We use Backup Express and it works fine. We SnapVault from our main filers to an R200 then NDMP backup to tape with Backup Express.

-----Original Message----- From: owner-toasters@mathworks.com [mailto:Jason.Palmer@drkw.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:29 AM To: 'Ben Rockwood'; toasters@mathworks.com Subject: RE: Block-Level Backup of Filer Volumes

Netvault (Backbone) - Tested SMT sucessfully Backup Express (Syncsort) - Not tested by me yet but awaiting to eval

These allow the backup of the volume using Snapmirror to tape (SMT) Back at the time I tested NetVault it was pretty basic, but I got the volume + block level snapshots sucessfully off to a Virtual Backup Library (Another nice feature) and then back from the virtual tape library onto another Filers volume intact.

Not sure is either of these products have enhanced their block level capabilities since I looked at them last year.

I would also be interested to see what others say and come back with

Jason

-----Original Message----- From: owner-toasters@mathworks.com [mailto:owner-toasters@mathworks.com] On Behalf Of Ben Rockwood Sent: 15 November 2005 08:14 To: toasters@mathworks.com Subject: Block-Level Backup of Filer Volumes

I'm looking into various methods for tape backup of our filers. Due to the large number of files a file level backup would be significantly slower than a block-level backup method, however I'm not sure if one exists. I was hoping someone could clarify. NDMP utilizes dump, which is file-based so that doesn't solve the performance issues, and from what I can tell SnapVault is only for disk-to-disk backup, not tape. Even if I direct connect a tape robot to the filer I'd still be using dump and the throughput isn't being limited by the network capacity, so that doesn't help either.

I'm hoping there is a block-level method I'm unaware of. NDMP in my tests has been dog slow and standard backups via NFS mount don't sound appealing.

Suggestions are welcome.

benr.

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