Particulars:  Solaris 9, ufs, NetBackup 5.1, Advanced Client option

I've never used the FlashBackup or Advanced Client options, and am in the 
process of configuring a disk array (Sun 3510) for a file system that is 
now 375GB and has the potential to grow to 1TB before the system is 
retired or replaced.

My concern is that sizing the file system and/or partition to the maximum 
potential size of 1TB will cause adverse effects when using a FlashBackup 
policy type.  I don't want to be backing up 1TB (for the sake of time and 
tape) when only 37% of that space is in use, and my understanding is that 
FlashBackup will backup the entire partition.

But I'd like to be sure that it's the entire partition that FlashBackup 
will backup.  If FlashBackup will constrain itself to just backup the 
entire (ufs) file system, then I can go ahead and allocate the partition 
in advance, and then only grow the file system as necessary.  If 
FlashBackup is going to backup the entire partition, then I'll have to go 
to the extra trouble of expanding the capacity of the partition *and* 
growing the filesystem a couple of times a year.

I've already determined that I can't use Sun's DiskSuite in conjunction 
with FlashBackup.  And I'm trying to avoid using the Veritas Volume 
Manager as well, mainly to avoid the cost.

Any advice appreciated.

Hal Brooks (hal AT uga DOT edu)
EITS University of Georgia