NetWorker doesn't create a snapshot.

Networker sends a request to the NetApp device via the NDMP protocol to
run the dump command. The dump command is a standard netapp command that
is based on the classic unix dump command..  This command when asked to
backup a live filesystem (eg not a specific snapshot path)  will go and
create an on-the-fly snapshot and feed the data back via NDMP to
networker but maintains the original file locations. When the dump
command exits it drops the snapshot.  When you use the dump command
directly you can actually get it to leave the snapshot in place and it
has option for resuming interrupted dums... But that's not something you
can use via NDMP.

Because its backing up from a snapshot you can take as long as you like
to do the backup.. 

I currently use specific named snapshots that exist for a week or so -
In theory I have all week to get the backup done - or longer even. That
way I can schedule a snapshot to be taken at the official backup time,
but only have to do the backup later on when there's spare time on the
backup system

> -----Original Message-----
> From: EMC NetWorker discussion 
> [mailto:NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU] On Behalf Of tkutil
> Sent: Friday, 29 February 2008 4:05 AM
> To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> Subject: [Networker] Long NDMP Backups
> 
> Thanks to every one for all of your great suggestions. Our 
> first step is to team the network connection on the Networker 
> server and the switch to increase throughput as well as 
> implement jumbo frames. After that we'll determine what other 
> suggestions to implement. 
> 
> One thing that I'm curious about that may make this whole 
> subject a moot point is how Networker handles NDMP. I can't 
> remember where I heard this, most likely from this forum, but 
> does Networker NDMP create a snapshot of the volume and then 
> backup that snapshot? I see that in the logs and if that is 
> so, do I care how long the backup takes if it is truly a 
> snapshot and not the live data?
> 
> +-------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
> |This was sent by troy.kutil AT milwaukeetool DOT com via Backup Central.
> |Forward SPAM to abuse AT backupcentral DOT com.
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