Veritas NetBackup™ Virtual Appliance Getting Started Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): Appliances (3.1.1)
  1. Product overview
    1. NetBackup Virtual Appliance product description
      1.  
        About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server role
      2.  
        About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server role
    2.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance supported features
    3.  
      About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance documentation
  2. Preparing the initial deployment
    1.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance product files (OVF templates)
    2.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance deployment methods
    3. NetBackup Virtual Appliance deployment guidelines
      1.  
        NetBackup Virtual Appliance initial deployment checklist
    4.  
      Troubleshooting NetBackup Virtual Appliance initial deployment issues
  3. Deploying and configuring the appliance
    1. How to deploy and configure a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server
      1.  
        Using the vSphere Client to deploy a combined master and media server appliance
      2.  
        Using the OVF Tool to deploy a combined master and media server appliance
      3.  
        Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server
      4.  
        Completing the initial configuration of the NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server
    2. How to deploy and configure a NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server
      1.  
        Using the vSphere Client to deploy a media server appliance
      2.  
        Using the OVF Tool to deploy a media server appliance
      3.  
        Configuring a master server to communicate with an appliance media server
      4.  
        Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server
  4. Post initial configuration procedures
    1.  
      About modifying the NetBackup Virtual Appliance settings
    2.  
      Adding a permanent license key if an evaluation license key expires
    3.  
      Managing license keys on the NetBackup Virtual Appliance
  5. Introduction to the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu
    1.  
      Using the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu
    2.  
      About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu command views
  6. Appendix A. Limitations and Operational Notes
    1.  
      Known limitations of the NetBackup Virtual Appliance 3.1.1 release
    2.  
      Operational Notes for the NetBackup Virtual Appliance 3.1.1 release
  7. Appendix B. New features, enhancements, and changes
    1.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance 3.1.1 new features, enhancements, and changes

Using the vSphere Client to deploy a combined master and media server appliance

The section describes how to deploy and configure a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server. This server role is for deployment in remote offices and branch offices.

To ensure a successful deployment, make sure that you meet all of the deployment guidelines before you begin these procedures.

See NetBackup Virtual Appliance deployment guidelines.

Note the following limitations of the product files with flexible initial storage:

  • You must have a vCenter Server to deploy product files with flexible initial storage.

  • If your VMware vSphere version is 6.5 and later, note that you cannot use the vSphere Web Client to deploy product files with flexible initial storage. This is a VMware limitation. To work around this limitation, use the VMware OVF Tool on a vCenter Server.

    See Using the OVF Tool to deploy a combined master and media server appliance.

For how to deploy an OVF package directly on an ESXi host, use the following technical article.

https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100038949

Note:

The following procedure is based on the VMware vSphere Client. It also applies to the browser-based VMware vSphere Web Client. Note that the order of the steps are slightly different with the web client.

To deploy a combined master and media server appilance using the VMware vSphere Client

  1. Using the VMware vSphere Client, log on to the vCenter Server where you want to deploy your appliance.

    Note:

    Your vCenter Server user account must have at least the minimum privileges required to deploy an OVF template. Refer to the VMware documentation for more information.

  2. Select File > Deploy OVF Template to start the deployment wizard.
  3. On the Source page of the deployment wizard, click Browse to navigate to the NetBackup Virtual Appliance product file. If you split the file when you downloaded it, make sure that all of the pieces are saved in the same folder and navigate to that folder.

    Verify the path and click Next.

  4. Review the OVF Template Details page and click Next.
  5. On the End User License Agreement page, read through the EULA and click Accept, and then Next.
  6. Enter the destination details as follows:
    • Name: Enter a unique name for your appliance.

    • Inventory Location: Select the folder or the data center where you want the appliance to be located. The options are autopopulated based on what is available to that vCenter Server.

    Click Next.

  7. If the virtual appliance product file supports pre-configured storage capacity, you are prompted with the storage capacity selection.

    Select a size from the drop-down list. The available options are 0.5T, 1T, 2T.

  8. Select the resource location where you want the deployed template to run.

    Click Next.

  9. Select the destination storage where you want to store the appliance files.

    Click Next.

    Caution:

    If you select a storage cluster, make sure that one of the datastores in the cluster has enough storage space for the entire appliance. If none of the individual datastores in the cluster has enough space, the deployment fails.

  10. Select Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed as the provisioning format for the appliance disks. For more information on provisioning, refer to the VMware documentation.

    Click Next.

  11. Select the destination networks to map the networks used in the OVF template.

    Click Next.

  12. Depending on the virtual appliance product file you use, choose the following to proceed:
    • If the virtual appliance product file supports deployment properties, continue to Step 13.

      In the following steps the deployment wizard guides you to provide the deployment properties for the automatic initial configuration of the appliance. The automatic initial configuration happens immediately after the deployment is complete.

    • If the virtual appliance product file does not support deployment properties, you are ready to complete the deployment.

      Do the following:

      • Read through and verify the deployment options that you entered. If everything is correct, click Finish to start the deployment.

        The amount of time that it takes for the deployment process to complete varies depending on your network connection. The process can take up to 30 minutes to complete.

      • After the deployment is complete, proceed to perform the initial configuration steps in the following topic.

        See Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server.

  13. On the Properties page, fill in the following information:

    Network configuration:

    • Host name

      Enter a short host name or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for this appliance. The host name can contain up to 256 characters, any letters, numbers, and the following special characters: .-_. Do not start a name with a special character.

      As a best practice, Veritas recommends that you use FQDN.

      Caution:

      After the initial deployment has completed successfully, the only way to change the host name is to redeploy the appliance.

      Note:

      If you plan to configure Active Directory (AD) authentication on this appliance, the host name must be 15 characters or less. Otherwise, AD configuration can fail.

    • DNS domain name

      Enter a DNS domain name for this appliance.

    • IP address

      Enter the IPv4 address to be used for this appliance.

    • Netmask

      Enter the netmask that corresponds to the IP address.

    • Gateway

      Enter the IPv4 address of the gateway (network point) that acts as an entrance to another network.

    • DNS server

      Enter the IPv4 address of the primary DNS server for this appliance.

    • DNS server (optional)

      Enter the IPv4 address of the secondary DNS server for this appliance.

    • Host name resolution

      The host name must be resolvable with a DNS server or a HOSTS file for the automatic initial configuration to be successful. If DNS is not available during the deployment, use the HOSTS file to resolve the host name.

      Select the checkbox to add the host name and IP address to the HOSTS file.

    IPv6 Network Configuration (optional)

    • IPv6 address

      Enter the IPv6 address for this appliance.

    • IPv6 prefix length

      Enter the IPv6 prefix length for this appliance.

    • IPv6 gateway

      Enter the IPv6 gateway for this appliance.

    Storage configuration:

    Note:

    The NetBackup disk pool and storage unit names can contain up to 256 characters. The names can contain any letters, numbers, and the following special characters: +.-_. Do not start a name with the minus (-) character.

    • AdvancedDisk disk pool name

      Enter a name for the AdvancedDisk disk pool on the appliance.

    • AdvancedDisk storage unit name

      Enter a name for the AdvancedDisk storage unit on the appliance.

    • MSDP disk pool name

      Enter a name for the MSDP disk pool on the appliance.

    • MSDP storage unit name

      Enter a name for the MSDP storage unit on the appliance.

  14. When you have filled in all of the required information, click Next.
  15. Read through and verify the deployment properties that you entered. If everything is correct, click Finish to deploy the appliance.

    The amount of time that it takes for the deployment process to complete varies depending on your network connection. If you have selected to power on the appliance after the deployment, NetBackup Virtual Appliance boots up and configures the network, the role, and the storage. This configuration process can take up to 30 minutes to complete.

  16. Once the deployment process is complete, proceed to the remaining configuration steps in the following procedure.

    See Completing the initial configuration of the NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server.

After the appliance is configured and operational, you are ready to install NetBackup client software on the computers that you want to back up.

See the NetBackup Installation Guide for how to install NetBackup clients.