The following is an overview of the direct copy to tape process:

• NetBackup verifies that the image to be duplicated resides on an OpenStorage device.

• NetBackup verifies that the disk appliance NDMP host supports the OpenStorage direct to tape specification.

• NetBackup selects the write side media server, a destination tape drive, and a tape volume.

  NetBackup selects a media server that has credentials to the NDMP tape server host. The media servers NetBackup considers are listed in the destination storage unit.

  The write side media server does the following:

  • Establishes an NDMP session with the NDMP tape server and confirms that it supports the NDMP v4 protocol.

  • Mounts, opens, and positions the tape and then uses NDMP to write a header to the tape.

  • Sets up the NDMP mover interface on the NDMP tape server. It also monitors the progress of the write operation by waiting for any NDMP notifications.

• NetBackup selects the read side media server.

  If the write side media server has credentials for the NDMP FSE host, NetBackup selects it as the read side server. If it does not have credentials, NetBackup selects a media server with credentials to the NDMP FSE host.

  The read side media server does the following:

  • Establishes an NDMP session with the NDMP FSE host.

  • Opens the files to be copied.

  • Sets up the NDMP mover interface on the NDMP FSE host. It also monitors the progress of the read operation by waiting for any NDMP notifications.

• By means of the NDMP protocol, the backup images on the disk appliance are copied to the tape storage.

• After the images are copied, the read and write media servers close their connections to their respective NDMP hosts.

• NetBackup validates the image copies; if valid, NetBackup ends the duplication job with status 0 (success).