Getting Started - Deduplication to Tape (Silo Storage)

Getting Started Advanced  

Silo Storage enables you to store deduplicated backups on secondary storage devices. The ability to store deduplicated data on secondary storage reduces the storage requirements and facilitates longer retention periods. The efficient use of storage space enables storing large volumes of backup data, which reduces the cost of backup storage and long term data retention.

Silo Storage also enables effective use of the primary disk storage by managing the disk space and periodically moving the data to the Silo Storage. This efficient disk management reduces the cost of storage.

Prerequisites

Ensure the following before you setup Silo Storage:

Set up Silo Storage

1.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to and expand Policies.
  • Right-click Storage Policies, and then click New Storage Policy.
2. Click Next.
3. Enter the name in the Storage Policy Name box and click Next.
4. From the Library list, click the name of a disk library and click Next.
5. From the MediaAgent list, click the name of a MediaAgent that will be used to create the primary copy.

Click Next.
6. Click Next to accept default values.

If necessary these values can be modified later.
7.
  • Under Deduplication, select Yes.
  • Clear Enable Client Side Deduplication check box and click Next.
8.
  • From the MediaAgent list, click the name of the MediaAgent that will be used to store the Deduplication store.
      It can be any MediaAgent which has enough space to store the deduplication store.
  • Type the name of the folder in which the deduplication database must be located in the Deduplication Store Location or click the Browse button to select the folder.
  • Click Next.
  The deduplication database must be located in a folder and not directly under the root of a disk volume.
9. Click Finish.
10.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Policies | Storage Policies | <Storage_Policy>.
  • Right-click the primary storage policy copy displayed in the right pane and click Properties.
11. Click the Deduplication tab and then click Silo Option tab.
12.
  • Select the Enable Backup of Deduplicated Data check box.
  • Clear Number of Silos to be kept in cache check box.
  • Click Add Data Path button.
13. Click the Tape Library and click OK.
14. The list of data paths will be displayed.

Click OK.
15. Click OK to enable the Silo Storage.
16.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <CommServe_Client> | File System.
  • A Silo Storage Set with SILO_BackupSet_<Storage Policy name>_<Storage Policy Copy name> naming convention is displayed.
  A Silo Storage Set is a special type of On Demand Backup Set containing Silo Storage data. This set must not be modified for any type of operation.
17.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | File System | defaultBackupSet.
  • Right-click the subclient in the right pane and click Properties.
18.
  • Click the Storage Device tab.
  • In the Storage Policy list, click the storage policy where the Silo Storage was enabled.
  • Click OK.
  Repeat steps 16-18, in all the subclients that you wish to include this Silo.
19.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | File System | defaultBackupSet.
  • Right-click the subclient in the right pane and click Backup.
 20.
  • Under Select Backup Type, click Full.
  • Under Job Initiation, click Immediate.
  • Click OK.
  Repeat steps 19-20, to perform a backup of all subclients included in the Silo.
21. You can track the progress of the backup job from the Job Controller window. Ensure that the job completes successfully.
22.
  • From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Policies | Storage Policies | <Storage_Policy>.
  • Right-click the primary storage policy copy, point to All Tasks and then click Backup Deduplicated Data to Tape.
23.
  • Click Schedule to schedule the backup for a specific time.
  • Click Configure button to set the schedule for the backup job.
24.
  • In the Schedule Name box, type the name for schedule job.
  • Select the appropriate scheduling options. For example:
    • Click Weekly.
    • In the Start Time box, type or select the time you want to change.
    • Check the days you want the run the job.
  • Click OK.
25. Click OK.

The Silo backup job will execute as per the schedule.
26. When the schedule is run, the Job Controller window in the CommCell Console will display the job as shown in the sample image.