>> Here is what we want to do:  We have a EMC Symmetrix SAN and several hosts,
>> all connected via fiber fabric.  We also have a SpectraLogic 64000 with both
>> SCSI and fiber QIPs.  We are currently only using the SCSI QIPs, which are
>> connected to our Networker server (HP-UX 11i, Networker 6.1.3) via
>> traditional SCSI cables, et al.  Instead of having the data flowing from the
>> Symmetrix to the client host (over SAN fabric), then from the client host to
>> the Networker server (over the LAN), and then from the Networker server
>> through a SCSI cable to the jukebox, is it possible to get the data to flow
>> directly from the EMC Symmetrix to the tape library (bypassing all machines
>> in the process), assuming that the tape library is placed on the SAN fabric?
>>
>> Most of the data we backup is Oracle databases (but not all).  We currently
>> split off mirrors of our Oracle databases while they are in hotbackup mode,
>> and then we backup the BCV volumes (which we mount on a different client
>> than where the live database exists).  This method still involves the data
>> flowing from a client machine to the server machine and then to the tape
>> library.  We want to remove the UNIX machines from the data flow.
>>
>> Is this possible, and if so, can it be done with any data or does it require
>> specific modules written for specific apps (like Oracle).
>
> Serverless backup is probably what you would call the holy grail of the
> SAN backup world. It's what Legato were aiming at a while ago with
> Celestra. Now I'm no expert at this, all I've done is the stuff about
> connecting tapes to storage nodes via a SAN, and that's complicated
> enough, but the way I understand it the concept is that you have a
> "data-mover" server that handles the traffic between a client and a tape
> drive. Better than this, the data-mover becomes integrated with the tape
> drive as the hardware develops, and you end up with serverless backup. I
> don't believe we've quite got there yet.

I thought that the data mover would be integrated into the network (ie,
the FC switches).

> I don't know what happened to Celestra. At one time it was the best
> thing since Babbage's Analytical Engine, now it seems to have all gone
> quiet.

Very quiet.

A bit less bleeding edge than serverless backups are lan-free backups.
This is where you turn your client hosts into NetWorker storage nodes
and backup through them.  The data then flows from disk to client host
(via SAN) and then to the tape drives (via SAN) without touching your
LAN.  You can use DDS to time-share your limited tape drives amongst
all contenders.

(In this context DDS is dynamic drive sharing, not digital data
storage.)

You can get "SAN storage nodes" to implement this.  They are cheaper
than regular storage nodes but are limited to only backing up their own
data.

One down-side to this scheme (which probably gets glossed over in the
rush to sell new kit) is that only one host can talk to a tape drive at
any one time; while your storage node is accessing the tape drive your
server can not and must wait its turn, and vice versa.  In other words
you could get contention for tape drives.

Naturally you are going to need a whole new set of licenses to do all
this...

Also: in a previous mail you said that one of your drivers was to
improve backup performance, and that you were doing software
compression on your server rather than hardware compression in your
AIT-3 tape drives.  IMHO you would be better served by investing some
effort into fixing this first.  Going down the serverless or lan-free
path will complicate your setup without addressing the bottle-neck that
is hurting you.  KISS.  Alternatively I could use the "use what we
bought" argument - you've bought tape drives with built in compression
hardware (and that has impressive looking specs), why not use it?

George.
--
George Scott           George.Scott AT its.monash DOT edu
Systems Programmer, IT Services, Monash University

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