How to increase ndmpd debug logging on NetApp FAS 7-mode running Data ONTAP

Problem

When increased ndmpd logging is required to troubleshoot NDMP backup errors for NetBackup on NetApp FAS 7-mode filers running Data ONTAP.

Solution

Use the following steps for the specific ONTAP version running on the NetApp filer :

1. Log into the NetApp host as an admin user, preferably 'root'

2. For ONTAP 8.0 and older do the following (for 8.1 and newer skip to number 3):

i) Display the current logging levels and location of logs using the command :
NETAPP> ndmpd debug 
ndmpd debug verbose: 0
ndmpd debug stack trace: false
ndmpd debug screen trace: true
ndmpd debug file trace: true

ii ) Turn on NetApp debugging using the command : 
NETAPP> ndmpd debug n. 

Where n specifies debug level from 0 - 70; default value is 0 

Level 0 : Turns off debugging 
Level 10 : Displays NDMP connection info 
Level 30 : Level 10 + displays actual NDMP messages and NDMP errors 
Level 50 : Level 30 + displays environment variables and NDMP exceptions 
Level 70 : Level 50 + displays SCSI Command descriptor blocks (CDBs)

Note: CDBs are used for low-level tape and medium changer control.

iii) Ensure that file trace is set to true, or the ndmp session will not write the log to the file. To toggle the value use the command :
NETAPP> ndmpd debug file
iv) To disable NDMP traces flooding the console, toggle the value for "screen trace" to set it to false:
NETAPP> ndmpd debug screen

3. For ONTAP 8.1 and newer.

i) Check the current ndmp logging setting using the commands :
NETAPP> options ndmpd.debug.enable
NETAPP> options ndmpd.debug.filter

 ii) Enable ndmp debugging using the command : 
NETAPP>options ndmpd.debug.enable on

iii) Set the level of logging using the command :
NETAPP>options ndmpd.debug.filter n

n specifies the NDMPD modules for debug logging that is enabled. It can take five values : all, none, normal, backend and filter.

all: turns on debug logging for all modules.
none: disables debug logging for all modules. It is equivalent to ndmpd.debug.enable option being set to off.
normal: is a shortcut option that enables debug logging for all modules except verbose and io_loop.
backend: is a shortcut option that enables debug logging for all modules except verbose, io_loop, ndmps and ndmpd.
filter: is a combination of one or more modules for which debug logs needs to be enabled.

Note : There are a wide range of filter options which can be defined. But for simplicity and to ensure nothing is missed it's recommend to use the all value. 

4. To review the ndmp logs mount or share the root volume /vol/vol0. You can connect to the administrative share for "/etc" if CIFS is running on the filer, via "\\filer-name\etc$".

NetApp ONTAP 8.0 or older NDMP session debug log files are stored in the /etc/log directory, with the file format ndmplog.yyyymmdd.

ONTAP 8.1 and newer NDMP session debug log files are stored in the /etc/log/mlog/ndmpd.log 

Note : Always ensure that logging levels are lowered to the original values.