Whitman, Matthew wrote:
Now, the question was asked about keeping the CIFS attributes during backup; both of the methods above will allow this to happen. In current environments, backups need to be done by an NT machine running Networker, OR having a UNIX Networker server that backs up an NT machine with the Filer mounted on it.
I'd like to just add a 'small' addition to the backup debate. With BudTool, backups are done locally on the machine being backed up itself using the local dump/restore command using NDMP, it doesn't use any proprietary backup data streams. This is great for quick restores in the event of a true disaster. If the NetApp 'blows up' with (or without) BudTool you can restore the data to a Solaris box as the dump format for Solaris and OnTap are (almost) the same.
However, and I can't comment on NetWorker, using ACLs the dump on the NetApp does an extra sixth pass to backup the ACLs (please correct me if I am wrong here). If there was a true disaster that meant restoring data quickly, but no NetApp was available, (or if a tape was taken to another site for restoring) then the data can still be restored instantly back to any solaris box using standard UNIX (mt ufsrestore), however ufsrestore on Solaris does not have this sixth pass so the ACLs would be lost. Does Networker handle this in it's proprietary format? Have I missed something here?
There is nothing fantastic about backup on a NetApp really, the snapshot is a great facility...it's the restoring ability you need to consider. Networker's disaster recovery is pretty hideous...BudTool's is simple, but not being able to restore the ACLs is not a nice prospect for some people. Whatever happens with Networker/BudTool will this restoring flexibility be lost? Or would it be possible for the dump command on the NetApp to somehow stay compatible with the dump formats on other UNIX boxes and 'integrate' this sixth pass in the five that a normal dump does keeping the compatibility? If Legato implement NDMP does that mean they have to use the dump command on the NetApp or can they use NDMP and still stay proprietary?