Ransomware attackers specifically target and attempt to destroy backup systems to increase the probability of payment. Hardening your system is critical. Please ensure you have reviewed your platform security using the Security Hardening Checklist
Cohesity

COHESITY Documentation

Explore our documentation to get started, discover products & new features, access troubleshooting guides, register sources, platforms support.

Products
Data Security Alliance
Visit Cohesity.com
Demos
Support
Blogs
Developers
Partner Portals
Cohesity Community
© 2026 Cohesity, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use|
Privacy Policy|
Legal|
  1. Home
  2. NetBackup™ Backup Planning and Performance Tuning Guide
  3. Tuning the NetBackup data transfer path
  4. NetBackup server performance in the data transfer path
  5. About shared memory (number and size of data buffers)
  6. Notes on number data buffers files
NetBackup™ Backup Planning and Performance Tuning Guide

Notes on number data buffers files

Note the following points:

  • The various number data buffers files must contain a single integer that specifies the number of shared data buffers NetBackup uses.

  • If the NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS file exists, its contents determine the number of shared data buffers to be used for multiplexed and non-multiplexed backups.

  • The following NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS files allow buffer settings for particular types of backups:

    • NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_DISK

    • NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_MULTCOPY

    • NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_FT

    The values specified in these files override either the NetBackup default number or the value that is specified in NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS.

    For example, NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_DISK allows for a different value when you back up to disk instead of tape. If NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS exists but NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_DISK does not, NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS applies to tape and disk backups. If both files exist, NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS applies to tape backups and NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_DISK applies to disk backups. If only NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_DISK is present, it applies to disk backups only.

  • The NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS file also applies to remote NDMP backups, but does not apply to local NDMP backups or to NDMP three-way backups.

  • The NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_RESTORE file is only used for restore from tape, not from disk. If the NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_RESTORE file exists, its contents determine the number of shared data buffers for multiplexed restores from tape.

  • The NetBackup daemons do not have to be restarted for the new buffer values to be used. Each time a new job starts, bptm checks the configuration file and adjusts its behavior.

  • For a recommendation for setting NUMBER_DATA_BUFFERS_FT, refer to the following topic:

More Information

Note on shared memory and NetBackup for NDMP

Recommended number of data buffers for SAN Client and FT media server

Feedback

Was this page helpful?
Previous

How to change the number of shared data buffers

Next

How to change the size of shared data buffers

Feedback

Was this page helpful?