Backup Central

Hi all

We've been trying to evaluate the new NDMP feature in version 12.5 of Backup Exec, namely the ability to back up non-NDMP selections to NDMP devices (library/drive attached directly to a NetApp filer).

We've found that we can get a maximum data transfer rate of 17MB/min. I've checked for bottlenecks every step of the way. I've even gone so far as to replace every piece of kit except the Filer (we don't have a spare SAN floating about) and have had a support call with Symantec since the day after the release. They've checked out our systems themselves, passing the call from India (or wherever the call centre is) to the techs in the US and then to the techs in the UK and I've now been told that it is working to specification.

Has anyone else tried the new NDMP feature in 12.5? If so could you please let me know what you think and most importantly what speeds you've managed to get out of it?

Thanks

Tom M

Why would you want to do this? It makes your tapes double-tied to your filer model. (You will always need that tape model connected to that filer type to read those tapes.)

We want to do it due to the fact that we've been given a very strict set of kit/budgetary criteria for one of our remote offices which is rather short on kit. We have our hands tied at the moment a little and this would allow us to perform the backups of the filers and Windows servers until more budget is freed up. A long way away from the best solution but it's the solution which was chosen by management. Mine is not to question and argue past the point of being told to stop questioning and arguing by my superiors.

Thanks for the pointer, Cpreston, but I was really looking for confirmation of the issue or someone to refute it as neither we nor Symantec seem to know anyone else who's tried this new function in order to tell whether the issue is generic or specific to our environment..

Hi TomM.

We are having exactly the same problem as you.

We are backing up Virtual machines via a BE remote agent because these VM's have iSCSI to a NAS volume. These LUN's we can't backup via NMDP.

NMDP backup on volumes with just FP data have a good and normal job rate.

Did you find a solution for your problem?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Regards
Pascal

Was there ever a solution to this issue you were both having?

Thanks.

Hi,

No this problem is by design. Backup Exec 12.5 can't handle Iscsi volumes towards a fiber library behind a NAS filer (Speed is 16 mb/min). Only option to backup these Iscsi volumes on a acceptable speed is to do this on a SCSI tape drive/ library.