I found a tech note ( http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/237384.htm ) that
seems to indicate that generating indexes on all images is possible:

"
NOTE: If catalog indexing is enabled, existing index files
for a backup image will need to be removed and
regenerated with the <index_clients> command."

In the end we solved our problem by running a client directed restore as
opposed to attempting the restore using the GUI on the master server.  Even
though the client has to go through the network to the master server where
the images database resides, it still returned the directory and file
information to the client in about 5 minutes, versus the multiple hours on
the master server itself. We also tried running the
/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/bpadm character based interface from the master
server and it too returned the directory and file information in about 5
minutes.  Very strange. 

Grant



-----Original Message-----
From: Donaldson, Grant [mailto:DONALDG AT tc.gc DOT ca]
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 11:55 AM
To: 'veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu'
Subject: [Veritas-bu] [Veritas-bu]: Managing NetBackup Using Database
Indexes to Reduce Search Time


Greetings!

        When using xbp in NetBackup DataCenter 3.4 to perform a restore,
searching on the desired directory/sub directory is taking an EXCESSIVELY
long time to return the file list(18+ hours) to the screen; the
sub-directory on the client in question has 111,000 files. Veritas has
mentioned a "/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/index_clients command to generate
index files for NetBackup to use during searches."  command, but it is only
supposed to work with images created AFTER you have run the command. 

However - since the manual states that "NetBackup creates the indexes each
night when it does its cleanup for the previous days activities.", shouldn't
it be possible to manipulate either the command or the NetBackup environment
to index images more than a day old??  

        I am going to try the restore using the character based menu as
Veritas indicated that it runs faster. They also mentioned:

"To improve search performance when you have many small backup images,
run the following command (one line) as administrator on the master server:
install_path\netbackup\bin\admincmd\bpimage -create_image_list
-client name"

        which doesn't help in this case but might be helpful to some of you.

Thanks as always for any assistance that can be given.
Grant
Transport Canada
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