Huawei OceanStor Backup Software Technical White Paper for NetBackup Huawei Page 1 of 14
Copyright Huawei. 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of Huawei. Trademark Notice, HUAWEI, and are trademarks or registered trademarks of Huawei. Other trademarks, product, service and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. General Disclaimer The information in this document may contain predictive statements including, without limitation, statements regarding the future financial and operating results, future product portfolio, new technology, etc. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the predictive statements. Therefore, such information is provided for reference purpose only and constitutes neither an offer nor an acceptance. Huawei may change the information at any time without notice. Page 2 of 14
Contents 1 Overview... 4 2 NetBackup 7 Functions... 5 2.1 Deduplication... 6 2.1.2 NetBackup Client-based Deduplication... 7 2.1.3 NetBackup Media Server-based Deduplication... 7 2.1.4 OpenStorage Hardware-based Deduplication... 7 2.1.5 Advantages of NetBackup Deduplication... 8 2.2 Comprehensive and Simple Virtual Machine Protection... 8 2.2.2 Advantages of NetBackup Virtual Machine Protection... 9 2.3 Centralized Management and Reporting by Using OpsCenter and OpsCenter Analytics... 10 2.3.2 Advantages of OpsCenter and OpsCenter Analytics... 11 2.4 Advanced Disaster Recovery... 11 3 Other Important Functions of NetBackup... 13 4 Conclusion... 14 Page 3 of 14
1 Overview Currently, information technology (IT) enterprises are facing multiple challenges in protecting data in their environments. As the data amount is rapidly increasing and new regulatory requirements are continuously promulgated, IT departments need to meet higher service level agreement (SLA) requirements in backup time, recovery time objective (RTO), and recovery point objective (RPO). The previous data protection mode is mainly based on magnetic tapes and physical servers. Permanent data storage may not tackle data protection challenges currently facing IT enterprises. To tackle data protection challenges, IT enterprises need to explore a new generation of the information management tool. It will completely change the traditional data protection modes by providing functions including disk-based data backups, deduplication, virtualization, data archiving, and continuous data protection. However, adding tools usually makes a solution managing multiple sites more complex. Therefore, a unified data protection mode is required. NetBackup 7 provides a comprehensive and integrated protection for data in a new generation of data centers. In addition, it can automate the advanced technology and standardize operations in applications, on platforms, and in virtual environments, helping information-based enterprises simplify data protection. Using NetBackup 7, IT enterprises can realize comprehensive data protection, efficient storage, on-demand recovery from anywhere, and centralized management in heterogeneous operating systems and storage hardware (including magnetic tapes and disks). Deduplication, replication, and virtual machine protection help the customer to improve storage efficiency, infrastructure usage, and recovery speeds. A single console monitors, analyzes, and reports on multiple sites, helping the customer standardize operations and risk management. In addition, NetBackup is easy to expand and can protect the largest UNIX, Windows, and Linux environments. Therefore, it is used by many enterprises all over the world. Page 4 of 14
2 NetBackup 7 Functions NetBackup 7 provides a series of remarkable functions. However, the following functions are specific to NetBackup 7: Deduplication Comprehensive and simple virtual machine protection Centralized management and reporting by using OpsCenter and OpsCenter Analytics Advanced disaster recovery by using the built-in replication and integrated real-time protection functions Page 5 of 14
2.1 Deduplication Enterprises are trying every means to reduce storage costs because data is increasing rapidly at an unprecedented speed. In recent years, the deduplication technology has brought great changes to the information management domain. In a word, deduplication is a process of deleting duplicate data. For data backups, deduplication avoids running unnecessary tasks, such as transferring redundant data over the network or storing redundant data. The user can delete duplicate data from the source location or target location. Due to different environments, the optimal deduplication method for the specified environment is determined after evaluating the amount and type of data to be backed up and the SLA managing data backup and recovery in that environment. Generally, the deduplication solution is classified into the software-based solution and hardware-based solution. According to a recent survey of InfoPro Group, 88% of respondents show a preference for the deduplication solution integrated to the backup application. NOTE Customers' deduplication requirements may be different. It is recommended that duplicate data be deleted globally near the data source. NetBackup 7 provides a simple and comprehensive deduplication solution that can meet various deduplication requirements of current enterprises. The built-in deduplication technology means that no extra hardware is required. The customer can choose a commonly used hardware device or make full use of the current hardware. The built-in deduplication function of NetBackup can be used in the following locations: In the source location, NetBackup client-based deduplication is used. In the target location, media server-based deduplication or deduplication integrated to the hardware device by using OpenStorage API is used. Page 6 of 14
Figure 2-1 NetBackup deduplication 2.1.2 NetBackup Client-based Deduplication The deduplication function of NetBackup 7 is built into the NetBackup client. Duplicate data has been deleted before being transferred over the network and stored. As a result, redundant data has been deleted before data transfer and therefore bandwidths, storage resources, and virtual machine resources of the entire infrastructure are efficiently used. Usually, NetBackup client-based deduplication is applicable to virtual machine backups, remote office backups, and data center backups with fewer data set changes. 2.1.3 NetBackup Media Server-based Deduplication The media server-based deduplication function deletes duplicate data on the NetBackup media server. The backup data is moved from the NetBackup client to the NetBackup media server. The deduplication plug-in built into the media server deletes duplicate data flowing to the media server and sends the unique data to back-end storage. In this way, it reduces the occupation of back-end storage and bandwidths between the media server and back-end storage. The media server-based deduplication function is applicable to off-host virtual machine backups, network data management protocol (NDMP) backups, or data centers by using large transaction databases with fast data changes. 2.1.4 OpenStorage Hardware-based Deduplication OpenStorage is an innovative disk-based plan that enables NetBackup to adopt advanced technologies of the intelligent storage device, including storage reduction, backup image replication, synthetic backup, replication, and energy conservation. Using OpenStorage API, NetBackup not only knows attributes and functions of the hardware device but also controls backup images stored on the hardware device. NetBackup regards the hardware storage device as a disk like a virtual tape library (VTL) instead of a magnetic tape. Using OpenStorage API, NetBackup can control the time when the Page 7 of 14
backup image is created, replicated, or deleted. In addition, OpenStorage hardware device can control how the image is stored in the hardware device and how it is replicated between hardware devices. If you want to make full use of the current investment in deduplication hardware devices, OpenStorage Option is exact for you. 2.1.5 Advantages of NetBackup Deduplication Built-in and easy to use: The deduplication plug-in is completely integrated to and built into NetBackup and therefore no extra hardware is required. As a part of the backup policy, it can be installed as prompted by the wizard. Using common hardware: The common hardware can be selected and therefore no dedicated hardware is required. Reducing cost of ownership: Compared with the hardware-based solution, it reduces the cost of ownership by 50% to 70% in data replication for disaster recovery. Product series and technologies being recognized by the industry: Based on the deduplication technology of Symantec NetBackupPureDisk, Symantec NetBackup is a market-leading data backup solution. Investment protection: Multiple deduplication methods are used in this solution and reallocating current hardware resources can make full use of NetBackup deduplication technology. 2.2 Comprehensive and Simple Virtual Machine Protection Virtualization brings both new chances and challenges for the data center. Common challenges facing virtual environments are slowed backup and recovery speed, increased storage consumption, and increased costs in new technology learning. NetBackup 7 is developed based on NetBackup 6.5 that succeeds with the support for the award-winning VMware. NetBackup 7 provides simple and comprehensive data protection for a virtual environment. In addition, it integrates the backup function of Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware and uses the management program integration technology (such as vstorage API), deduplication technology, and incremental backup technology to shorten backup time, efficiently restore individual files, and simplify virtual machine protection. NetBackup 7 supports client-based and off-host virtual machine protection. Client-based backup: NetBackup client built with the deduplication function can be directly deployed on the virtual machine to be backed up. Off-host backup: is applicable to virtual machine backups that have a light impact on the virtual machine. Off-host backups are performed on the physical machine of the virtual host. During an off-host backup, the customer can shorten backup time and reduce the storage cost by using the data segment-level incremental backup technology. Page 8 of 14
Figure 2-2 NetBackup virtual machine protection 2.2.2 Advantages of NetBackup Virtual Machine Protection Shortened backup time: Currently, NetBackup 7 can perform file-level incremental backups for Hyper-V and VMware virtual machines. Compared with a full backup, an incremental backup reduces the amount of data to be backed up and improves backup speed and efficiency. Reduced storage requirements: NetBackup 7 built-in deduplication allows you to effectively delete duplicate backup data from Hyper-V and VMware. In addition, the deduplication technology improves backup speed, reduces backup impacts on virtual infrastructure resources, and reduces the total number of stores. Performing transaction consistency backup for databases: NetBackup client-based deduplication can perform transaction consistency backups for complicated databases such as Microsoft Exchange, SQL, and Oracle. Off-host backup with a small impact: NetBackup 7 can perform an off-host backup in Hyper-V and VMware environments. Off-host backups impose a smaller impact on the client than client-based backups. Flexible data restoration: Restoring individual files is a common restoration type. However, the virtual machine administrator also needs to prepare for virtual machine disaster recovery. With an one-off backup, NetBackup 7 restores not only individual files but also the entire virtual machine. Comprehensively supporting management programs: NetBackup 7 can comprehensively support Hyper-V and VMware environments only with a backup application program. The user does not need to purchase or maintain an application program to protect different management programs. Page 9 of 14
2.3 Centralized Management and Reporting by Using OpsCenter and OpsCenter Analytics As the data amount is increasingly growing and backup and archiving operations are increasingly complex, managing backups in a centralized manner becomes more complex. This usually results in operation costs to IT personnel. In addition, government regulatory requirements and corporate governance requirements compel backup and archiving administrators to comply with backup and archiving service-level requirements. Another challenge is that backup and archiving operations hardly comply with service requirements or that backup and archiving operations are performed without knowing the enterprise backup restoration and archiving operation cost. NetBackup 7 is added with a new solution, NetBackup OpsCenter. OpsCenter is a solution that integrates monitoring, reporting, and management functions, which is intended to help users manage one or multiple NetBackup installation programs in a centralized manner by using a web browser. Replacing Symantec NetBackup Operations Manager and Veritas Backup Reporter, OpsCenter integrates features and functions of the two products to a product that improves greatly in performance and availability. The OpsCenter solution is comprised of OpsCenter and OpsCenter Analytics. As one of the core products of NetBackup, OpsCenter monitors NetBackup, Symantec Enterprise Vault, SymantecBackup Exec, and NetBackup PureDisk, and provides related alters and operation reports. As a part of NetBackup, the OpsCenter server can be deployed on the master server to manage a single domain or independently deployed to manage multiple NetBackup domains. OpsCenter can also help you run various management tasks, such as adding a magnetic tape drive, restarting a failed activity, freezing/unfreezing and other operations on magnetic tapes, and restarting services or back-end applications. Figure 2-3 NetBackup OpsCenter OpsCenter Analytics is a licensed optional tool that is unlocked by a key. This solution displays multiple layers of backup and archiving resource view, service usage, and expense tracking report. In addition, it provides various kinds of tools, helping you to define cost measurement standards and charging formulas, handling alerts, and providing reports on operation logs lasting more than 60 days. Page 10 of 14
OpsCenter Analytics can provide reports on both OpsCenter and the following thirty-party products: EMC Legato Networker IBM Tivoli Storage Manager 2.3.2 Advantages of OpsCenter and OpsCenter Analytics Backing up and archiving reports in heterogeneous systems: Reports in different backup and archiving environments are integrated and standardized. Providing Microsoft Exchange archiving reports by using Enterprise Vault Long-term data reservation for learning data increase trends and performing data analysis: It helps you learn the future data growth rate and better predict backup and archiving storage consumption. You can use OpsCenter Analytics to analyze the yearly trend or earlier trend with the data reserved in a configured time range. Analyzing risks and quantizing threats: It can assess the restorability of important service client and application program. Checking law and regulation compliance: It can check whether you have complied with internal and external commercial laws and regulations. Providing service environment reports: It can customize contents for a specific industry, region, or application program. 2.4 Advanced Disaster Recovery Considering strict SLA requirements for data restoration, IT departments are seeking a better way to prevent data leakage, shorten the time for restoring key application programs, and formulate a reliable restoration plan. The latest advanced backup and recovery technologies can gradually improve local recovery and remote disaster recovery and simplify related operations. However, the two technologies may be provided by different products and providers, resulting in complex problems and expensive expenses. This is also the reason why it is hard for many enterprises to use these technologies. Many key application programs use multiple methods such as disk array-based snapshot, disk array-based replication, backing up data to magnetic tapes, and deduplication. Enterprises require such a solution that integrates all preceding technologies and improves service levels without adding complexity and costs to the data center. NetBackup 7 provides the following new disaster recovery methods: Replicating the backup data after deduplication NetBackup allows the user to copy data safely with electronic means over the wide area network (WAN) or manage data in a centralized manner on the graphical user interface (GUI) of NetBackup. It copies only unique data and therefore reduces occupied bandwidths and back-end storage. Performing real-time data segment-level replication NetBackup RealTime provides the real-time data segment-level asynchronous or synchronous replication function. In addition, Page 11 of 14
NetBackup Realtime also allows you to replicate NetBackup-related data for free. These replication methods help the customer implement data protection strategies without magnetic tapes. However, if magnetic tapes are required for data storage, you can migrate data to the magnetic tape where disaster recovery is performed. Page 12 of 14
3 Other Important Functions of NetBackup Supporting new Windows platforms and applications: NetBackup 7 supports Windows 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010. Simpler client deployment (Windows platform): Multiple clients can be installed simultaneously. Simpler deployment of the secure protection solution: The deployment is complete only after running a command on the master server instead of performing other setting operations on the media server or client. Improved LiveUpdate: Currently, the user can configure LiveUpdate as necessary. In addition, the user can also assign multiple LiveUpdate servers. Page 13 of 14
4 Conclusion Obviously, the traditional data protection solution cannot meet requirements of the new generation of data centers. To resolve data increase-related problems and comply with the strict SLA specified by related laws and regulations, enterprises will adopt new technologies, such as disk-based data protection, deduplication, virtualization, snapshot, and replication. Adopting new technologies will add complexity and therefore enterprises require a comprehensive and integrated data protection solution. Symantec NetBackup 7 provides built-in deduplication, effective virtual machine protection, advanced disaster recovery, and a uniform management GUI and therefore it can effectively tackle data protection challenges facing the new generation of data centers. In addition, NetBackup has no dedicated hardware but has a scalable architecture. This not only meets data protection requirements of large enterprises but also allows customers to select commonly used hardware and reduces costs. Page 14 of 14