We've used NDMP without any of the problems you have mentioned using Netbackup. We did have the same problems when using BudTool. We also use Netbackup to back up several filers using NFS mounts. We do this in the case of a filer that does not have a direct connected tape drive. It works fine over NFS, but is easily twice as slow as a direct connected DLT7000 tape drive (using a 100tx interface). Also, keep in mind that if you have any ACL's on the files they are lost when backed up via NFS. With netbackup we are able to backup filers using NDMP or NFS. We also back up Solaris, IRIX, HP-UX, and Windows NT. Standard disclaimers apply, i don't work for veritas, or hold any of their stock - just a satisfied customer, YMMV, etc. etc.
Graham
"Shaun T. Erickson" wrote:
I keep hearing about backup alternatives that use NDMP. What solutions are there if you *don't* want to use NDMP? We have several reasons for not wanting to use it.
We have had nothing but grief because we relied on using NDMP. First, NetApp's implementation had a memory leak that caused backup's to fail after the filer had been up for a month and, if not caught quickly & the filer rebooted, would cause NFS to get flaky, in that it would respond to some requests and ignore others, getting progressively worse until the filer would crash. As a result, we had to reboot the filer on a monthly basis. This lasted for over a year, during which time we were repeatedly told to upgrade to the latest version of Ontap, because it was always supposedly fixed in that release.
Because of the frequent upgrades, (which continue to happen, but for other reasons) we frequently ran into problems because of incompatibilities between NetApp's implementation of NDMP and BudTool's. Then, when we'd try to get support, we were always told that the version of Ontap we were running wasn't certified with BudTool, so it was always a major pain to get support. To be fair, BudTool broke NDMP on occasion, as well, with their upgrades. The end result was the same, however.
Lastly, we find that backing up a filer to it's local tape drive to be substantially slower than backing it up across the net to our SGI Origin 2000 media server. Not only is it faster, it puts less of a load on the filer as well.
So, having switched away from NDMP, for the above reasons, I have no burning desire to switch back, and am looking for backup solutions that do not require it. Although not the scope of this list, I need to back up Sun Solaris, IRIX & NT systems, as well.
What is there available?
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