[Networker] NDMP Tape server under Networker 7.3 or 7.4

It has been a while since I worked in Networker so I apologize inadvance if my questions seem obvious to some. But here goes anyways...

We have several Netapp appliances (Ontap 6.5.X and 7.X) and I amassisting our backup admin on how to re-architect our Networkenvironment to backup the the Netapps via NDMP.

I understand the various configurations that essentially "attach"tape devices to the filers directly (either via scsi, fiber direct orSAN). Then network initiates the backup and "causes" the filer torun dump to the "locally" attached tape device. So file indexinformation goes over network to Networker server and data goes fromfiler direct to tape.

However, I am wondering if there is a way to have the filers sendthe backup data to a Networker server directly and have the networkerserver write the data to tape. The primary driver for wanted to dosomething like that is that our tape library is not locatedphysically close enough to one of our filers to allow fiberconnecting the library. (There are other reasons but that alone isenough to prompt the question).

I did some searching and I saw a description for an old productthat Legato had called SnapImage that has as one of its capabilities- the ability to act as a NDMP Tape Server. Which it seems like thiswould be exactly what I would need. If I could have a system (or thebetter yet the Networker server) act as a NDMP tape server than Iwould think I could have the filer send its data via NDMP across thenetwork instead of locally attached tape devices.

I think SnapImage was discontinued or replaced by PowerSnap (orsomething like that) and I did not see in the documentation anyreference to the capability of running a NDMP Tape Server.

Does Networker have the ability to act as a NDMP Tape Server aspart of the 7.x? Or as an add-on module? And am I correct in mythoughts that if Networker did act as a NDMP Tape server the filerbackups would act as I describe above? And lastly where in thedocumentation (or on the web) can I find further information on thistype of set up?


Thanks in advance,

  Henry


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Henry Ferrara
hjferrara AT comcast DOT net

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