Tivoli Storage Manager for UNIX Using the Backup-Archive Clients


Appendix B. Backing Up NAS File Systems

Tivoli Storage Manager supports backup and restore of network attached storage (NAS) file system images to tape drives or libraries that are locally attached to NAS file servers. Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP enables backup and restore support on the Tivoli Storage Manager Windows NT and Windows 2000 servers for NAS file servers from Network Appliance. Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP is a separately priced and licensed product.

For information on how to configure Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP on the Tivoli Storage Manager server, see Tivoli Storage Manager for Windows Administrator's Guide, GC35-0410.

See "Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP Version 4.2.1 Requirements" for client and server hardware and software requirements.

After configuring Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP, the server connects to the NAS device and uses NDMP to initiate, control, and monitor each backup and restore operation. The NAS device performs outboard data transfer to and from the NAS file system to a locally attached tape drive or library.

It is not necessary for a client node to mount a NAS file system to perform backup or restore operations on that file system.

The benefits of performing backups using Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP include the following:

The following support is provided:

The following functions are not supported:


Performing a Web Client GUI Backup

For information on how to install and configure the Web client, see "Installing and Using the Web Client".

For both the Web GUI and the command line client, you must specify passwordaccess=generate (which is a current web client restriction for the client node) and the authentication=on must be specified at the server. You are always prompted for a user ID and password. To display NAS nodes and perform NAS functions, you must enter an authorized administrative user ID and password. The authorized administrative user ID should have at least client owner authority over both the NAS node and the client workstation node they are using either from command line or from the web.

To back up NAS file systems using the Web client GUI:

  1. Click Backup files and directories from the main window. The Backup window displays.
  2. Expand the directory tree if necessary.

    Notes:

    1. The root node called Nodes is not selectable. This node only appears if Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP is enabled on the server.
    2. NAS nodes display on the same level as the client workstation node. Only nodes for which the administrator has authority will display.
    3. NAS nodes are expandable to reveal file spaces, but no further expansion is available (no file names).
  3. Click the selection boxes next to the nodes or file systems you want to back up.
  4. Click the type of backup you want to perform in the backup type pull-down menu. The NAS backup type list is active only when you first select NAS backup objects.
  5. Click Backup. The NAS Backup Task List window displays the backup processing status and progress bar. The number next to the progress bar indicates the estimated size of the backup, which is the occupancy of the file system. After the backup completes, the NAS Backup Report window displays processing details, including the actual size of the backup.
    Note:
    If it is necessary to close the Web browser session, current NAS operations will continue after disconnect. You can use the Dismiss button on the NAS Backup Task List window to quit monitoring processing without ending the current operation.
  6. (Optional) To monitor processing of an operation, select the Actions > Monitor TSM Activities from the GUI main window. During a differential backup, the status bar indicates processing status. A percentage estimate does not display.

To restore NAS file system images using the Web client GUI, see "Restoring NAS File Systems".


Performing a Command Line Backup

Table 34 lists the commands and options you can use to back up NAS file system images from the command line.

Table 34. NAS Options and Commands

Option or Command Definition Page
domain.nas Specifies the volumes to include in your default domain for NAS backups. Domain.nas
exclude.fs.nas Excludes file systems on the NAS file server from an image backup when used with the backup nas command. This option is for AIX, AIX 5L, and Solaris clients only. Exclude Options
include.fs.nas Includes a file system or assigns a management class when used with the backup nas command. This option is for AIX, AIX 5L, and Solaris clients only. Include Options
query node Displays all the nodes for which a particular administrative user ID has authority to perform operations. The authorized administrative user ID should have at least client owner authority over both the NAS node and the client workstation node they are using either from command line or from the web. Query Node
backup nas Creates an image backup of one or more file systems that belong to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) file server. Backup NAS
monitor process Displays current back up and restore processes for all NAS nodes for which an administrative user has authority. The administrative user can then select one process to monitor. Monitor Process
cancel process Displays current back up and restore processes for all NAS nodes for which an administrative user has authority. From the display, the administrative user can select one process to cancel. Cancel Process
query backup Use the query backup command with the class option to display information about file system images backed up for a NAS file server. Query Backup
query filespace Use the query filespace command with the class option to display a list of file spaces belonging to a NAS node. Query Filespace
delete filespace Use the delete filespace with the class option to display a list of file spaces belonging to a NAS node so that you may choose one to delete. Delete Filespace

Regardless of client platform, NAS file system specifications use the forward slash (/) separator, as in this example: /vol/vol0.

Note:
When you initiate a NAS backup operation using the command line client, the server starts a process to initiate, control, and monitor the operation. It may take several moments before you notice progress at the command line client interface because the server must perform mount and other necessary tasks before data movement occurs.

Restoring NAS File Systems

You can restore full or differential NAS file system images that were backed up previously. If you restore a differential image, Tivoli Storage Manager automatically restores the full backup image first, followed by the differential image. It is not necessary for a client node to mount a NAS file system to perform backup or restore operations on that file system.

For information on how to install and configure the Web client, see "Installing and Using the Web Client".

To restore NAS file systems using the Web client GUI:

  1. Click the Restore files and directories to your system from the main window. The Restore window appears.
  2. Expand the directory tree if necessary. To expand a node in the tree, click the plus sign (+) next to an object in the tree.

    Notes:

    1. The root node called Nodes is not selectable. This node only appears if Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP is enabled on the server.
    2. NAS nodes display on the same level as the client workstation's node. Only nodes to which the administrator has authority appear.
    3. NAS nodes will expand to reveal file systems. Under each file system are images which you can select to restore.
  3. Click the selection boxes next to the nodes, file systems or images you want to restore.
  4. Click Restore. The Restore Destination window appears. Enter the information in the Restore Destination window.
    Note:
    You can restore NAS file system images to any volume on the NAS file server from which they were backed up. You cannot restore images to another NAS file server.
  5. Click Restore. The NAS Restore Task List window displays the restore processing status and progress bar. The number next to the progress bar indicates the estimated size of the restore. After the restore completes, the NAS Restore Report window displays processing details, including the actual size of the restore.
    Note:
    If it is necessary to close the Web browser session, current NAS operations will continue after disconnect. You can use the Dismiss button on the NAS Restore Task List window to quit monitoring processes without ending the current operation.
  6. (Optional) To monitor processing of an operation, select the Actions > Monitor TSM Activities from the main window.

Table 35 lists the commands and options you can use to restore NAS file system images from the command line.

Table 35. NAS Options and Commands

Option or Command Definition Page
query node Displays all the nodes for which a particular administrative user ID has authority to perform operations. The authorized administrative user ID should have at least client owner authority over both the NAS node and the client workstation node they are using either from command line or from the web. Query Node
query backup Use the query backup command with the class option to display information about file system images backed up for a NAS file server. Query Backup
query filespace Use the query filespace command with the class option to display a list of file spaces belonging to a NAS node. Query Filespace
restore nas Restores the image of a file system belonging to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) file server. Restore NAS
monitor process Displays current backup and restore processes for all NAS nodes for which an administrative user has authority. The administrative user can then select one process to monitor. Monitor Process
cancel process Displays current back up and restore processes for all NAS nodes for which an administrative user has authority. From the display, the administrative user can select one process to cancel. Cancel Process
delete filespace Use the delete filespace with the class option to display a list of file spaces belonging to a NAS node so that you may choose one to delete. Delete Filespace

Regardless of client platform, NAS file system specifications use the forward slash (/) separator, as in this example: /vol/vol0.

Note:
When you initiate a NAS restore operation using the command line client, the server starts a process to initiate, control, and monitor the operation. It may take several moments before you notice progress at the command line client interface because the server must perform mount and other necessary tasks before data movement occurs. Tivoli Storage Manager may display an Interrupted ... message when the mount occurs. You can gnore this message.


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