Comprehensive Backup Exec Tutorial: Learn Installation, Management, and Troubleshooting

1. VERICON TUTORIALBackup Exec for NT ServerModule 1Introduction

2. Course Objectives • An understanding of Backup Exec architecture. • Knowledge of, and experience with installation and setup. • The ability to confidently back up and restore data. • Familiarity with media operations and administration of the backup system. • Knowledge of basic troubleshooting tools and resources.

3. Course Outline • Overview of Backup Exec • Installation • Backup and Restore Data (Basic) • Device and Media Management • Administrate Tools and Utilities • Database Options • Disaster Preparation + Recovery • Fiber Channel Solution • Troubleshooting/QA

4. Backup Exec-NT Overview • First Backup solution designed for Windows NT (1993) • 100% Windows NT compatibility • Seamless, integrated data protection using Microsoft’s COM architecture • Easy to use wizards allow: • Quick backup, restoration, and management of tasks • Quick and Easy adding of hardware • Windows NT 4.0 look and feel

5. Backup Exec-NT Overview • Databases • Exchange, SQL, Oracle, SAP R/3, Lotus Domino • Disaster Preparedness • Intelligent Disaster Recovery • Other • Open File Option • RAIDirector • NetWare Agent • Shared Storage Option • Autoloader

6. New Features in Version 7.3 • Expanded command-line applet (CLA) • Integration with VERITAS Global Data Manager (GDM) • Open File Option for point-in-time backups • Enhanced Intelligent Disaster Recovery (IDR) Capabilities • Remote system recovery (over the wire) • Bootable tape and CD-ROM support • RAIDirector support

7. New Features (continued) • LINUX Agent Support • Slot-based operation for autoloaders

8. VERICON TUTORIAL Backup Exec for NT ServerModule 2Server Installation

9. Overview • Licensing Considerations • System/Pre-Installation Requirements • Installing the Software • The Agent Accelerator • The Autoloader Option • The Remote Administrator • Upgrading From Previous Versions

10. Objectives • Identify licensing considerations associated with Backup Exec for NT Server • List hardware and software requirements for installing Backup Exec • Discuss issues associated with upgrading from previous versions of Backup Exec • Successfully install Backup Exec with Autoloader support

11. Product Licensing • Two different licenses (“editions”) for main Backup Exec program • Single Server • Multi-Server • Add-on products are usually “per client”

12. Upgrading • Upgrading from version 7.x is automatic • All settings, catalogs, etc. are converted • Migration is ONE-WAY • A Migration-Upgrade utility is included for version 6.x • Don’t run v7.3 (open the GUI) until the Migration utility has been run • Upgrade numbers are licensing specific

13. System Requirements • Microsoft Windows NT v4 with Service Pack 3 or later • Minimum pagefile - RAM + 32MB • MDAC 2.1 and DAO 3.5 • Memory - 24 MB above NT • Disk Space - 35 MB above NT • Tape Device

14. Pre-Installation Requirements • Backup Storage Devices installed • Tape device drivers installed • Autoloader drivers will be installed during main Backup Exec install • Logged in with Administrator rights • Needed to create services and associated account • Ability to reboot server as needed • Device drivers, ODBC components

15. Components included on CD • Backup Exec for NT Server • Tape and Autoloader device drivers • Product Documentation • SNMP configuration files • Agents - Win9x, Mac, and UNIX • ExecView (full version) • RAIDirector • MDAC/ODBC drivers • Troubleshooting utilities

16. Installing the Software AutoRun CD Installation Wizard

17. Installing Server Software

18. Serial Numbers

19. Install Options

20. The Service Account • Specify existing or new account • Automatically creates new account • Automatically grants appropriate rights • Adds account to Domain Admins group

21. Previous Installation

22. Program Group

23. The Autoloader Option • Required for systems with changers • Supports • Single and multi-drive loaders • Bar Code readers • Portals/mailslots • Allows concurrent processing on multi-drive loaders • Fault tolerance protection • Scheduled cleaning operations

24. Vericon TutorialBackup Exec for NT ServerModule 3Backup & Restore Data

25. Overview • Objectives • Defining a Basic Backup Strategy • File Grooming Operations • Verifying Data • Defining a Backup Job

26. Horizons & Windows • Backup Horizon • How far back do you need to go? • Backup Window • How much time do you have to back up?

27. The Archive Bit • File flag that identifies whether a file has been backed up or not. • If Archive Bit is ON, file needs to be backed up • If Archive Bit is OFF, file has been backed up sometime in the past • Creating or changing a file will automatically turn the Archive Bit ON.

28. The Archive Bit

29. Common Backup Methods • Common Backup Job Types • Normal Backup • Incremental and Differential Backups • Media Rotation Strategies • General Philosophy • Son • Father/Son • Grandfather/Father/Son

30. Common Backup Methods • Normal • “Full” backup • Resets Archive Bit • Incremental • Backs up changes since last Normal or Incremental backup • Resets Archive Bit • Differential • Backs up changes since last Normal backup • Archive Bit unchanged

31. Incremental vs. Differential • Incremental Backups take less time and less tape than Differential Backups • File versioning is somewhat easier with Incremental backups • Differential Backups allow for faster full-system recovery • Do NOT mix Incremental and Differential backup types together!

32. Other Backup Methods • Copy • A Normal backup that doesn’t reset the Archive Bit • Daily • Backs up files that have changed “today” • Working Set • All files that have their Archive Bit ON, plus all files that have been modified in x days

33. Media Rotation Strategies • General Philosophy • How often do you need to back up? • How much data do you need to back up? • How long do you need to keep the data? • How many versions of the data do you need? • How long can you afford to not have the data? • Do any copies need to be kept offsite? • Possible regulatory concerns . . .

34. Media Rotation Methods • Son • easiest • Father/Son • mixture of full and partial backups • Grandfather • most common strategy • Grandfather/Father/Son • equalizes tape wear

35. Media Rotation Methods • Backup Strategy: Son • Full backup every day using the same media • Restore data from last backup • Backup Strategy: Father/Son • Four media used Monday through Thursday for Incremental or Differential Backups • Friday Full Backups, alternating media every other week • Restore Data from the last two weeks

36. Media Rotation Methods • Backup Strategy: Grandfather • Four media used Monday through Thursday for Incremental or Differential Backups • Three media used Friday for Full Backups • Twelve media used for Monthly Full Backups • You can restore data from the last year (or longer) • Tape wear on daily tapes is comparatively high

37. Media Rotation Methods • Backup Strategy: Grandfather/Father/Son • Ten Four-week cycles • Four media used Monday through Thursday for Incremental or Differential Backups, new media every four weeks • Four media used Friday for Full Backups • Restore Data from the last twelve weeks • Exercises (rotates) media

38. Media Rotation Wizard • Use the Media Rotation Wizard to automatically set up a Grandfather rotation • From the Backup Assistant, selectCreate an Automated Backup Strategy • Select the level of user-configuration • Express • Typical • Custom • Creates the Media Sets • Creates the Backup Jobs • Schedules the Backup Jobs

39. File Grooming (Archiving) • Files are copied to tape, and then erased from the hard disk • Useful for files that are rarely used or very large • For experienced operators only • Consider using RAIDirector in conjunction with this operation

40. Verifying Data • Hardware vs. Software verification • Verification only ensures that data is consistent (readable) • Backup window is not affected by verification

41. Three Steps to Backup Creation • What • How • When

42. What do you want to back up? • Selection Lists • Provide a quick and easy way to select files from multiple devices for backup • Use the same file/device selections for multiple backup jobs • Graphic/Text views • Can be edited as necessary • Multiple lists can be applied to create a larger list

43. “What do you want?” Refined • Advanced File Selection

44. Backing Up Network Resources • The Global What • Microsoft Windows Network Shares • Admin shares vs. User-Defined Shares • Configure using Tools|Options|Network Tab • NetWare Network Volumes • Requires Client or Gateway Services for NetWare • Back up mapped drives, or • Select Novell Storage Management Services

45. Backing Up Network Resources • User-Defined Shares

46. How do you want that? • Using Backup Job Definitions

47. How was that again?

48. Setting Global Defaults • Tools | Options | Backup tab

49. You Want It When? • Scheduling Backups

50. Catalogs - The Restore Tab • Catalogs list contents of media • Used to make selections for restore operations • Catalog Levels • Restore Tab has two views • Media-Centric • Volume-Centric