click Add.
A message appears that says the Storage Virtual Machine was added successfully.
- Click OK.
The virtual servers that you selected appear in the list at the top of the dialog box. An entry for each Storage Virtual Machine is created in Array Management. Tunneling is enabled by default.
- Click OK to close the Client Computer Properties dialog box.
The virtual servers that you selected for the cluster appear as deconfigured NAS clients in the CommCell Browser.
- Configure the Storage Virtual Machines. For instructions, see Configuring Storage Virtual Machines as a NAS Client.
Configuring Storage Virtual Machines as a NAS Client
Once a NetApp file server is configured, you must configure the Storage Virtual Machines that are included in the cluster/physical file server.
To reconfigure Storage Virtual Machines:
- Expand Client Computers, right click the <Storage Virtual Machine Client>.
- Point to All Tasks, and then click Reconfigure.
A message appears that says the client has been reconfigured.
- Click OK.
The Storage Virtual Machine appears enabled in the CommCell Browser.
- Configure the NDMP settings for the NAS agent. For instructions, see Modifying User Accounts for a File Server.
Configuring a NetApp Client as a Cluster or a Physical File Server
If you added the NetApp array in version 9 and you want to configure it as a cluster/physical file server, you must enable Cluster-Mode. After you configure the cluster/physical file server, you can then detect and add Storage Virtual Machines.
To configure a NetApp client:
- Expand Client Computers, right click the <Client> that you want to enable as a cluster, and then select Properties.
The Client Computer Properties dialog box appears.
- Click Client Type.
The Storage Virtual Machine tab appears.
- Click OK to save your settings and close the dialog box.
Associating a Storage Virtual Machine with a Cluster or a Physical File Server
If a Storage Virtual Machine is not added through the detect and add option, then you must associate it with a cluster/physical file server to enable tunneling.
To associate a Storage Virtual Machine with a cluster/physical file server:
- Expand Client Computers, right click the <Client> for which you want to enable tunneling, and then select Properties.
The Client Computer Properties dialog box appears.
- Click Client Type, and then click Storage Virtual Machine.
- Click OK to save your settings and close the dialog box.
Managing File Servers
Modifying File Server Details
- On the Storage tab, click Library and Drive.
- Under Available MediaAgents, select the MediaAgent, and then click Add.
- Click OK.
- Click Start, point to NDMP, and then select Servers.
The NDMP Server List dialog box appears.
- Select the required NAS file server and click Edit.
The NDMP Server Properties dialog box appears.
- Modify the required properties of the NAS file server.
- Click OK.
- Click Close.
Deleting a File Server
- On the Storage tab, click Library and Drive.
- Under Available MediaAgents, select the MediaAgent, and then click Add.
- Click OK.
- Click Start, point to NDMP, and then select Servers.
The NDMP Server List dialog box appears.
- Select the file server that you want to delete and click Remove.
- Click Yes.
- Click Close.
Configuring Libraries and Drives Attached to a File Server
Auto-detection is the recommended method of configuring library and drives attached to a file server. The auto-detection method is explained in Getting Started. However, you can manually configure the library and drives if the automatic detection fails or you want to configure a specific drive for the file server.
Configuring a Library Shared across a SAN Environment
In a SAN environment, the drives in a library can be dynamically shared between the file servers and MediaAgents. When you share a library between two file servers, the file server configured first will control the media changer. The same rule applies for a library shared between a MediaAgent(s) and file server(s).
- Configure the shared library using a file server. For more information refer to Configure Libraries and Drives Attached to a NAS Storage Server Using Automatic Detection.
- On the Storage tab, click Library and Drive.
- Under Available MediaAgents, select the MediaAgent, and then click Add.
- Click OK.
- Click Start, and then click Detect/Configure Devices.
The Detect Library dialog box appears.
- Click SCSI Devices.
- Select Automatically Create DDS Drivepools, and then click OK. After the detection runs, a message appears.
- Click OK.
- Note the log file contents and click Close to proceed.
- The devices appear in the Library and Drive Configuration window.
New detected devices are not configured at this point, and the configuration information will not be saved if you exit from the Library and Drive Configuration window.
- Right-click the library and then click Configure.
- Click Library and all drives to configure all the drives within the library.
- Click OK.
- Click Yes.
- Select Default Media Type from the list, and then click Yes.
- The status of the library changes to Configured.
If you chose to configure all associated drives, the status of the drives also changes to Configured.
The Libraries tab provides the physical view of the devices (library and drives).
Additional NAS Features
Configuring Subclient for Tape Silvering
Feature | Description | Applies To |
Tape Silvering | Tape silvering is the process of shipping a physical copy of the source data to a destination site. This is useful for large file systems as it saves time and resources and also avoids transferring the file system over the network. Refer to the EMC Celerra documentation for more information.
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EMC Celerra running version 5.6 or higher. |
Configuring Image Backups (SnapMirror to Tape)
Feature | Description | Applies To |
SnapMirror to Tape | Image backup allows you to perform a snapshot backup of an entire volume to media. Snapshots on the volume are included in the backup. Restoring from an image backup provides faster volume recovery than a file based restore. You can change the configuration of a backup set at any time to perform either regular backups or image backups. The configuration change takes effect when the next Full backup runs. Deduplication rates might be low for image backups that are enabled with SnapMirror to Tape. Incremental and differential backups are supported on image backup sets with file servers running ONTAP 8.1.1 or higher. If you have an ONTAP version lower than 8.1.1, then only full backups are supported. Follow the steps below to create a backup set for image backups:
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NetApp running ONTAP 8.0 or higher |
Modifying an Agent, Backup Set or Subclient
The following table describes the properties that can configured from the agent, backup set and subclient levels.
Option | Description | Related Topics |
Change Storage Policies | You can modify the storage policies in any of the following situations:
You can change the storage policies from the subclient level.
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Refer to Storage Policies. |
Rename a Backup Set or Subclient | You can rename backup sets and subclients. Renaming Backup Set:
Renaming subclient:
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Data Transfer Options | You can efficiently configure the available resources for transferring data secured by data protection operations from the subclient level. This includes the following:
You can configure the data transfer options.
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Refer to Data Compression. |
View Data Paths |
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Configure Activity Control | You can enable backup and restore operations from the agent and subclient level. However, you can enable restore operations only from the agent level.
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Refer to Activity Control. |
Configure User Security | You can configure user security from the agent or subclient level. You can perform the following functions:
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Refer to User Administration and Security. |
Enable and Disable Data Encryption | When you configure encryption at the client level, it is configured automatically for all the subclients associated with all the agents installed on that client. If you want to disable or change the encryption at the subclient level, follow the steps given below:
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Refer to Data Encryption. |
View Software Version and Installed Updates | The Version tab, at the Agent level displays the software version and post-release service packs and updates installed for the component.
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Deleting an Agent, Backup Set or Subclient
The following sections describe the steps involved in deleting an agent, archive set or subclient.
When you delete an instance or backupset, the associated data is logically deleted and you can no longer access the corresponding data from CommCell Console for recovery purposes.
Refer to the troubleshooting article on Recovering Data Associated with Deleted Clients and Storage Policies for information on how to recover data if you accidentally delete an entity.
Deleting an Agent
You need to uninstall or DeConfigure the agent software from the client computer before deleting from CommCell Browser. After you delete the client software, you can either leave the corresponding data intact for appropriate action or you can remove the data immediately. If you choose to remove the data immediately, you must delete the agent from the CommCell Browser. If you delete the agent, all of the agent's data is irretrievably lost.
- You cannot delete an agent while operations for that agent are running.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client>.
- Right-click the <Agent>, and then click Delete.
- A confirmation message is displayed with the following message:
This operation will permanently delete the data backed up from this level and it cannot be restored.
- Click OK to continue with the deletion operation or click No to abort the deletion.
Deleting a Backup Set
Consider the following before deleting a Backup Set:
- You cannot delete a default Backup Set.
- Schedules associated with the Backup Set are also automatically deleted.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | <Agent>.
- Right-click the <Backup Set>, and then click Delete.
- A confirmation message is displayed, asking if you want to delete the Backup Set.
Click No to cancel the deletion and retain the Backupset, or click Yes to continue the deletion.
Deleting a Subclient
Consider the following before deleting a subclient:
- You cannot delete a default subclient.
- Schedules associated with the subclient are also automatically deleted.
- From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | <Agent> | <Backup Set>.
- Right-click the <subclient> that you want to delete, and then click Delete.
- A confirmation message is displayed, asking if you want to delete the subclient.
Click No to cancel the deletion and retain the subclient, or click Yes to continue the deletion.