Spectra Logic Spectra nTier300 User Manual
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Spectra Logic Spectra nTier300 User Manual

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  • Page 1 Implementing nTier Deduplication FalconStor featuring Software ®...
  • Page 2 States and other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Spectra Logic and FalconStor Software reserve the right to make changes in the information contained in this publication without prior notice. The reader should in all cases consult with Spectra Logic and...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Install the nTier VTL appliance ..........9 Cable the VTL appliance to your storage network ......10 Install the VTL Console on an administrative computer .
  • Page 5 View the Event Log ........... . .26 Version Info tab .
  • Page 6 Accessing data on a replicated VIT ........68 Manually start the replication process .
  • Page 7 New script/program ..........94 Troubleshooting General Console operations .

  • Page 8: Introduction

    VTL comprises the following components: • VTL Storage Appliance - A pre-configured appliance that includes all storage used by VTL and SIR, including the VTL database, SIR index, and SIR repository. • VTL Console - The graphical administration tool, installed on a separate workstation, where you configure VTL, add/configure clients, set properties, manage the import/export of tapes, and view statistics.

  • Page 9: Single Instance Repository (Sir)

    • Advanced Configuration - Backup software runs on a backup server and manages the backup to virtual tape. VTL manages the disk storage and the export of data to the physical tape library. After a virtual tape is unloaded...

  • Page 10: Standard Vtl Configuration

    Standard VTL Configuration In the Standard VTL Configuration, the backup software manages all tapes—virtual and physical—by treating the virtual tape library as though it were just another standalone tape library attached to the backup server. To copy data from virtual to physical tapes, the backup software’s Tape Copy function is utilized.

  • Page 11: Advanced Vtl Configuration

    Advanced VTL Configuration In the Advanced VTL Configuration, the backup software manages backups to the virtual tape library while the VTL appliance controls the export of data from virtual tapes to physical tapes. Backup server nTier VTL with FalconStor software Advanced Configuration tape library emulation from within the VTL Console so that there is a 1:1 mapping, with identical barcodes, between virtual and physical tapes.

  • Page 12: Getting Started

    Getting Started nTier VTL appliances are designed for quick setup using pre-configured defaults. This section guides you through setting up VTL using these defaults. Refer to “Changing pre-configured defaults” Delivered components Verify that you have received the following items: • nTier VTL appliance with FalconStor software •...

  • Page 13: Cable The Vtl Appliance To Your Storage Network

    Cable the VTL appliance to your storage network 1. Optional: connect your monitor, keyboard, and mouse to the appliance. You may use a KVM device if necessary. You may also use the USB ports for connecting a keyboard and/or mouse, instead of the PS/2 ports. Note that the nTier operating system automatically detect USB devices upon system startup.

  • Page 14: Launch The Vtl Console

    The setup program should start automatically. If autoplay is not enabled on your Windows machine, navigate to the \Console\Windows directory on the CD and run Setup.exe to launch the VTL Console install program. 2. Click the Install Products button on the first screen. 3.

  • Page 15: Backup Server Access To The Ntier Vtl Appliance

    3. Log in using the default user name root and the default password spectra (case sensitive and all lower case). 4. Click OK and wait for the nTier VTL appliance hostname to appear in the navigation tree. The hostname has the format FSxxxxx, where xxxxx is a unique number for your VTL appliance, which is displayed on a label on your appliance.

  • Page 16: Prepare Client Initiators To Access Your Ntier Vtl Appliance

    VTL appliance. For Windows servers, you can download software from Microsoft’s website: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/iscsi.mspx. The following steps are for the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator. If you are using a different iSCSI initiator, refer to the documentation provided by the vendor.

  • Page 17: Assign The Virtual Tape Library/Drives To The Iscsi Target

    4. Enter a name for the target or accept the default and select the IP address of the adapter on the nTier VTL appliance. The list includes all Ethernet adapters you have configured on the server. 5. Use the default starting LUN. LUN IDs must start with zero.

  • Page 18: Log The Client Onto The Target

    2. Select the default virtual library/drives to be assigned to the target. All tape drives in the library will be assigned to the selected client. If you want to assign tape drives in the library individually, select the checkbox for that option. You can assign a device (library or drive) to a target only once.

  • Page 19: Using The Built-In Everyone_Fc Client

    If you selected the option to Automatically restore this connection, the iSCSI target is listed in the Persistent Targets tab. 4. Click OK to close the iSCSI Initiator. The backup server must now discover the assigned virtual tape library and drives (refer to ’Discover the virtual tape library from your backup Using the built-in Everyone_FC client...

  • Page 20: Discover The Virtual Tape Library From Your Backup Server

    Click Next when you are done. 4. Confirm all information and click Finish. The backup server must now discover the assigned virtual tape library and drives. Refer to “Discover the virtual tape library from your backup server” Discover the virtual tape library from your backup server To enable your backup server to recognize the default virtual tape library and drives, perform a device scan on your backup server at the operating system level and then use your backup software to scan for new devices as well.

  • Page 21: Confirm Successful Backup

    2. Define backup jobs and associate tapes with each job. Important: If available when defining a backup job, set the option to unload a tape when it is not needed. If this option is not available, you may need to run deduplication manually.

  • Page 22: Set Deduplication Options

    Set deduplication options Data deduplication takes place after a tape is unloaded from a tape drive and moved to a slot. By default, Deduplication is enabled and deduplication starts one minute after the tape is unloaded. For your convenience, you can set options that control when deduplication starts, as well as how much data must have been written to a tape before it is deduplicated.

  • Page 23: The Vtl Console

    The VTL Console The VTL Console displays the configuration of your FalconStor VTL appliance, organized in a familiar Explorer-like tree view. Use the tree to navigate the nTier s appliance and its configuration objects. You can expand or collapse the display to show only the information that you wish to view. To expand an item that is collapsed, click on the symbol next to the item.

  • Page 24: Launching The Console

    This object lists the virtual tapes that are currently in the virtual vault. The virtual vault is a tape storage area for tapes that are not inside a virtual tape library. Virtual tapes will only appear in the virtual vault after they have been moved from a virtual tape library.

  • Page 25: San Resources Object

    Physical Tape This object lists the physical tape libraries that are available to nTier appliance. For Libraries each physical tape library, you can inventory the slots and import or move a tape. For each physical tape, you can export the physical tape, copy the physical tape to a virtual tape, or link the physical tape to a virtual tape for direct access.

  • Page 26: Physical Resources Object

    The data can be saved in a comma delimited (.csv) or tab delimited (.txt) text file. To export information, right-click on a report that is generated and select Export. Physical Resources object Physical resources are all of your adapters/FC HBAs and storage devices. Hard disks are used for creating virtual tape libraries/drives and virtual tapes. Physical...

  • Page 27: Search For Tapes

    Search for tapes The Console has a search feature that helps you find any virtual tape. To search: 1. Select Edit menu --> Find. 2. Enter the full barcode. Once you click Search, you will be taken directly to that tape in the tree. Set console options You can set a variety of options for the Console: 1.

  • Page 28: Manage Users And Administrators

    • 3. Click OK when you are done. Manage users and administrators Only the root user can add or delete a VTL user/administrator or change passwords. 1. Right-click on the server and select Administrators. There are several types of users/administrators: - VTL Administrators are authorized for full Console access.

  • Page 29: View The Event Log

    user if iSCSI is enabled. Refer to setting up authenticated access for backup servers. 2. Select the appropriate option. From here you can add, delete, or reset passwords. You cannot delete the root user or change the root user’s password from this screen.

  • Page 30: Version Info Tab

    3. Search for records that contain/do not contain specific text. 4. Specify the maximum number of lines to display. 5. Select a time or date range for messages. Print/export the You can print the Event Log to a printer or save it as a text file. These options are Event Log available (once you have displayed the Event Log) when you right-click on the server and select the Event Log options.

  • Page 31: Changing Pre-Configured Defaults

    Changing pre-configured defaults After your nTier appliance with FalconStor VTL has been set up, you can use the VTL Console to modify various pre-configured defaults. Changing the default IP address You can change the default IP address and other network information to suit the needs of your environment.
  • Page 32 3. Click Config NIC to configure each network interface card (NIC). MTU - Set the maximum transfer unit of each IP packet. If your card supports it, set this value to 9000 for jumbo frames. Click Add and enter the new IP address, then click OK. Enter the information supplied by your network administrator for primary name server, netmask, network interface card, and any other options.

  • Page 33: Changing The Default Hostname

    Changing the default hostname You can change the default nTier VTL appliance name that is displayed in the VTL Console navigation tree. 1. Right-click the nTier VTL appliance object and select System Maintenance --> Set Hostname. 2. Enter a valid name for your VTL appliance and then click OK. Valid characters are letters, numbers, or dash.
  • Page 34 1. Right-click the VirtualTape Library System object and select Properties. 2. Modify the appropriate value: • Delay start imposes a delay between the time a tape is ejected and the time deduplication begins. The default is 1 minute. Setting this value to 0 imposes a delay of 30 seconds.

  • Page 35: Key Features

    Key Features Creating virtual tape libraries If your backup server uses a different library from the one that is emulated by the default library on your nTier appliance, you can create a new virtual tape library. 1. Right-click the Virtual Tape Libraries object and select New. 2.
  • Page 36 4. Determine if you want to enable Auto Archive for this virtual library. Auto Archive writes data to physical tape whenever a virtual tape is moved to an Import/Export slot from a virtual library by a backup application or other utility after a backup.
  • Page 37 sequence; for example, XXX0009 to XXX000A. In order to set the barcode to increment in a numeric sequence (XXX0009 to XXX0010), you have to set the last three digits of the Barcode Ends field to 999; for example, XXX0999 Note that for IBM libraries, the default barcode range is set to six characters. Slots - Maximum number of tape slots in your tape library.

  • Page 38: Creating Virtual Tapes

    • If you will be exporting data to physical tape and you will be using FalconStor VTL software compression, you should set the maximum capacity to 10-15% less than the uncompressed capacity of the selected media. This is because the FalconStor VTL compression algorithm can vary depending upon the data set;...
  • Page 39 4. If Auto Archive is enabled for the virtual library, select the physical tape library whose tapes you want to match. SPECTRA-T120-00004 This enables you to create barcoded virtual tapes that match your physical tapes. This is important for exporting functions. 5.
  • Page 40 Key Features 6. Specify the size of the tape(s), name, and number of tapes to create. 7. If you are not matching physical tapes, you can set a barcode range for the virtual tapes you are creating. 8. Verify all information and then click Finish to create the virtual tape(s). Implementing nTier Deduplication...

  • Page 41: Controlling Backup Server Access To The Ntier Appliance

    Controlling backup server access to the nTier appliance In a “Secured Access” scheme, a backup server can access only its own designated virtual tape library or drives via a dedicated port, instead of using the built-in Everyone_iSCSI or Everyone_FC client. When you want to control access for a single server or for multiple backup servers that need to share a single nTier appliance, use Add SAN Client in the VTL Console (refer to...

  • Page 42: Auto Archive

    3. Select the backup server. (The image shown below is for a backup server that is connected using the Fibre Channel protocol.) 4. Click Next and then click Finish when you are done. 5. Use the backup server’s operating system to discover the nTier VTL appliance (refer to 6.

  • Page 43: Physical Tape Libraries And Import/Export

    1. Right-click on a virtual tape library and select Properties. 2. Select the Auto Archive checkbox. 3. Determine if you want the virtual tape copied (retained) or moved (removed) after the data is transferred. If you select Move, indicate how long to wait before deleting it. 4.

  • Page 44: Prepare Physical Libraries/Drives For Use With Falconstor Vtl

    Key Features Prepare physical libraries/drives for use with FalconStor VTL When you connect a physical library while the nTier appliance is running, complete this procedure in order to prepare the physical devices for use with FalconStor VTL. Otherwise, the FalconStor VTL automatically scans for new devices when you reboot.

  • Page 45: Assign Physical Libraries/Drives To The Virtual Tape Library

    Key Features You can now assign your physical devices to a virtual tape library. Assign physical libraries/drives to the virtual tape library If you will be importing data from physical tapes into your virtual tape library or exporting virtual tapes to physical tapes, you must assign your physical tape libraries/drives to the virtual tape library.

  • Page 46: Importing/Exporting Tapes

    4. Right-click on the Physical Tape Drives object and select Assign. 5. Select the physical drives to be assigned to the FalconStor VTL system. 6. Click Assign. In the VTL Console, the physical library/drives are listed under their respective objects. Importing/Exporting tapes One of the advantages of using a virtual tape library is that you can protect data on your existing physical tapes by importing them into your virtual tape system.
  • Page 47 • Recycle a physical tape Before you You must verify the following before you can import tapes: import a tape • The drive type (i.e. IBM:ULTRIUM-TD3) and the media type (i.e. Ultrium3) of the library you are importing from must match the library to which you are importing.

  • Page 48: Export Data To A Physical Tape

    You can select a tape based on its barcode or slot location. You can then use the same barcode for the virtual tape or you can enter a new barcode. You can also select a slot for the virtual tape. 5.
  • Page 49 5. Select the physical tape library to which you want to export. 6. Select how you want the data exported and if you want the physical tape exported to the import/export slots. Move Mode - Copies the contents of the virtual tape to its physical counterpart and then removes the virtual tape from the system.

  • Page 50: Advanced Features

    Advanced Features Protecting your FalconStor VTL configuration Protecting your FalconStor VTL configuration is important so that you can recover the most current version of the configuration. There are several things you can do to protect your FalconStor VTL configuration: • Use Auto Save to replicate your configuration to another server.
  • Page 51 2. Select the Auto Save Config tab and enter FTP server information. The target server must have FTP server installed and enabled. The Target Directory is the directory on the FTP server where the files will be stored. The directory name you enter here (such as the FTP server (for example c:\vtlconfig.

  • Page 52: Manually Save The Configuration As Needed

    Manually save the configuration as needed You can manually save your system configuration any time you make a change in the Console, including any time you add/change/delete a backup server or resource. To manually save the configuration: 1. Select the nTier VTL appliance object. 2.

  • Page 53: Virtual Tape Drive Compression

    Virtual tape drive compression On VTL appliances, tape compression is enabled by default for the built-in virtual tape library to enhance performance. FalconStor VTL compression saves disk space by compressing files so that more data can be stored by a virtual tape drive. The increase in capacity is directly related to the compressibility of the data being stored.

  • Page 54: Setting Server Properties

    This protects your configuration if the nTier VTL appliance experiences problems. Refer to 5. On the Storage Monitoring tab, enter the maximum amount of storage that can be used by FalconStor VTL before you should be alerted. When the utilization percentage is reached, a warning message will be sent to the Event Log.
  • Page 55 • None – No messages will be sent. • Critical (severity level 1) - Only critical errors that stop the system from operating properly will be sent. • Error (severity level 2) – Errors (failure such as a resource is not available or an operation has failed) and critical errors will be sent.

  • Page 56: Monitor Deduplication

    SIR repository. Upon completion, the original virtual tape is replaced with a “Virtual Index Tape” (VIT) which contains pointers to the data on SIR storage instead of the actual data. The VTL Console offers a variety of information about the performance of your deduplication efforts.

  • Page 57: Scanner History

    MB processed - The amount of original data sent from the tape • MB stored - The amount of unique data on the tape that has been stored in SIR storage • Deduplication ratio - The ratio of the amount of data scanned to the amount of data stored.

  • Page 58: Repository Statistics

    Repository statistics To view repository statistics for the server, highlight the server and select the SIR Statistics tab in the right panel. The values displayed for Data written represent data scanned in FalconStor VTL. Data stored values represent the amount of unique data stored in the repository. The Redundancy elimination ratio (also referred to as the deduplication ratio) represents this formula: [(data scanned) The SIR Statistics display provides three ways to look at these values:...
  • Page 59 This section of the display shows the current state of the physical disk used as the usage SIR repository, which includes SIR data and SIR Index storage. Values are based on all tape scans performed during the life span of the selected server.

  • Page 60: Virtual Index Tape Status

    If the VIT field displays Mixed, this VIT contains pointers to its data on SIR storage as well as data that has not been deduplicated yet. This status can occur due to a specified delay prior to deduplication (refer to deduplication deduplication jobs that can run simultaneously.

  • Page 61: Replication

    Replication Replication is an optional feature on FalconStor VTL that protects the data on deduplicated tapes by maintaining a copy on the same server (local replication) or, more likely, on another server (remote replication). Replicating deduplicated tapes replicates the virtual index tape and metadata. You can configure replication between two nTier VTL appliances via iSCSI.

  • Page 62: Replication Process

    Replication process Replication of SIR data occurs in several stages: • When replication occurs (manually or as configured for individual tapes), the virtual index tape (VIT) from the source server is copied to the target server and becomes a foreign virtual index tape (FVIT) listed under Replica Resources.

  • Page 63: Replication Requirements

    Replication requirements The following are the requirements for setting up a replication configuration: • You must have enough space on the target server for the replica resource. • (Remote Replication) You must have two nTier VTLs. • (Remote Replication) You must have administrative rights on both servers. •...

  • Page 64: Configure Replication For Virtual Index Tapes

    Enter Yes and then click OK. Note: If replication processes are running on the target (including creating the replica VIT from the FVIT), target setup fails. Re-try at a later time. 4. In the next screen, iSCSI is selected by default. Select Next to continue. 5.
  • Page 65 Replication • You cannot replicate a VIT for which auto-archive has been enabled. 1. On the source server, right-click on a VIT and select Replication --> Add. Each VIT can be replicated to a single target. 2. Indicate whether you want to use remote replication or local replication. 3.
  • Page 66 4. Confirm/enter the target server’s IP address. 5. Configure how often replication should occur. Start first replication on mm/dd/yyyy at hh:mm and repeat every n hours - Indicate when replication should begin and how often it should be repeated. Be sure to allow enough time for deduplication to complete before replication should begin.
  • Page 67 6. Indicate what to do if a replication attempt fails. Replication can occur only when the virtual tape is in the library and is not in use. Indicate how long the system should attempt to replicate data before timing out and how often it should attempt to retry before skipping a scheduled replication.
  • Page 68 Replication 8. Select how you want to create the replica resource. Custom lets you select which physical device(s) to use and lets you designate how much space to allocate from each. Express automatically creates the replica for you from available hard disk segments.
  • Page 69 Only one disk can be selected at a time from this dialog. To create a replica resource from multiple physical disks, add the disks one at a time. After selecting the first disk, an option lets you add more disks. Indicate how much space to allocate from this disk.

  • Page 70: Checking Replication Status

    9. Enter a name for the replica resource or accept the default. The name is not case sensitive. 10. Confirm that all information is correct and then click Finish to create the replication configuration. An initial replication will occur according to the policy you set during configuration.

  • Page 71: Accessing Data On A Replicated Vit

    • General tab of the replica resource on the target server - displays status of replication in progress. Note that because replication jobs occur very quickly, it may not be possible to catch the status here. Check the Event Log or run a Replication Status Report instead.

  • Page 72: Manually Start The Replication Process

    Manually start the replication process To force a replication that is not scheduled, right-click a primary virtual tape and select Replication --> Synchronize. Changing replication configuration properties You can change the following replication configuration properties: • Static IP address of your target server •...
  • Page 73 2. Select the replica you want to remove and click OK. 3. Enter Yes and then click OK to restart the iSCSI initiator on the target server. Note: If replication processes are running on the target (including creating the replica VIT from the FVIT), target removal will fail. Re-try at a later time. A series of dialogs is displayed while replication configuration is removed from the source and target servers.
  • Page 74 Continuous=... ConFailTimeout=... 4. Locate the file $ISHOME/etc/hostname/sircluster.conf. Search for SIRReplicator tags that match the replication source name. Delete any line that contains this tag. For example, if the replication source server h124-128 is to be removed, delete this line: <SIRReplicator guid="ac1e8037-0000-47db-5a50-4229cd56cde8" name="guigroup_h124-182"/>...
  • Page 75 1. In the VTL console, navigate to the Replica Resources object on the target server. 2. Right-click the FVIT and select Delete. 3. Click OK to confirm the configuration changes. The confirmation screen displays the names of the primary virtual tape on the primary server and the virtual tape replica (FVIT) on the target server.

  • Page 76: Iscsi Clients

    Use of Open iSCSI for backup server setup is also supported. Managing iSCSI clients On FalconStor VTL storage appliances, iSCSI is enabled by default and the SAN client Everyone_iSCSI has already been created. This special SAN client does not correspond to any specific backup server. Using this client, you can create iSCSI...

  • Page 77: Iscsi Users

    (iSCSI initiator software/hardware is available from many sources. For Windows servers, you can download software from Microsoft’s website: http:// www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/iscsi.mspx.) Prepare client initiators to access your nTier appliance Before a backup server (the client initiator) can communicate with a nTier VTL appliance, the two entities need to mutually recognize each other.

  • Page 78: Add Your Iscsi Client

    To determine the IP address, go to the VTL Console. Select the nTier VTL appliance object. The IP address is on the Login Machine Name line in the right- hand pane of the Console. Use the default port (3260). Click OK to add the client. Add your iSCSI client 1.
  • Page 79 4. If you indicated that this is a mobile client, select from iSCSI users you have already created in the VTL Console (refer to a new user. Review client information in the next dialog and click Finish when you are done. 5.

  • Page 80: Create Targets For The Iscsi Client To Log Onto

    By default, when a backup server is added as an iSCSI client of a nTier VTL appliance, it becomes an iSCSI initiator. The initiator name is important because it is the main identity of an iSCSI initiator. 6. To define authenticated access (using CHAP), select Select or add users who can authenticate for the client.

  • Page 81: Log The Client Onto The Target

    3. Enter a name for the target or accept the default; select the IP address of the adapter on the nTier VTL appliance. The list includes all Ethernet adapters you have configured on the server. Note: Network adapter(s) on the backup server need to be on the same subnet(s) as the selected adapter(s) on the nTier VTL appliance.

  • Page 82: Setup Using Open Iscsi

    If the iSCSI target assigned to the client is not listed, click Refresh. Assigned iSCSI targets should now appear. 2. Select the added target and click Log On. If it is desirable to have a persistent target, select Automatically restore this connection when the system boots. 3.

  • Page 83: Add Your Iscsi Client

    172.30.128.36:3260 Result: new iSCSI node record added. 5. On the client side, type the following command to log in: [root@vm-centos5-fs ~]# iscsiadm -m node -T iqn.2000- 03.com.falconstor:vtl.h128-36.fsad-1 -p 172.30.128.36:3260 -l 6. On the client side, type the following command to see if the library has been attached by the system: [root@vm-centos5-fs ~]# cat /proc/scsi/scsi Attached devices:...

  • Page 84: Linux Client Configuration

    Linux client configuration Prepare the iSCSI initiator You must install and configure an iSCSI software initiator on each of your Linux client machines. 1. Download the latest production iSCSI initiator from the following website: http:// sourceforge.net/projects/linux-iscsi/ 2. Extract the files from the .gz file that you downloaded by typing: tar xfvz filename For example: tar xfvz linux-iscsi-3.4.3.gz 3.

  • Page 85: Log The Client Onto The Target

    Log the client onto the target On the client machine, type the following command to log the client onto the target: /etc/init.d/iscsi reload Afterwards, you can display a list of all the disks that this client can access (including the target) by typing: cat /proc/scsi/scsi Solaris client configuration with iSCSI only This example adds a backup server running Solaris 9 with the Sun iSCSI Device...

  • Page 86: Add Your Iscsi Client

    7. On the client side, type the following command to list a target's current parameters, connection state, and the method that was used for the target's discovery: [root@h42-72 /]# iscsiadm list target -S Target: iqn.2000-03.com.falconstor:vtl.h128-36.fsdaf-2 • • • Add your iSCSI client Refer to ’Add your iSCSI Create targets for the iSCSI client to log onto...

  • Page 87: Fibre Channel Clients

    Fibre Channel Clients Overview Just as the nTier FalconStor VTL appliance supports different types of storage devices (Fibre Channel and iSCSI), the nTier FalconStor VTL appliance is protocol- independent and supports multiple outbound target protocols, including Fibre Channel Target Mode.

  • Page 88: Fibre Channel Hardware Configuration

    Fibre Channel hardware configuration FalconStor VTL supports HBAs for the nTier VTL appliance: Refer to the certification matrix on the Spectra Logic website for a list of HBAs that are currently certified. The certification matrix can be found at: http://www.spectralogic.com; navigate to...
  • Page 89 For example, if using a QLogic 2200 HBA, the following settings must be set through the QLogic BIOS: Configure Settings --> Host Adapter Settings --> Adapter Hard Loop ID: Enabled Configure Settings --> Host Adapter Settings --> Hard Loop ID: ## where ## is a number between 1 to 124.

  • Page 90: Adding A Fibre Channel Client

    5. Click Finish when you are done. Enable Volume Set Addressing may be required for particular Fibre Channel clients, such as HP-UX clients that require VSA to access storage devices. Select Enable Celerra Support if you have a licensed EMC Celerra client.

  • Page 91: Configure Callhome

    CallHome CallHome is a unique customer support utility that proactively identifies and diagnoses potential system or component failures and automatically notifies system administrators via email. Using pre-configured scripts (called triggers), CallHome monitors a set of pre- defined, critical system components (SCSI drive errors, offline device, etc.). With its open architecture, administrators can easily register new elements to be monitored by these scripts.
  • Page 92 CallHome SMTP Port - Specify the mail server port that CallHome should use. SMTP Username/Password - Specify the user account that will be used by CallHome to log into the mail server. User Account - Specify the email account that will be used in the “From” field of emails sent by CallHome.
  • Page 93 CallHome 4. On the Trigger tab, set the triggers that will cause CallHome to send an email. Triggers are the scripts/programs that perform various types of error checking when CallHome activates. By default, the nTier FalconStor VTL includes scripts/ programs that check for low system memory, changes to the FalconStor VTL XML configuration file, and relevant new entries in the system log.
  • Page 94 made. If there is already a file for comparison, the script goes ahead and checks for changes. If changes are found, they are recorded in a file called ipstorconf.diff and an email report is sent. The next time changes are found, ipstorconf.diff will be renamed to ipstorconf.diff.001, and the new changes will replace the content in ipstorconf.diff.
  • Page 95 System Information - When this option is selected, the X-ray creates a file called info which contains information about the entire system, including: host name, disk usage, operating system version, mounted file systems, kernel version, CPU, running processes, IOCore information, and memory. VTL Configuration - This information is retrieved from the /usr/local/vtl/etc/ <hostname>...
  • Page 96 The system log records important events or errors that occur in the system, including those generated by FalconStor VTL. This tab allows you to rule out entries in the system log that have nothing to do with FalconStor VTL, and to list the types of log entries generated by FalconStor VTL that CallHome needs to examine.

  • Page 97: Modify Callhome Properties

    Modify CallHome properties Once CallHome is enabled, you can modify the information by right-clicking on your nTier VTL appliance and selecting CallHome. Click on the appropriate tab to update the desired information. Script/program trigger information CallHome uses script/program triggers to perform various types of error checking. By default, the FalconStor VTL includes several scripts/programs that check for low system memory, changes to the FalconStor VTL XML configuration file, and relevant new entries in the system log.
  • Page 98 The $ISHOME/etc directory contains an FalconStor VTL configuration file (containing virtual device, physical device, HBA, NAS, database agent, etc. information). The $ISHOME/log directory contains CallHome logs (containing events and output of triggers). Output from In order for a trigger to send useful information in the email body, it must redirect its trigger output to the environment variable $IPSTORCLHMLOG.

  • Page 99: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting General Console operations The VTL Console is unable to connect to a nTier VTL appliance There are several operations that occur when the Console connects to the server. A dialog indicates the current step. If there is a failure, the word Failed appears at the end of the step.

  • Page 100: Physical Resources

    Physical resources The VTL Console does not show physical storage devices as expected There are several steps to try when physical storage devices have been connected/ assigned to the nTier VTL appliance yet they are not showing in the VTL Console.

  • Page 101: Logical Resources

    LUNs. If this is the case, make sure to enable VSA on the VTL initiator driver and use persistent binding. Otherwise, FalconStor VTL cannot manage the storage. Logical resources Virtual tapes are displayed as "offline"...
  • Page 102 • There is not enough physical disk space for the expansion. Add more physical storage or change the size of expansion. • The physical partition is invalid. Check the storage device. • An IO error occurred. • An RPC timeout occurred when the expand command was issued. Try the following operation to see if the server is busy: •...

  • Page 103: Client Cannot See Tape Library/Drive As Provisioned By Falconstor Vtl

    Client cannot see tape library/drive as provisioned by FalconStor VTL Check device Check if the backup server’s operating system or the backup software that does not discovery by see the tape library or drive. Depending on the OS, the new device is indicated in the different ways: •...

  • Page 104: Deduplication

    • Go to the storage to verify that it is not in error or in an abnormal state. The assigned devices have to be in read/write mode. • Check the Event Log or syslog for message indicating IO errors. Such messages usually begin with •...

  • Page 105: System Configuration

    4. Choose any available slot and select OK. Messages about the move process will be displayed. The tape will appear under the Tapes object. Moving the tape to the slot triggers deduplication. We recommend that you modify your backup policy instead of forcing deduplication to run.

  • Page 106: Import/Export

    Import/Export Import/Export does not work as expected Check tape When you Import/export data between a physical tape device and a virtual device, capacity you must make sure the tape devices are of the same type and the same capacity. If mismatch they do not have the same capacity, an end-of-media-hit condition occurs and import/export fails.

  • Page 107: Take An X-Ray Of Your System For Technical Support

    Troubleshooting Take an X-ray of your system for technical support Taking an X-ray of your system is useful for your technical support team to help solve system problems. Each X-ray contains technical information about your server, such as server messages and a snapshot of your server's current configuration and environment.

  • Page 108: Appendix

    Appendix This appendix contains information about system security. System security In order to maintain a high level of security, unnecessary ports have been disabled. The only ports required by FalconStor VTL are: • TCP port 11576 - Used for VTL Console to nTier VTL appliance management communication.
  • Page 109 Index Activity Log 51 Administrator Management 25 Types 25 Attention required tab 27 Auto archive 33 Auto expansion 34 Backup server Access Secured access 38 Device scan 17 Discover assigned libraries/drives 17 Open access 12 SAN client 22 Secured access 12 Backup servers Assign virtual tape library 38 Backup software...
  • Page 110 Print 27 Sort information 26 Everyone client 12 Everyone_FC 16 Everyone_iSCSI 12 Export to tape 45 Auto archive 39 Manually 45 FalconStor 9 Fibre Channel Target Mode 84 Arbitrated Loop topology 85 Fabric topology 86 Hardware configuration 85 QLogic configuration 85 Switches 85 Zoning 85 Fibre Channel, Add 87...
  • Page 111 SIR statistics Data stored 55 Data written 55 Redundancy elimination ratio 55 SNMP 51 Traps 51 Statistics Running policies 53 Storage monitoring 51 System configuration Troubleshooting 102 Tape capacity-on-demand 34 Tape expansion 98 Tapes Search 24 Traps 51 Troubleshooting 96...
  • Page 112 VTL defaults Change appliance defaults 28 Change de-duplication properties 30 Change default hostname 30 Change default IP address 28 Change default password 30 VTL Storage Appliance 5 X-ray CallHome 91 Troubleshooting 104 Implementing nTier Deduplication 109...

This manual is also suitable for:

Spectra ntier500Spectra ntier700

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