FAQs-Quantum NDX / RDX

Transcription

1 FAQs-Quantum NDX / RDX 1. Where is the NDX/RDX support forum located? At this time, there are no support forums for the NDX product. In the meantime, please refer to the FAQs below and the product documentation available under the DOCUMENTATION tab located at: 2. Can the NDX-8d or NDX-12d be used for primary storage, as well as for data protection? Yes. You can use the NDX-d units for backup data, or in other roles, such as a file server or print server. You may wish to use it for roles beyond data protection if your backup data leaves spare capacity. 3. What is the difference between DATASTOR and DXi deduplication? DATASTOR Shield uses bit-level compare deduplication, which occurs on the client (desktop, laptop, or server). The data is deduplicated before being sent over the network back to the NDX-d unit. This reduces the amount of incremental data stored, as well as traffic on the network. The DXi uses inline (before data is written to disk), variable-block deduplication, which occurs on the DXi. 4. The UPS that powers my NDX-8 has rebooted. Now, all my drives have a green light on top, but the secondary light underneath is flashing red. Even so, I can still log in and use the system. Is there something that needs to be reset, or are the HDDs trying to self-repair? The Red LEDs indicate that the system is verifying and repairing its RAID array. This is normal in any RAID-configured system when an unexpected power loss occurs. Until the verify/repair process completes, performance may be slower than normal. 5. What disaster recovery options are available for the NDX-d units? Many options are available for disaster recovery. If you have a second site, you can purchase a second NDX-d unit and add the Advanced Feature Pack, so that you can replicate remotely between the two NDX-d units. Or you may replicate to the cloud from the DATASTOR Shield Software. For same-site disaster recovery, you have options. These configurations do not require the Advanced Feature Pack for replication. However, if you want bare-metal restore or SQL and Exchange support, you would need purchase the Advanced Feature Pack. o o o You can install RDX internal drives (in the tower only) and/or use USB-connected RDX drives on both the tower and rack. OR you can purchase an RDX 8000 or SuperLoader 3 LTO Tape Autoloader. You can then configure the DATASTOR Shield Software to automatically have the NDX-d unit copy data to the RDX device or LTO Tape, and then take the cartridges offline/offsite for disaster recovery purposes. In addition, any USB device, like an external hard drive, can be connected to the NDX-d and used as a copy target for disaster recovery. You should take the device offsite after the data has been copied to it. Reference the DATASTOR help menu for steps on how to save the System Recovery Environment to Media and how to Protect Your Archive Manager Settings. 6. What is the advantage of purchasing an NDX unit for primary storage with my NDX-d series unit? Because the NDX-8 and NDX-12 units use Windows Storage Server as the operating system, DATASTOR Shield will perform an agentless backup of the NDX, sending only deduplicated data over the network, and storing it on the NDX-d unit. The NDX-d and NDX units are identical in hardware, capacity, and operating system. This makes sizing, management, and operation easy, since the units are compatible. In addition, both units have the same Microsoft Windows user interface used in the rest of your IT infrastructure.

2 7. What does agentless backup mean, and how does it work? Agentless means that Quantum DATASTOR Shield does not require software to be installed on the Windows client systems being backed up. Instead, DATASTOR Shield pushes a scheduled task out to each client system being protected. When this task runs, it points back to an executable on the NDX-8d that contains the deduplication engine. The client system passes back only changed bits of data (deduplication). This generally results in a 20:1 deduplication ratio, vs. the 2:1 compression ratio achieved with typical backup software. This means that only 1/10 as much data is sent over the network and stored with DATASTOR Shield, compared to with traditional backup software. 8. Can I install Microsoft applications on the NDX-d or NDX units? Yes. One of the key advantages of using Windows Storage Server is that Microsoft Windows applications can be installed and run on the NDX Series NAS devices. 9. Can Quantum DATASTOR Shield software be used on virtual machines? Yes. Quantum DATASTOR Shield will work the same way on a VMware or Hyper-V Windows virtual machine as it does on a non-vm machine. In addition, it can back up Hyper-V machines at the system (bare-metal) level. 10. Can Quantum DATASTOR Shield protect data from non-windows systems? Yes. However, the data would be deduplicated on the NDX-d and not on the client. Data from non-windows systems is accessed through a share and is copied to the NDX in non-deduplicated form. The data is deduplicated on the NDX-d and stored by a local protection plan. A planned future enhancement will allow for deduplication on Linux-based systems before data is sent over the network. 11. What benefits do the NDX-d units provide over other NAS devices? Quantum s NDX-8d and NDX-12d are designed for data backup and disaster recovery. There is nothing to install, as the units come pre-configured with DATASTOR Shield client-side deduplication software and perform an agentless backup and there is no software to install on clients, either. Customers can generally be up and running backing up data in about minutes. Moreover, DATASTOR Shield comes complete with deduplication technology to control data growth and reduce data stored by up to 90%. Customers using other NAS devices to back up have to install software on the NAS device, or more likely, on a separate backup server. They also have to install backup software agents on all the desktops, laptops, and clients being backed up. In addition, they have no way to control data growth and quickly run out of space on their NAS server, forcing them to delete previous backups and potentially important files. In addition, customers often have to deal with ISV software that costs 4x as much as DATASTOR Shield, and must navigate through complicated licensing and warranty requirements. The amount of data stored when using Quantum's NDX-8d and NDX-12 devices is significantly reduced. This allows customers to keep up to two years of backups online (or more, depending on storage requirements), while reducing network traffic by up to 90% because backup data is deduplicated before being sent over the network. 12. Do you need a second NDX-d unit for remote site replication? Replication requires a second NDX-8d or NDX-12d and the Advanced Feature Pack License. With DATASTOR Shield replication, different retention policies can be set on each NDX-d unit, and replication can be managed from either unit. 13. Does the NDX unit for primary storage come with any backup software? The Quantum NDX-8 and NDX-12 come standard with Microsoft Windows Backup. You can use this software to back up the NDX-8 or NDX-12 to tape, or to any other backup target, such as the cloud, if you do not have an NDX-d unit. In addition, Windows includes File Replication Service (FRS) and DFS Replication, which will allow you to perform replication to other Windows Servers. 14. Does the RDX 8000 support RAID? No. The RDX 8000 uses removable RDX disks and therefore does not support RAID. RAID is not supported with removable media in general. 2

3 15. When would I use JBOD mode vs. tape emulation mode on the RDX 8000? Quantum recommends that you use JBOD mode. It is faster and does not require cartridge formatting. JBOD mode is supported by most backup software packages. You would need to use tape emulation mode if your backup software does not support JBOD mode. 16. Are both Ethernet ports supported in the RDX 8000? Starting with version 1.33 of the firmware, both Ethernet ports will be active for data transfer. Prior to version 1.33, only Ethernet port 1 is active. Check Quantum.com for the latest firmware version. 17. Can I use the RDX 8000 with the Quantum NDX-8d NAS for disaster recovery? Yes. This is a recommended configuration and a best practice. You can back up to an NDX-8d using DATASTOR Shield and then do an automated copy to the RDX 8000 for redundancy and offsite/offline disaster recovery. This creates a very cost-effective and strong disaster recovery D2D2D (Disk to Disk to Disk) system. 18. Do I need to purchase DATASTOR Shield with my RDX 8000 to use that unit with the NDX-8d? No. When used for disaster recovery with the NDX-8d, you can purchase the RDX 8000 without DATASTOR Shield, at a lower cost. The NDX-8d can perform all of the backup-related tasks, including copying to the RDX Which RDX 8000 and NDX NAS systems should I purchase if I am using the NDX NAS for primary storage only and the RDX 8000 for backup and disaster recovery? One option is to purchase the NDX-8d with DATASTOR Shield already installed, use the NDX-8d for primary storage only, and have all backups directed to the RDX This way you do not need a separate backup server to run the software, and you have no software to install. However, if you prefer to have DATASTOR Shield installed on a separate backup server, you should purchase the RDX 8000 with DATSTOR Shield, and the NDX Can I use DATASTOR Shield to back up both to my backup server and to the RDX 8000? Yes. This is the best configuration for redundancy, and for keeping backups available online. You can create a D2D2D system by backing up to your backup server (or to an NDX-8d) and then doing an automated copy to the RDX You can keep two years or more of data online and available, while keeping a greater version history on RDX. The minimum requirement for available hard drive space is.75 to 1x (and the recommended is 1.5x to 2x) your backup size, assuming that you can achieve 2:1 compression on your initial backup and around a 20:1 deduplication rate on subsequent backups. 21. Do I need the Advanced Feature Pack with replication to back up to my backup server and then copy to the RDX 8000 using DATASTOR Shield? No. Copying to the RDX 8000 is a native function in DATASTOR Shield. Replication is needed only if you are replicating the backup server to another backup server running DATASTOR Shield at a remote site. However, if you want bare-metal restore, SQL, or Exchange support, you would buy the Advanced Feature Pack, which includes those functions as well. 22. Because of the boot order I have currently chosen, I cannot leave my External USB RDX unit plugged in. If I do, the system won t boot and says it s looking for a valid startup disk. How can I get into the BIOS of the NDX 8 unit to modify the boot order so that USB is last? To get into the BIOS of the NDX server, press the DELETE key after the second Quantum splash screen. Pressing the F11 key after the second Quantum screen will get you into the options area, where you can select the boot order that you want. 3

4 23. Based on the information in the setup booklet, I am unclear if I am supposed to just install the RDX Utility, or if I also need the Go Protect Backup Software. I am using Symantec Backup Exec 2012, which resides on a separate server. What should I install? On Windows installations, the RDX Utility is required for proper functionality, which includes the NDX. You can use Backup Exec and do not need to use the provided GoProtect software. 24. To allow Symantec Backup Exec 2012 to write to the RDX external drive, do I need a share? The RDX is treated as a removable disk by Windows and should be available through a share from the RDX to the Symantec server. However, please note that some backup applications have special configuration requirements for removable disks. Quantum recommends that you verify your configuration with Symantec to ensure proper connectivity for remote backups. 25. How can I test my system for throughput performance? Is this defined or specified somewhere? Quantum does not supply diagnostic software, but there are plenty of utilities available for download from a variety of websites that will track and monitor statistics such as disk performance, memory usage, and network throughput. 26. I am using DATASTOR Shield and am experiencing slower-than-expected backup performance on my new system. What might the problem be? When you run your first backup of a dataset, the backup often seems to take longer than expected. This is because the deduplication factor has not yet come into play, since all the selected data is being backed up for the first time. The primary culprit is the catalog data that is generated during this time. Subsequent backups of the data take much less time. Also, network throughput/bandwidth is another major player when dealing with slow transfer speeds, since this server performs all its communication though Ethernet. If you have a network bottleneck somewhere, it will adversely affect the performance of the NDX/RDX. If you feel that you have properly addressed the above issues and are still experiencing performance issues, please contact Quantum for assistance. 27. Is it OK to install anti-virus software on my system? Please contact the supplier of the backup software that you intend to use, to see if there are any issues with the particular brand of anti-virus software being loaded with their product. 28. What about Windows Updates? Is it OK to load these? Yes. Quantum recommends that updates be applied as part of the initial configuration of the NDX. 29. Is it possible to cluster two NDX systems as file servers to combine their HDD space? It may be possible to do this. However, to our knowledge it has not been done successfully, and Quantum does not recommend it. Moreover, if DATASTOR is used, clustering the NDXs together may not work, since you must point to a storage point that is local (NDX HDDs) or remote (an RDX or similar device). If the NDXs are clustered, it is unlikely that DATASTOR would be able to use the local storage point. 30. Is it possible to attach a Library to the NDX? The NDX does not come with any HBAs installed, but in theory, if there are available slots, it could be done. 31. Is it possible to team the NIC ports? This has been attempted and has not been successful. 32. Is it possible to attach a USB standalone HDD to the NDX and use it? As long as the drive is discovered by Windows and assigned a drive letter, the DATASTOR software should be able to use the drive. Be advised that this is an untested configuration. 4

5 33. My NDX8 won't mount on the VMSphere client. I have set up NFS on the NDX as "wide open" as possible to prevent authentication issues with Kerberos. I have selected the NFS option, and the Share Path and Share Name have been set correctly. But I still get the following error. What should I do? nfs mount failed; denied by nfs server; check export exists for client and it is permitted to mount Please review the following KB article, which should resolve the issue: I have forgotten my sys admin password, or it has been reset, and I do not know the correct password. Is there a way to perform a factory reset so I can start over? Yes, you can set the unit back to factory defaults by using the F10 restore process. This will reload the default image on the unit and will require reconfiguration. This process only wipes the C: partition; it will not affect any data stored on the D: partition. This will allow you to reconfigure the unit from scratch. For initial setup, do the following: 1. Attach your NDX NAS System to a monitor, mouse, and USB keyboard. 2. Attach an Ethernet cable to one of the Ethernet ports on the rear of the unit closest to the graphics or video port. 3. Plug in the system and power on the unit. Caution: Do not unplug the device during startup this may cause the Microsoft setup process to fail. The unit will boot, showing the Quantum logo, the RAID Configuration, and then the Quantum Logo again. Microsoft Windows will begin initial setup and show the message Setup Installing Devices. The unit will reboot. 4. Set your Country and Time. 5. Input the Windows Product Key from the Windows sticker located on the unit. 6. Enter a New Password. 35. I am installing my system, but before booting, it displays the message invalid boot disc- insert boot media, insert proper media. What should I do? First get into the BIOS by pressing F11 and verify that the proper UFEI boot order is specified. If that is not the problem, you can press F10 for a system restore. 36. I m getting a Device config. for store not found error from DATASTOR. What can I do? Was software recently upgraded? Updating to 7.0.x will automatically map to store locations created using earlier versions of the software. The 6.0.x software uses a different device path to store system information, where it is recorded in a StoredGroupInformation.xml file, instead of being saved within the plan properties itself. During the update, If the conversion did not complete successfully, this might cause the protection plans to point to incorrect store locations; in the case certain types of plans, it might actually point to a completely different server. You may need to modify the StoredGroupInformation.xml file and recreate the linkage between the plans and the store. Note: DATASTOR advises against giving the Protection Plan the same name as the Objectstore. 37. Is there a way to monitor my backup plan s progress indicators on the protection plan itself? Unfortunately, no. Once a plan is complete, you can view the plan log for the full details. As for the time needed for backup, the first time that you back up a dataset is always the longest in a deduplication environment and is completely dependent on the amount of data, type of data, and available bandwidth on the network. This is when the catalog is created, and all data is backed up. Subsequent backups will only back up changed data; this shortens backup times and is the basis for deduplication. 5

6 38. I cannot see the computers in my network using the DATASTOR software and have to enter computer names manually. Can anything be done about this? To view computer names, Advanced Discovery must be set up. Before you can add a server with AD, an Advanced Feature pack license is required. You can enable Network discovery on the NDX as follows: 1. Select Start->Network. 2. Right-click on Network, which is on the lower left of the page that opens. 3. Select Properties. 4. Select the radio button that states Turn on Network Discovery. After you have enabled Network discovery, you will be able to view the desktops and servers in DATASTOR when adding computers to a protection plan. 39. I previously purchased additional DATASTOR licenses, but I can t find them now! Can they be regenerated? Yes. Please contact Quantum, and have a copy of your Purchase Order handy. We can help you recreate the licenses. 40. On my NDX running Win 2003, the backup plans do not run, and no data is backed up. What might the problem be? Windows 2003 is not a supported OS for local or remote protection plans. 41. I can't catalog my media. What should I do? Make sure that the media is labeled. Unlabeled media cannot be cataloged. 42. Is it possible to do system state backups? Yes. Here is a link to information on this topic: I have an RDX 8000 with firmware version R1.21. I tried to remotely upgrade to firmware version R1.33, but the upgrade never completed. It showed only a blank white window with an OK button. After that, nothing else happened. What can I do? Try directly connecting by using a notebook or other computer. Because of network traffic and other factors, certain customers have experienced issues when attempting remote firmware upgrades. 44. I am trying to install DATASTOR Shield Version on a Windows 2003 server, after previously installing it on a Windows 2008 server system. I am getting an error message that says that DATASTOR Shield is not compatible with the Win 2003 server. Can I install DATASTOR Shield on this system? Win 2003 server is not a supported OS. 45. Can I run my RDX 8000 with Symantec Backup Exec? What mode should I use, JBOD or iscsi? Use the same mode as if you were running with DATASTOR software. Also, it would be best to set up as JBOD. NOTE: You can try this, but please be advised that Quantum does not currently support Symantec Backup Exec. 46. Can more than one RDX 8000 be connected to a single server? Yes, go ahead and enter all license keys available to that server, through DATASTOR Shield. 47. I'm trying to use the Eject Service Utility (x64 Version). Although it installed correctly, it doesn't seem to do anything. In particular, it does not see the RDX-8000 even though I have two cartridges mounted. What can I do? Check to see if the RDX MON service is running in Windows. There is no desktop icon, so the only way to tell whether the Eject utility is running is to verify the presence of the RDX MON. 6

7 48. I am using my RDX8000 as a Virtual Tape Library and am unable to unload the cartridge either through the backup software or the Web interface for the unit. What can I do? Windows uses this device differently when it is set up as a VTL. Please verify that you are running the latest firmware at Look for the firmware tab. After you download the firmware, you will need to log into the RDX Web interface and select Diagnostics > Update Firmware. 49. Ever since I performed a firmware upgrade, I can't see the devices. What can I do? Try restarting the backup application. This often solves the problem. 50. My RDX8000 firmware is current, but I can't eject cartridges from the Operator Control Panel (OCP). I can eject from the software, but not from the OCP. The panel seems to be locked. What is the problem? The unit is working as it should. If you still want to eject from the OCP without going through the software, please obtain the Eject tool from Quantum.com. 51. If I ever need to reinstall Windows, what should I do? The F10 Recovery procedure calls to the recovery partition on the server and puts the default shipping image back onto the machine. Use this method if Windows gets corrupted or becomes unusable. 52. One of my tapes is listed as full, but it displays as having 18 GB of free space. What is going on here? When the free space on a tape declines to 7% or less of its full capacity, the tape presents as full. If a segment is being written and crosses the 7% boundary, the segment will continue to be written. If it fits, it will complete writing and could result in 2% remaining capacity. The threshold of 7% is set for maximizing efficiency: if a segment starts writing, but there is not enough capacity left on tape, the segment would not be erased, but would be completely rewritten on a new tape. 53. What do I download and install for the changer driver when using the RDX 8000 in tape mode with Windows 2008 R2? 7

8 The Tape and Changer drivers will load through Windows Update. Here's what to do: 1. With the RDX8000 in Tape mode, create the iscsi connection. 2. Run Windows Update. There will be 1 Optional (Tape Drive) and 1 Optional (Media Changer) updates found. Select the updates and install. Preserving the World s Most Important Data. Yours Quantum Corporation (NYSE:QTM). All rights reserved. Quantum, the Quantum logo and StorNext are registered trademarks of Quantum Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For information on Quantum products, visit quantum.com or call FAQ v01 Jan