Why do you want to use FlashBackup?
I have several machines that are > 1TB, but they do not require Flash
Backup.  The only reason you would want to use Flashbackup (or one of
the main reasons) is if you are going to be backing up millions of
files, on the order of magnitude of > 5-10 million files.  The one place
I have used flashbackup is on a filesystem with around 24 million files.
Before flashbackup, I was getting 35KB/s and the backups never seemed to
finish. With FlashBackup I get 600-900KB/s and the backups take 24-36
hours but they do complete successfully.  Please note though, I am
backing up 24million+ files on a VxFS file system.  Otherwise, if it is
UFS or something similar, you need to have a separate "Cache" drive in
order to use the flashbackup feature.



-----Original Message-----
From: veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
[mailto:veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu] On Behalf Of Hal N.
Brooks
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 2:37 PM
To: veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Advanced Client (flashbackup) w/ Solaris question


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
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