Disk-based IDR ? 1

[JVKAdmin]

Hi,

I currently have a test Virtual PC trying to test out the IDR functionality. I was really upset to find out that I can't do a test of the IDR process using Disk-based Backups ?? Why is this a problem ? I'm using BE 9.1 with IDR option.

The problem is that when I go to create the IDR Bootable CD image that it can't find the .dr files. I've done two full backups now and it won't create the files.

Has anyone had any issues with this or knows of a good way around this problem ?

I don't have spare servers to test this feature appropriately.

Thanks

Kevin.

 

[steveot]

Should work. Are you saying you create a virtual machine. Then you have another server or same host server and you run a backup to disk of the virtual machine and it doesnt creat the DR file in program files\veritas\backup exec\nt\dir\data? Assuming the backup job completes 100% with no failures.

 

[JVKAdmin]

Steve,

Thanks for the reply. What I'm saying is that I have a virtual machine set up as the media server. Its also the machine I want to backup and try to restore with IDR. I run a Disk based backup to another Drive on the VPC (I've set up 2 VPC harddrives, the main boot/system drive that I'm backing up and a second one to backup/restore files to/from).

I've read in Symantec documentation that you can't do a local IDR using disk-based backup with Ver 9.1 ? The backups don't even create a .DR file in the .DR directory after a full backup ? (yes this has been set up correctly with all the agents etc).

http://support.veritas.com/docs/284394

Considering this is a VPC environment how can I set up a tape drive or at least emulate a tape drive to backup to a VPC disk so I can test IDR in Virtual PC ?

Do newer versions permit local IDR ?

Thanks

Kevin

 

[steveot]

Your correct only Backup Exec 11d support IDR using locally or remote Backup to disk folders.

 

[JVKAdmin]

Steve,

Do you have a document that references the fact that 11d supports local IDR ?

Thanks

Kevin.

 

[steveot]

Well let me re-state that statement. You can recover the media server as long as the backup to disk is on another server. Otherwise what whould be the purpose of IDR if you recovery backup to disk media was local. If you lost the entire raid then the media would not be avaiable. Page 1496 in Backup Exec 11d state
"Media server can be recovered using remote backup to disk folder"

During the IDR process you have to remember if you pick the automated IDR it will wipe all the local drives out and create the partition and format them.

Also keep in mide that the IDR proces in 11d is different that 10d. Much Much faster and has a better GUI. A big improvement. I have personally test IDR using VMware. I installed Backup Exec on the physicall host machine and created my backup to disk folder on the host machine. Then created my virtual machine. Installed remote agent on virtual machine, ran backup, rand IDR restore. IDR found the media on my physical machine. I also tested making the virtual machine the media server, BUT placed the backup to disk folder on the host machine. This worked as well.

 

[JVKAdmin]

Steve,

You brought up a good point. I was under the impression you could tell IDR to just restore select drives but I think I was thinking about GHOST or something..

Good points about the host machine versus VPC machine. I'll definitely give this scenario a try !

 

[steveot]

If you looking at disk base backup solution and ghost like feature then you may want to look at Backup Exec System Recovery Product. This is like ghost but you can backup to disk without taking the server down. You can restore from images individual files, partition, etc. Event restore to alternate hardware if need. Again this is disk based backup. BESR will allow you to pick any drive local or remote to pick up the BESR image files. Again if you had the image file local and lost the whole server or all the drive its of no use.

 

[JVKAdmin]

True enough. I was just trying to cover all basis. I'll check out that product you mentioned.

Thanks again!

Kevin