Netware Arcserve 6.6 tape space & speed (help please)

[Meolas]

Hi,

(keeping it short)

A Netware 4.1 sp9 server with Arcserve 6.6 (latest service patch)

QUESTION #1 SPEED
backup speed with a dds4- 20-40 tape drive is 36-40mb min
The DDS4 drive was replaced with an AIT-2 drive and the backup speeds are the same (off a local hard drive). Adaptec SCSI card is set to 40. I tested this drive with AS2000 and had over 200mb min backups.

QUESTION #2 STORAGE
What can i expect from the status page it show "30GB written to tape" did that occupy 30GB of native tape space or 30GB of compressed tape space ? Is there any way to find out how much space is actually being used (short of a massive backup ?)

Thank you for you time !

Meolas

 

[TheLad]

To help answer your questions:

Question 1 - Are you using the push agent? If so, try a backup without the push agent as it can cause more problems than good.

Question 2 - It should show the uncompressed data written to tape. The tape log should tell you how much was written in each session. -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
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[FarOut]

As with any process being performed over the wire, network traffic plays a big part in backups. I agree with THELad, try backing up without the push agent. We use only the basic agent needed for backups, the (O)pen (F)ile (A)gent. The other thing we did that helped not only with the backups but with all connectivity processes. Was to force all NIC's to their highest connection settings that they could handle. In our situation 100/Full Duplex. Using the Autodetect is just to shaky. When it comes to performing backups I don't believe that you can ever have enough memory in the server doing the backup process.

As for your storage question, yes that should be actual data that was backed up. I might bring one thing up while I am writing. You might want to do periodic restores to check the integrity of the backups. We have been noticing some little idiosyncrasies with the data upon restoring it. Data not getting backed up, older data mixed in with current data, etc.. But the logs showed all backups went well and it does not happen all the time, just an FYI. We are currently getting ready to switch to Veritas as our backup solution. Seems like ever since Cheyenne got out of the picture with ArcServe it has not performed as well. And I have used ArcServe for well over 15 years. Hope this helped in some way or another. FarOut
V-Peace-V

 

[Meolas]

First, Thank you to TheLad & FarOut

The Netware 4.1 server & workstations are running at 100mb full duplex to a Cisco network switch (supporting 50 users). I don't have any push agents installed on our servers. When the backups are performed no files are open (besides a couple system files). My testing (for speed) has always been on a local drive in the backup server. Our main server is used strictly for files (only software is antivirus & backup).The memory on the server is 512MB.

We are planning to replace AS6.6 with AS9. Unfortunately Veritas (according to their support) doesnt have features for netware we will require, such as disk to disk copy. I have verfied my backups with the DDS4 drive and have been 100%.I have full backups on each tape daily. The new AIT-2 drive will need to be checked.

Speed- ARRGHHHH I was hoping that number was not data space used on tape. But its good to know so I can have an educated decision on tape purchase.

The setup I have at the office and is similar to working on a condemned house.

I appricate you time and input.

Thanks again

Meolas

 

[TheLad]

AS9 does have disk to disk functionality - check the Feature, Description and Benifits link at the link below:

http://www.ca.com/solutions/enterprise/storage/brightstor_arcserve_nw/

Also, ensure that even though you don't have push agents installed, the backup is not configured to use push agents. I (unfortunately) have plenty of experience with the beast that is AS6.6 and I have been through this before. As far as speed is concerned, try the following CA TIDs:

http://support.ca.com/techbases/as61/NAS68034.html

http://support.ca.com/techbases/as61/18032.html

http://support.ca.com/techbases/as61/10015.html

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"It's true, its damn true!"
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[Meolas]

Update:

TheLad Provided various fixes that would improve throughput. After reviewing those fixes heres an update.

All changes tried seperately ASTART6 and ASTOP6

CANWPABD was previously installed and currently running

BUFFERS 10,20,30

RSHOTS 10,20,28
WSHOTS 10,20,28

Push agent enabled & disabled in job (note: no agent running on backup device)

Changes made to NETWARE

Min Directory cache buffers 1000
Max Directory cache buffers 2000

A couple other settings reduced from 2.2 to .5

After making the changes to the O/S I was able to get 2MB extra per minute on the backups.

Both workstation and local backups were used in the testing.

After making these changes and having little improvement my time may be directed towards the new server and upgrading 6.6 to 9.

I have yet to perform the test feature will try that tomorrow (for reference)

Thanks for your advice !

Meolas