We recently replaced a NetApp Filer with an EMC Celerra with the
intention that the NetApp is decommissioned asap (within 1 month).  The
NetApp is backed up via NDMP with NetBackup 5.1 and we retain monthly
and annual tapes.

The problem is that we may need to restore from the monthly and annual
tapes and as far as I know NDMP backups cannot be restored to
dissimiliar platforms, i.e we can't take an NDMP backup from the NetApp
and restore it to the Celerra.  We can't restore back to the NetApp
because it will be decommissioned.

Has anybody faced a similar problem?  How did you work around it?  Are
there any solutions that will convert NDMP backup formats between
vendors?

Thanks!

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

On 9 Jan 2006 20:09:47 -0800, "Jono" <jono968@hotmail.com> wrote:

>We recently replaced a NetApp Filer with an EMC Celerra with the
>intention that the NetApp is decommissioned asap (within 1 month).  The
>NetApp is backed up via NDMP with NetBackup 5.1 and we retain monthly
>and annual tapes.
>
>The problem is that we may need to restore from the monthly and annual
>tapes and as far as I know NDMP backups cannot be restored to
>dissimiliar platforms, i.e we can't take an NDMP backup from the NetApp
>and restore it to the Celerra.  We can't restore back to the NetApp
>because it will be decommissioned.
>
>Has anybody faced a similar problem?  How did you work around it?  Are
>there any solutions that will convert NDMP backup formats between
>vendors?
>
>Thanks!


First off, who's brilliant idea was it to replace the NetApp with an
EMC?!  That person likely doesn't know much about storage...

Second, NetApp's use the standard unix (bsd) dump command and format
for backups.  NDMP is simply a command protocol not a format.  So
anything that is NDMP compliant can communicate using NDMP commands.
What is important is the format the platform uses for backups.  I have
no idea what the Celerra uses so can't offer anything there.

You can also restore filer backups to a Unix host.  I've personally
done it on Solaris but assume it can be done on others.  The process
to do this requires some decent background with NBU and is not
something easily described in this forum.

~F

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

So Filer NDMP backups can be restored to a Solaris host? - now that is
interesting.  I wonder if the the same could be done to a RedHat box?
Can you describe the general steps for bsd unix, we have several people
who are NBU proficient that could run with this.

Also if Celerra uses standard bsd commands then that could be another
way forward although I'm not holding my breath.

Celerra (gateway version) was chosen because the NetApp was end of life
and Celerra was a better fit in the new EMC based environment.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

On 12 Jan 2006 12:24:27 -0800, "Jono" <jono968@hotmail.com> wrote:

>So Filer NDMP backups can be restored to a Solaris host? - now that is
>interesting.  I wonder if the the same could be done to a RedHat box?
>Can you describe the general steps for bsd unix, we have several people
>who are NBU proficient that could run with this.

As long as you can do a unix 'restore' command you can restore these.
The key is to know where the tape file is that starts the data stream.
Not something I intend to explain here but you're NBU folk should be
able to find it.  Hint: they need to be familar with the mt commands.

>
>Also if Celerra uses standard bsd commands then that could be another
>way forward although I'm not holding my breath.

Could be, but also not holding breath.  Worth a try for sure though.

>
>Celerra (gateway version) was chosen because the NetApp was end of life
>and Celerra was a better fit in the new EMC based environment.

Someone should have thought to take an NFS or CIFS backup then before
getting rid of it.  EOL'd musta been old.  Sorry to hear you're an EMC
shop.... good luck.

~F

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

> >Also if Celerra uses standard bsd commands then that could be another[vbcol=seagreen] 

AFAIK, Celerra NDMP can use either dump/restore or tar depending on the
backup software... it *may* be possible to restore the image straight
to the DM.  The only issues I see are that a.) netbackup may instruct
Celerra NDMP to use tar instead of restore-- in which case it wouldn't
work; or b.) the dump/restore image (in contrast to the tarball) would
be incompatible with the DM's UXFS.  Since Celerra's UXFS keeps
permission sets available for both CIFS and NFS, the UXFS restore
command may be expecting this...

Another option is Rainfinity (http://www.rainfinity.com/), which has
products/services centered specifically around NAS deployment
migrations, and can seamlessly migrate your data from one platform to
the other without any user disruption-- or so they say... I've never
used them myself...

Whatever you decide/learn, let us know... I'm curious to see how your
migration turns out.

HTH
Aaron

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

On 21 Jan 2006 08:37:52 -0800, "AWS" <spiegela@gmail.com> wrote:
 
>
>AFAIK, Celerra NDMP can use either dump/restore or tar depending on the
>backup software... it *may* be possible to restore the image straight
>to the DM.  The only issues I see are that a.) netbackup may instruct
>Celerra NDMP to use tar instead of restore-- in which case it wouldn't
>work; or b.) the dump/restore image (in contrast to the tarball) would
>be incompatible with the DM's UXFS.  Since Celerra's UXFS keeps
>permission sets available for both CIFS and NFS, the UXFS restore
>command may be expecting this...
>
>Another option is Rainfinity (http://www.rainfinity.com/), which has
>products/services centered specifically around NAS deployment
>migrations, and can seamlessly migrate your data from one platform to
>the other without any user disruption-- or so they say... I've never
>used them myself...
>
>Whatever you decide/learn, let us know... I'm curious to see how your
>migration turns out.
>
>HTH
>Aaron

I've used Rainstorage and it definitely works as advertised.  The
caveat to the OP's issue though it that it only works for one protocol
at a time.  Meaning you can transparently migrate NFS but during that
time there is no CIFS access.  However it is seemless to the protocol
you decide to be primary.

Of course CIFS migration is pretty damn easy, particularly if you have
DFS setup.

~F

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]