Guidelines for managing the primary server NetBackup catalog
Consider the following:
Catalog backup can be performed while regular backup activity takes place. It is a policy-based backup. It also allows for incremental backups, which can significantly reduce catalog backup times for large catalogs.
Warning:
Failure to backup the primary server NetBackup catalog may result in data loss if a catastrophic failure occurs to the file systems housing the various parts of the catalog.
Note:
Veritas recommends schedule-based, incremental catalog backups with periodic full backups.
Be cautious in using Accelerator full backups daily as a replacement for daily incremental backups. While Accelerator full backups are quick to run, the catalog size will be a full catalog backup instead of an incremental and can grow quickly in size. Backups of client data that contain millions of small files in combination with the use of Accelerator and frequent full backups can also cause the catalog to bloat.
Store the catalog on a separate file system.
The primary server NetBackup catalog can grow quickly depending on backup frequency, retention periods, and the number of files being backed up. With the catalog data on its own file system, catalog growth does not affect other disk resources, root file systems, or the operating system.
Information is available on how to move the catalog.
See How to calculate the size of your NetBackup image database.
The following directories and files that are related to the catalog can also be moved. Using an SSD device also improves performance:
On a Linux/UNIX host:
/usr/openv/netbackup/db/error(directory)/usr/openv/netbackup/db/images(directory)/usr/openv/netbackup/db/jobs(directory)/usr/openv/netbackup/db/rb.db(file)
On a Windows host:
C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\db\error(directory)C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\db\images(directory)C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\db\jobs(directory)C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\db\rb.db(file)
Change the location of the NetBackup relational database files.
The location of the NetBackup database files can be changed for better performance. For example, you may want to change the database location if the default location is running short of space. Using an SSD device also can improve performance.
The following directories and files that are related to the catalog can also be moved:
On a Linux/UNIX host:
/usr/openv/tmp(directory)/usr/openv/var(directory)/usr/openv/db/data(directory)/usr/openv/db/staging(directory)
On a Windows host:
C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\Temp(directory)C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackup\var(directory)C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackupDB\data(directory)C:\Program Files\VERITAS\NetBackupDB\staging(directory)
Refer to the procedure in the section Moving a database after installation in the NetBackup Administrator's Guide, Volume I.
Set a delay to compress the catalog.
The default value for this parameter is 0, which means that NetBackup does not compress the catalog. As your catalog increases in size, you may want to use a value between 10 days and 30 days for this parameter. When you restore old backups, NetBackup automatically uncompresses the files as needed, with minimal performance effect.
Adjust the batch size for sending metadata to the catalog.
This setting affects overall backup performance, not the performance of catalog backups.
See Adjusting the batch size for sending metadata to the NetBackup catalog.
Best practices for primary server NetBackup catalog layout: