SAN-Attached Libraries - Configure

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Automatically Configure Libraries Shared Across a SAN

Manually Configure Libraries Shared Across a SAN

Configure a Library with Mixed Drive Types in SAN

Automatically Configure Libraries Shared Across a SAN

The following procedure describes the steps involved in automatically configuring a library that is shared across a SAN with DDS, in both the clustered and non-clustered environment. This procedure does not apply to NAS-attached libraries. See Configure a Library Shared Across a SAN Environment for step-by-step instructions on configuring NAS-attached libraries.

Before You Begin

Check the following before you configure the library in the SAN environment:

  • Hardware is configured according to the conventions detailed in Hardware Configuration Guidelines - Libraries Attached to a SAN.
  • MediaAgent software is installed on every computer that is connected to the SAN, and that will access the library. The MediaAgent software can be installed on the computers in any order; the installation sequence does not affect the library configuration.
  • Whether the library supports the SCSI 3 drive identification information. To detect whether the library supports SCSI 3, run the CVScsiTool.exe available in the <Software Installation Path>\Base folder from the command prompt. If SCSI 3 is available, the Drive Identifiers will be displayed under Library Information. For detailed description of SCSI 3 drive identification, see Detection for libraries that support SCSI 3 drive identification information.
  • Note the following for configuring a library attached to the MediaAgent on a cluster:
    • MediaAgent clustering can be supported only for libraries in the SAN environment.
    • Configure the MediaAgents on an active node. The active node takes care of copying the necessary configuration information to the passive nodes.
    • Ensure that both the active and passive nodes are up and running before you begin the configuration.

To automatically configure libraries shared across SAN
1. Display the Library and Drive Configuration window.

In the Select MediaAgents dialog box, select the name of any one MediaAgent that will share the library.
2. Detect the devices. Use Detection or Exhaustive Detection as required.

If the library supports SCSI 3 drive identification, it is not necessary to perform an exhaustive detection.
  The library and all drives are displayed for the MediaAgent that is connected to the SAN in the  Library and Drive Configuration window.
For a Solaris MediaAgent in the SAN environment, the operation will fail to detect devices with SCSI target higher than 15 and/or LUN higher than 7. In a such a situation additional entries must be added for such devices in the wa.conf file. For information on adding these entries see Add Additional Entries in wa.conf File in the Solaris MediaAgent.

For a NetWare MediaAgent, you may see a number of drives in addition to the drives that are actually present. These drives are displayed as empty slots. You can ignore these empty slots and configure the library using the drives that were detected successfully.

If any additional drives are visible on any of the MediaAgents due to incorrect zoning you must do one of the following:

  • Correct the zoning and restart the configuration process.
  • Delete the additional drives before performing the next step.
3. Right-click the library and then click Properties.
4. From the Library Properties dialog box, select the following option:
  • Auto Configure DDS DrivePool: Enable this option to automatically configure the DDS drive pools for MediaAgents sharing these drives.

Optionally, consider the following options and enable or disable it if necessary:

  • Auto Configure Failover Library Controllers: Enable this option to automatically configure the Failover Library Controllers in all the MediaAgents sharing this library.
  • Automatically create storage policy for new Datapaths: Enable this option to automatically create a new Storage Policy when the library is configured.

Click OK.

NOTES

  • The option to automatically create/configure DDS DrivePools is not available for NAS-attached libraries; Dynamic Drive Sharing must be configured manually. For instructions on how to configure DDS for NAS-attached libraries, see Configure NAS-attached Libraries Shared Across a SAN .
5. Configure the library as described in Configure Devices.
  The library is configured and displayed with the configured, detect success status in the Library and Drive Configuration window.

The Library tab provides  the physical view of the devices (library and drives).

 
  The Data Paths tab provides a logical view of the data path used to access the devices - library, master drive pool, drive pool, drive.

 

To automatically configure the data paths in the Storage Policy Copy
6. Optionally, perform the following steps if you want the system to automatically create the alternate data paths in the Storage Policy Copy that was created during the library configuration.

NOTES

A data path is the combination of MediaAgent, Library, Drive Pool and Scratch Pool used by the storage policy copy to access the library. When you have several MediaAgents accessing a library, you can create a Storage Policy when you configure the library the first time. For subsequent MediaAgents, you can do the following:

  • Create alternate data paths in the Storage Policy copies associated with the Storage Policy, using the other MediaAgent, Library, Drive Pool and Scratch Pool combinations.
  • Disable the option to automatically create a new storage policy when the library is subsequently configured using another MediaAgent.
 
  • From the CommCell Console, right click the appropriate library and then click Properties.
  • From the Library Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
  • Enable the Automatically add datapaths for new drivepools configured option.
 
  • From the CommCell Console, right-click the Storage Policy Copy that was created during the library configuration and then click Properties.
  • From the Copy Properties dialog box, click the Data Path Configuration tab.
  • Enable the Automatically add new datapaths option.

To automatically configure the other MediaAgents that share the library in SAN
7. Install the library and ensure that the operating system detects the library. (See Driver Configurations for information on how to check this information for various operating systems.)
8. Install the MediaAgent software on all the other computers that will share the library. (See MediaAgent Deployment for information on installing the MediaAgent software.)
  If you have already installed the MediaAgent software, stop and start the MediaAgent Services on all the MediaAgents sharing this library.

For more information on stopping and starting services, see the following topics:
  Open the Library and Drive Configuration window and verify that the libraries are configured from all the MediaAgents that share the library.

The Library tab provides  the physical view of the devices (library and drives).
  The Data Paths tab provides a logical view of the data path used to access the devices - library, master drive pool, drive pool, drive.  

Post-Configuration Considerations
After configuring all the libraries, consider disabling the hat the Auto Configure DDS DrivePool and Auto Configure Failover Library Controllers options described in Step 4, if you do not want the system to automatically configure the library whenever a new MediaAgent is installed in the SAN.

Manually Configure Libraries Shared Across a SAN

The following procedure describes the steps involved in configuring a library that is shared across a SAN with DDS, in both the clustered and non-clustered environment. This procedure does not apply to NAS-attached libraries. See Manually Configure NAS-attached Libraries Shared Across a SAN for step-by-step instructions on configuring NAS-attached libraries.

Before You Begin

Check the following before you configure the library in the SAN environment:

  • Hardware is configured according to the conventions detailed in Hardware Configuration Guidelines - Libraries Attached to a SAN.
  • MediaAgent software is installed on every computer that is connected to the SAN, and that will access the library. The MediaAgent software can be installed on the computers in any order; the installation sequence does not affect the library configuration.
  • Whether the library supports the SCSI 3 drive identification information. To detect whether the library supports SCSI 3, run the CVScsiTool.exe available in the <Software Installation Path>\Base folder from the command prompt. If SCSI 3 is available, the Drive Identifiers will be displayed under Library Information. For detailed description of SCSI 3 drive identification, see Detection for libraries that support SCSI 3 drive identification information.
  • Note the following for configuring a library attached to the MediaAgent on a cluster:
    • MediaAgent clustering can be supported only for libraries in the SAN environment.
    • Configure the MediaAgents on an active node. The active node takes care of copying the necessary configuration information to the passive nodes.
    • Ensure that both the active and passive nodes are up and running before you begin the configuration.

To manually configure libraries shared across SAN
1. Display the Library and Drive Configuration window.

In the Select MediaAgents dialog box, select the name of only one MediaAgent that will share the library.
2. Detect the devices. Use Detection or Exhaustive Detection as required.

If the library supports SCSI 3 drive identification, it is not necessary to perform an exhaustive detection.

The library and all drives are displayed for the MediaAgent that is connected to the SAN in the  Library and Drive Configuration window.
For a Solaris MediaAgent in the SAN environment, the operation will fail to detect devices with SCSI target higher than 15 and/or LUN higher than 7. In a such a situation additional entries must be added for such devices in the wa.conf file. For information on adding these entries see Add Additional Entries in wa.conf File in the Solaris MediaAgent.

For a NetWare MediaAgent, you may see a number of drives in addition to the drives that are actually present. These drives are displayed as empty slots. You can ignore these empty slots and configure the library using the drives that were detected successfully.

If any additional drives are visible on any of the MediaAgents due to incorrect zoning you must do one of the following:

  • Correct the zoning and restart the configuration process.
  • Delete the additional drives before performing the next step.
3. Configure the library as described in Configure Devices.

To automatically configure the data paths in the Storage Policy Copy
4. Optionally, perform the following steps if you want the system to automatically create the alternate data paths in the Storage Policy Copy that was created during the library configuration.

NOTES

A data path is the combination of MediaAgent, Library, Drive Pool and Scratch Pool used by the storage policy copy to access the library. When you have several MediaAgents accessing a library, you can create a Storage Policy when you configure the library the first time. For subsequent MediaAgents, you can do the following:

  • Create alternate data paths in the Storage Policy copies associated with the Storage Policy, using the other MediaAgent, Library, Drive Pool and Scratch Pool combinations.
  • Disable the option to automatically create a new storage policy when the library is subsequently configured using another MediaAgent.
 
  • From the CommCell Console, right click the appropriate library and then click Properties.
  • From the Library Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
  • Enable the Automatically add datapaths for new drivepools configured option.
 
  • From the CommCell Console, right-click the Storage Policy Copy that was created during the library configuration and then click Properties.
  • From the Copy Properties dialog box, click the Data Path Configuration tab.
  • Enable the Automatically add new datapaths option.

To configure the other MediaAgents that share the library in SAN
5. From the Library and Drive Configuration window, click the Start menu and choose Select MediaAgents.

Select the following MediaAgents:

  • The MediaAgent in which the library is already configured.
  • Other MediaAgent(s) in which you wish to configure the library using DDS.
6. Click OK in the Information prompt.
7. Detect the devices that are controlled by MediaAgents that will access the library as described in Detect Devices.

In the Detect Library dialog box, select the following options:

  • Detect on Selected MediaAgents in Parallel
  • Automatically create DDS Drivepools

NOTES

  • The option to automatically create/configure DDS DrivePools is not available for NAS-attached libraries; Dynamic Drive Sharing must be configured manually. For instructions on how to configure DDS for NAS-attached libraries, see Configure NAS-attached Libraries Shared Across a SAN .
  The system detects the drives and automatically displays them with the DDS setup in the  Library and Drive Configuration window.

The Library tab provides  the physical view of the devices (library and drives).

 
  The Data Paths tab provides a logical view of the data path used to access the devices - library, master drive pool, drive pool, drive.

 
8. Configure the library as described in Configure Devices.

This will configure the library and the library controllers for the library.

If you do not wish to configure the library controllers on one or more of the MediaAgents, you must delete them before configuring the library.

To delete, right-click the appropriate library controller and then choose Delete. Click OK in the confirmation prompt that appears.

Post Configuration Considerations
If you subsequently add new MediaAgents with visibility to a configured library and drives, the system will automatically configure the libraries and drives in those MediaAgents.

Perform the following steps if you wish to disable the automatic library and drive configuration in such MediaAgents:
From the Library and Drive Configuration window, open the Library Properties dialog box associated with the library you wish to disable automatic configuration.
Disable the following options:
  • Auto Configure DDS DrivePool
  • Auto Configure Failover Library Controller

Configure NAS-attached Libraries Shared Across a SAN

The following procedure explains the steps involved in configuring a NAS-attached library which is shared in the SAN environment by multiple NAS file servers and/or MediaAgents.

Before You Begin
  • During configuration, all of the drive devices must have a value for their serial number. If the automatic configuration does not populate a serial number for a drive, you must manually enter a serial number value, using the Manually configure the library and drives attached to the NAS file server procedure. Each instance of a drive must have the same serial number.

  • During configuration of NAS-attached libraries and drives, connectivity is required between the CommServe and the NAS file server. Even after configuration is complete, connectivity is still required to the CommServe for various operations, such as cleaning up snapshots from a killed NAS iDataAgent job.

  • This feature requires a Feature License to be available in the CommServe® Server.

    Review general license requirements included in License Administration. Also, View All Licenses provides step-by-step instructions on how to view the license information.

Configuration Procedure
1. You must first configure the library from any one of the MediaAgents that share the library across a SAN. Use one of the following procedures to configure the library for the first time:

Once you have configured the library for the first time you can use the following procedure to configure the library from a NAS file server.
2. Display the Library and Drive Configuration window.
3. If necessary, select a new MediaAgent that must be used by the File Server to communicate.

To select a new MediaAgent, click the Start button and then click Select MediaAgents. Select the appropriate MediaAgent from the Select MediaAgent dialog box and click OK.
4. Click the Start button, and then select Detect/Configure Devices.
5. Select the NDMP Devices and the MediaAgent that will control the library.

Select the Exhaustive Detection option.

Click OK.

NOTES

  • The exhaustive detection process accurately maps the drives in a library. During this process, the system attempts to mount a tape in each of the selected drives and determines the correct drive to library mapping. Due to the nature of this operation and depending on the number of drives, this operation may take several minutes to complete.
  • As this operation involves the mounting of a tape in a drive, ensure that there are some media in the library to mount. If you do not select Exhaustive Detection, the system still attempts to discover the media changer and drives connected to the selected NDMP host, but the system will not mount tapes in those drives to confirm the correct drive mapping.
  • For cluster, select the cluster virtual server as the MediaAgent.
6. A prompt appears informing you that the exhaustive detection will unload all drives and hence may interfere with backup/restore jobs.

Click Yes.
7. Select the File Server from which you wish to detect the library and click OK.
8. Click Yes to start the device detection process.

NOTES

  • The system attempts to detect the devices and mount the media in the drives to verify the correct drive-to-library mapping.
9. When the exhaustive detection process is completed, the log file is displayed. Note the log file contents and click Close to proceed.
10. An Information prompt appears, informing you to right-click the device to continue the configuration. Click OK to proceed
11. When the Exhaustive Detection is completed, the system displays the devices in the Library and Drive Configuration window.

NOTES

  • New detected devices are not configured at this point, and the configuration information will not be saved when you exit from the Library and Drive Configuration window until those devices are configured.

Right-click the library and then click Configure.

The Library tab provides  the physical view of the devices (library and drives).
  The Data Paths tab provides a logical view of the data path used to access the devices - library, master drive pool, drive pool, drive.
12. Configure the library as described in Configure Devices.  
13. If you have configured the library, the status of the library changes to configured.

If you chose to configure all associated drives, the status of the drives, the master drive pool, and drive pool that contains the drives changes to configured.

If you do not need to configure any other libraries, exit now.

NOTES

  • If there are additional unconfigured libraries shown that you do not need, you can delete them.

The Library tab provides  the physical view of the devices (library and drives).
  The Data Paths tab provides a logical view of the data path used to access the devices - library, master drive pool, drive pool, drive.

This task is now complete.

Configure a Library with Mixed Drive Types in SAN

The following sections provide guidelines on configuring a library with mixed drive types in the SAN environment. (This procedure does not apply to NAS-attached libraries.)

Considerations for a Library With Mixed Drive Types in SAN
1. Configure any of the MediaAgents sharing the library as described in Configure a Library with Mixed Drive Types.
2. After configuring the library: Display the Library and Drive Configuration window.
3. Open the Library Properties dialog box and select the following option:
  • Auto Configure DDS DrivePool: Enable this option to automatically configure the DDS drive pools for MediaAgents sharing these drives.

Optionally, consider the following options:

  • Auto Configure Failover Library Controllers: Enable this option to automatically configure the Failover Library Controllers in all the MediaAgents sharing this library.
  • Automatically create storage policy for new Datapaths: Disable this option for libraries with mixed drive types.

Click OK.

NOTES

  • The option to automatically create/configure DDS DrivePools is not available for NAS-attached libraries; Dynamic Drive Sharing must be configured manually. For instructions on how to configure DDS for NAS-attached libraries, see Configure NAS-attached Libraries Shared Across a SAN .

To automatically configure the other MediaAgents that share the library in SAN
4. Install the library and ensure that the operating system detects the library. (See Driver Configurations for information on how to check this information for various operating systems.)
5. Install the MediaAgent software on all the other computers that will share the library. (See MediaAgent Deployment for information on installing the MediaAgent software.)
  If you have already installed the MediaAgent software, stop and start the MediaAgent Services on all the MediaAgents sharing this library.

For more information on stopping and starting services, see the following topics:
  Open the Library and Drive Configuration window and verify that the libraries are configured from all the MediaAgents that share the library.

Post Configuration Considerations
Consider the following:
  • When you create new storage policies, or have existing storage policies, ensure that the appropriate combination of drive pool and scratch pool are associated with them.
  • Also when you configure the alternate data paths in a storage policy copy, ensure that the same combination of drive pool and scratch pool are added as the alternate paths .