Linux Backup Servers

August 26, 2005

Data Domain has successfully tested the DD200 with the following Linux and backup
software combinations.
 Red Hat ES 2.1 (kernel 2.4.9-e.38) with Veritas NetBackup 4.5
 Red Hat ES 2.1 (kernel 2.4.9-e.38) with Veritas NetBackup 5.1
 Red Hat ES 3 with Veritas NetBackup 5.1
 Red Hat ES 4 with Veritas NetBackup 5.1
 Red Hat 9.0 (kernel 2.4.20, which has no NDMP support) with Comvault 5.0.0

On a Linux backup server, check for the existence of the following two files. If the files
exist, they should each have the following values: 4096, 262144, and 1048576:

/proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_rmem
/proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_wmem

The recommended values (4096, 262144, and 1048576) control the amount of memory
reserved for TCP send buffers (rcp_wmem) and TCP receive buffers (tcp_rmem). Data
Domain has determined that the recommended buffer values optimize performance.

4096, the first value in the files, sets the lowest size that the TCP buffer can use.
262144, the second value, sets the default value for TCP buffers.
1048576, the third value, sets the maximum size that the buffer can use.

If the files do not exist or if the values in the files are below the recommended values, use
the following commands:

echo "4096 262144 1048576" > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_rmem

echo "4096 262144 1048576" > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_wmem

 If the files do not already exist or if the values need changing, creating the files or
changing the values with the commands above causes the values to take effect
immediately for partitions mounted after creating or changing the files.
 Partitions that are already mounted must be remounted to pick up the new values.
 The files do not persist through a system reboot. To have the files and values recreated
after each reboot, enter the commands into a system startup script such as
/etc/rc3.d/S99local.

A Linux NetBackup Media or Master Server needs to mount restorer directories using
NFS. On the backup server:
 Create a mount point (directory) such as /dd/rstr01/backup and create an
administrative mount point, such as /dd/rstr01/ddvar

1
 NFS mount the directories on the new mount points:
mount -T nfs -o hard,intr,nfsvers=3,tcp,rsize=32768,
wsize=32768,bg rstr01:/backup /dd/rstr01/backup

mount -T nfs -o hard,intr,nfsvers=3,tcp,rsize=32768,

wsize=32768,bg rstr01:/ddvar /dd/rstr01/ddvar

 Add the following lines to the file /etc/fstab. The lines mount the directories at
every reboot.
restorer:/backup /dd/rstr01/backup nfs hard,intr,vers=3,
tcp,rsize=32768,wsize=32768,bg 1 1

restorer:/ddvar /dd/rstr01/ddvar nfs hard,intr,vers=3,

tcp,rsize=32768,wsize=32768,bg 1 1

 Data Domain strongly recommends creating one or more subdirectories for different
types of data under the restorer's mounted file system of /backup. You can then
easily display and compare compression for different types of data with the
filesys show compression command and a target subdirectory. Examples of
subdirectories are:
/dd/rstr01/backup/oracle
/dd/rstr01/backup/exchange
/dd/rstr01/backup/client

The instructions provided by Data Domain in this document are for customer
convenience and are not warranted or supported by Data Domain. Data Domain expects
customers to customize installation of third-party software for use at a particular site, but
Data Domain is not responsible for the usability of third-party software after installation.

Copyright © Data Domain, Inc. 2004-2005