Networker on NT and large files

[RBrantley]

Well I got my backups going, but I am currently having problems restoring around 400 gb of data with Networker 6.0.1 on Windows NT 4.0 SP6a. I have 15 data files approx 25 gb each plus about 20gb of other files (logs, etc) on 9 volumes. I am backing up to a ATL P3000 16 DLT 7000 drive. I can backup OK , but when I try to restore I can watch my Paged Pool Memory (Perfmon) go up until it hits the 192mb limit for NT and the jobs fail. I found two MS knowledge base articles that deal with memory problems in NT with
large files (they were supposed to be fixed with the latest service pack) and applied the registry mods accordingly. This slowed the memory leak somewhat, but does not appear to be the solution.

I'm very new (very very new) to Networker and it's probably an error on my part, but I have found nothing in the documentation to support that. I should mention that the only way I can find to do a complete recover in any feasable amount of time is to start several save set recovers at once. If I do a directed recover it only recovers one volume at a time.

Here is the full setup

Legato Networker 6.0.1 build 174
Windows NT Enterprise 4.0 SP6a
Compaq Proliant 7000 2gb RAM 4 way 400mhz/1mb Xeons
Attached to an EMC storage unit via two 64 bit Emulex 8000 fibre cards
Attached on other end to an ATL P3000 16 DLT 7000 tape library via 3 Emulex 7000
32bit fibre cards
Fibre is configured as point to point no switch present.



Thanks for any help !!!

Raymond

 

[cfowler]

Hi there,

As opposed to attempting to restore all 200GB at once, have you attempted to restore each 25GB file individually? This will at least assist you in trouble shooting. Taking an educated guess, I suspect they are Database files you speak of? Curious. We currently employ Networker 5.7.0.0 Build 112 on an NT 4.0 SP 6a server. None of our databases are larger than 50GB. As a general rule of thumb, I found this "tip if you'd like to call it that" associated with Database sizes in the Legato site somewhere. Unfortunately I cannot recollect where I found it on their site. However, they reccomend backing up databases no larger than 60GB. Don't know why, it should not make a difference.

However, one thing I have noticed, it may not be related to your case, is that Networker breaks all files, download materials, into 2000MB data blocks for the tapes. Perhaps by increasing this size from 2000MB - 5000MB, it may help. This is just a thought. I don't really know if it will assist you and I'm not at all familiar with how to do that.

We currently backup 600GB in a night for a full backup, all seems to function well for us, save the cloning process, just a time issue there.

Take care and good luck, I certainly am familiar with your frustration. We just had a visit from a Sales Rep. from LiveVault. Backups over a secured VPN connection, Internet. It's all real-time and sounds like it would completely eliminate the frustrations Legato so easily provides. I'm not sold on the idea, but thought I'd mention it. I haven't found anyone yet that's heard of this technology or software vendor.

Take care,

CF

 

[RBrantley]

Thanks for your help !! Actually I wasn't very clear, when I try to restore those 15 data files (SQL 7) is when I have the memory problem. I figured I was causing the memory leak because I was starting 15 seperate instances at once, but I can't find any other way to restore them in parallel.

I actually got my restore time down to a little over 3 hours, but I had to set it up in stages and do 6 data files at a time. I just hate having to babysit it all the way through the restore.


Thanks again,
Raymond