Recommended Master Media Server

[sftx]

Hello All!

We are fixing to migrate off of Legato and onto Netbackup. I'd like some help configuring hardware for a master media server.

I was going to run Netbackup 4.5 on Solaris for starters. Preferably Solaris 9. Any issues with that?

We were looking at purchasing a Sun V440 w/ 4*1.062GHz (w/ 1-mb cache each) processors, 8GB Ram, (4) 36GB hard drives, and either 2 or 3 gigabit ethernet connections. The master media server would manage the robot on our StorageTek L700, along w/ (4) DLT8000 drives (connected via SCSI), along with (2-3) LTO2 or SDLT600 (also connected throught SCSI) drives we are planning on purchasing.

We would use our old Legato Server (Sun E450 w/ 2*296MHz processors & 1GB RAM, and gigabit fiber connection) as a media server and it would manage (6) DLT8000 drives (connected via SCSI).

We would be backing the following:
Netware (6.0 cluster & Groupwise) = 1.4 TB
Windows (2K & NT) = 1.0 TB
Solaris (2.6 - 9) = 10 GB

We do not have a dedicated backup LAN and there aren't any WAN backups going on either.

Is the V440 a viable solution to be a master media backup server for our network. I would be looking at the V880 but, cost is way out of sight for our budget.

Any recommendations that can be given would be much appreciated.

Thank you all,
Steve

 

[comtec17]

You should make the Netware server a Media Server since it has the majority of the data and connect the drives to him.

Not sure as to why you would even consider buying an LTO2 drive and only SCSI attach it.

I would suggest purchasing a small 16 port Brocade switch and some Fibre Host Bus Adapters and make you a small backup SAN for Lan-Free backups.

The SUN server you have should be more than enough to handle the data you have.

 

[sftx]

>You should make the Netware server a Media Server since it >has the majority of the data and connect the drives to >him.

Cannot, already purchased a Unix Media Server license. Also, management felt uncomfortable running a media server on our primary production Novell cluster.

>Not sure as to why you would even consider buying an LTO2 >drive and only SCSI attach it.

Would we take a big performance hit going the SCSI route? My understanding is that if I attach each LTO2 (LVD) drive to its own SCSI bus (Ultra3 - Fast-160) that their would be some arbitration but not enough to slow it down to the point to where you wouldn't at least be able to get 35-40MB/Sec. Perhaps more, but I usually try to stick closer to the drives native speed, as the compressed speeds have been more of a dream.

What is your take on it?

>I would suggest purchasing a small 16 port Brocade switch >and some Fibre Host Bus Adapters and make you a small >backup SAN for Lan-Free backups.

I'd need an HBA for every client (60 or so) that I wanted to backup, wouldn't I?

>The SUN server you have should be more than enough to >handle the data you have.

When you refer to the SUN server we have, are you referring to the new V440 or our current E450? I know Veritas recommends a conservative estimate of 5MHz of computing power per 1MB/Sec of data movement for in and for out.

Currently our E450 drives (10) DLT8000 drives (2 drives per SCSI channel) and has a 1Gb fiber connection with 2*296MHz processors and 1GB Memory.

Checking CPU & Memory utilization during a Full backup on the current, soon to be replaced, Legato backup server averages 98% CPU utilization and 2MB of free Memory. Full Backups start Friday evening at 6pm and run through Monday till about noon.

It's hurting bad...

Thanks for your input, I look forward to hearing back from you. SF

 

[adpwl1]

A question I have is you state you don't have a dedicated LAN, but what is the LAN speed?

I question why you are looking at LTO2 or SDLT600 when your LAN might not be able to stream the data.

Each LTO2 or SDLT600 will backup ~100GB/hr. 100mbps can only stream about ~44GB/HR. GigE can do about ~440GB/HR

Master Server Ethernet Requirements
4 DLT8000 (22GB/HR * 4 = 88GB/HR)
2 LTO2/SDLT600 (~110GB/HR * 2 = 220GB/HR)
88 + 220 = 308GB/HR
You will need at least 1 GigE connection for the master server, 2 would be better

Some of the issues with your long backups could be network performance. To backup the 1.4TB on Netware that could take quite a bit if streaming to the DLT8000 and you don't have GigE. THere are a lot of variables that effect performance. Can the bus and disk in the clients push the data out quick enought.

I guess my take is that its not only the Master/Media server that effects performance

As for SCSI/FC on the tape drives, FC is the way to go. You can still direct attach them to the master server, just put a FC card in the master instead of the SCSI card. Its better to do this now because if you ever go to a SAN/TAN, you can't just purchase the FC adapter for the drive. Also, I hear that STK will ONLY be supporting the FC version of the SDLT600, due out between Late Late Late Q1 and Late Q2.

 

[PGPhantom]

Have a look at faq776-3984 to determine backup speeds etc. Once of our robotics devices is a HP4/40 with 4xLTO drives. Two are attached via SCSI to one Unix media server and two to another - Each drive is on its own SCSI channel. I generally DO NOT have more than 2 LTO drives to any one media server directly attached as you have to factor in bus speeds etc. I also DO NOT recommend that your master server is also a media server - Too many problems with that configuration in terms of speeds, reliability, timeouts etc.

In out NT world - I have multiple Dell PV136T's with 6xLTO drives - There again, I have an adaptec 39160 in three separate servers. Each drive is connected to a separate channel of the dual channel controller.

Also - Never have a primary media server also a main production server.

 

[sftx]

Thank you both for your responses...

As far as LAN speed is concerned, I will have a minimum of 3 GB Ethernet cards, looking to see if the V440 could handle 4 of them.

Trust me, I'd really like to go with FC drives, but the cost on the drives alone is roughly $4000 more than the SCSI version. Very limited budget, especially with purchasing Veritas Netbackup and it not being a budgeted purchase... I will check in on a definite price, but think it will be too high.

Most of the clients are connected to our LAN via 1 GB fiber.

I will also be checking on the bus speed of this server. Any other info you all can think of.

Thank you very much!
SF