Arcserve 2K SP3 Problem 1

[Bostik]

We're experiencing slow backup speeds (only about 40Mb/min) and when you have >400Gb to back up, it takes a while...
We have a HP surestore ultrium library (single drive, 9 slot) and Arcserve 2K SP2.
When I applied SP3, I could no longer see my Ultrium slots under device - the drive contents were blank! Reinstalling to SP2 fixed the problem.
Backups are performed on a separate switch to the live network and each server has 2 network cards. Agents are on every server. The only thing I haven't checked speed wise is the duplex settings on each card and the switch. Can this get me back up to at least 100Mb/min?
I've looked thru the rest of the forum and have checked all other settings / configs.
Can you help with the speed or SP3 problems? Please!?

 

[dietrich05]

Checking the individual settings on the server is a good idea. However, when we experienced the same problem, the settings on the NIC's were the same. It ended up being the settings on the specific port on the switch that was slowing our throughput. Once the port on the switch was hard coded for 100MB/Full, then our throughput was awesome. Hope it helps.

 

[toerag]

If you happen to be using the Arcserve 2000 Agent, remove it. I recommend using the 6.61 Agent even if CA reckon it doesn't work with Arcserve 2000. I noticed when I ran the 6.61 Client Agent connecting to Acrserve 2000 (V7) I had no issues. As soon as I installed the 2000 Agent, Including SP2 for Arcserve 2000 Server and SP2 Client Agent update all went to mustard. File Pattern Filter failed to work (*.tmp), Compression was not working and above all performance went from a respectable 300-400 mb/min to a shocking 70 mb/min. Well as soon as I noticed that my 17 NT4.0 Server backup (330 GB full backup) took 23hrs through the 6.61 Agent and an alarming 4 Days (Finally gave up after 10 servers)through the 2000 agent. I removed all the 2000 client agents and went back to the 6.61 agent and finally got some worth while sleep and got to keep my job.
All NIC's on our servers are 100 mb Full Duplex. I have heard that one other option is run your server full duplex all clients half. Definatly sounds like an agent problem though.

 

[Bostik]

Well I've been through all the servers and checked that everything is hard-coded to 100Mb/s Full duplex. I'm still gettings <40Mb/min on the servers.
I did a test backup of a whole W2K server to a different server on the same network. This was also using Arcserve 2000 host, but I did the backup WITHOUT a 2000 client agent. And you know what? I got >300Mb/min.
I'm going to give Toerag's suggestion some time here, and thanks very much for it, Toerag. I shall get a 6.61 agent and try that. Presumably I can use my 2000 agent licenses for it?
I do wonder if CA know about this problem and aren't letting on??

 

[toerag]

I am not to sure if CA is aware of this. They posted on their version matrix site that the 6.61 agent was not compatible with Arcserve V7. We are fortunate enough to have the earlier ver of Arcserve. I believe the licence will work. I found the best way for licensing was at the license desk site at CA. Download the .olf and copy from the 3rd line down into your existing ca.olf. I know for sure that your Arcserve 2000 license uses the new brightstore license files fine. If you notice you still get license events in the NT event log , simply reboot. I glad this has given you a bit more to work with. I am pleased that your throughput has increased to 300 mb/min, At least you can get a good backup to buy yourself some time to investigate more into this issue. Cheers for the feedback. I am interested in hearing how things get on. If I also come across anything else I will be sure to let you know. Craig.