Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliance compatibility with Backup Exec 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, and 12.x (NON NDMP)

Details:

The Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are designed to add storage space to users on their local area networks (LANs).
NAS devices are "Plug 'n' Play" and can be easily attached to networks. These devices differ from traditional network servers in several ways; they do not have a keyboard, mouse, or monitor, and mostly use operating systems that emulate different server environments including Windows 2000, Windows 2003, and UNIX servers.

Operating Systems running on Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices:

The operating system running on the NAS devices can determine the level of protection provided by Backup Exec (tm) for Windows Servers, which is as follows:

NAS devices using Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Operating Systems
NAS devices using operating systems that emulate Windows or another operating system
NAS devices using operating systems other than Windows

·

I. NAS Devices using Windows 2003 and Windows 2003 Operating Systems

The NAS devices in this instance are seen as remote Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Servers. Therefore a Remote Agent for Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Server will be required to back it up. Other Backup Exec options can be used during backups, except the Intelligent Disaster Recovery (IDR) option, which can be used on NAS devices, provided a bootable device (tape, CD-ROM, or diskette), a keyboard and monitor are attached to the NAS device, which are not available in most NAS Configurations.

II. NAS Devices Using Operating Systems that 'Emulate' Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Operating Systems

In this instance where the NAS devices are using an operating system properly 'emulating' Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Servers, the emulation becomes transparent to Backup Exec. Files and directories can be backed up as 'shared network volumes' using Backup Exec for Windows Servers. In this type of configuration, the following Backup Exec options cannot be used:

Backup Exec Intelligent Disaster Recovery (IDR) option
Backup Exec Remote Agent for Windows (RAWS)
Backup exec Open File Option (OFO)

·

For example: SNAP server comes into this category.

A <Snap> Server uses SAMBA to emulate a Windows volume. For Backup Exec, NAS/<SNAP> Server is just another Windows server on the network. This is because NAS units have the ability to mimic "real" Windows 2000/2003, UNIX, or Macintosh servers.

While backing up <SNAP> servers, Backup Exec will think it as another Windows Server on the network and thus requires the Remote Agent even though it is not possible to install it. The selections for the <SNAP> Server Backup need to be created through User-defined Shares.

Note: Even though a RAWS License is not required to backup a SNAP Server via User-defined Shares, the backup job log will still not show a successful backup because of the Remote Agent not being present and a licensing error. Confirm that the amount of data backed up compares with what is physically on the share and run test restores to validate the integrity of the data that was backed up.

III. NAS Devices Using or Emulating other Operating Systems

Backup Exec will not be able to back up NAS Devices that are not using the Windows 2000/2003 Operating System or that is emulating the Windows Operating System.

IV. Creating Backup to Disk folders on NAS Devices

If a NAS Device is emulating Windows and is not truly a Windows Operating System, please confer with the NAS manufacturer for assistance before creating backup to disk (B2D) folders on the NAS Device. Symantec does not certify non-Windows NAS Devices and if the operating system is not a true Windows Operating System, Symantec may not be able to properly troubleshoot a proprietary operating system.

Please Note: NetWare Servers cannot be used as a Backup-to-Disk (B2D) Target because of file system rights issues.

Related Documents:

http://support.veritas.com/docs/247059

http://support.veritas.com/docs/253618

http://support.veritas.com/docs/254193

http://support.veritas.com/docs/264525

http://support.veritas.com/docs/270396

http://support.veritas.com/docs/277751

Products Applied:
Backup Exec 10.0, 10.0 5520, 10d (10.1), 10d (10.1) 5629, 11d (11.0), 11d (11.0) 6235, 11d (11.0) 7170, 12.0, 12.5, 9.1, 9.1 4691

Last Updated: March 24 2009 08:16 PM GMT
Expires on: 03-24-2010

Subscribe to receive critical updates about this document

Subjects:
Backup Exec
Application: Agent Support, Backup, Backup To Disk, Documentation, Installation, Intelligent Disaster Recovery

Languages:
Russian, English (US), French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Operating Systems:
Windows 2000

Advanced Server, Advanced Server Windows Powered, Datacenter Server, Professional, Server, Server Windows Powered

Windows NT Small Business Server

2000

Windows XP

Pro 5.1 SP2

Windows Server 2003

DataCenter, Enterprise Server, Standard Server

Windows Small Business Server 2003

Premium Edition, Standard Edition

Symantec World Headquarters:
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014
World Wide Web: http://www.symantec.com,
Tech Support Web: http://entsupport.symantec.com,
E-Mail Support: http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/email_forms,
FTP: ftp://ftp.entsupport.symantec.com or http://ftp.entsupport.symantec.com

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE SYMANTEC SOFTWARE KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SYMANTEC SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SYMANTEC SOFTWARE OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES,EVEN IF SYMANTEC SOFTWARE OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.