What is Multistreaming and how is it turned on?

Multistreaming is a backup method by which a client sends multiple data streams simultaneously. Each data stream is a unique job and has a unique job ID as seen in the Activity Monitor.  

Example:
A Client named BigMachine has three drive letters: C:\ (5 gigs), E:\ (300 gigs) and F:\ (300 gigs). Normally, a backup of client BigMachine would first back up C:\, then proceed to E:\, then finish with F:\. In an effort to reduce backup duration, Multistreaming could be engaged to send three separate jobs and simultaneously backup jobs of C:\ and E:\ and F:\ respectively.

Multistreaming can be turned on by modifying three NetBackup properties:
1. Change the Maximum Jobs per Client from the default of 1, to a higher number as required. To do this, from the NetBackup Administration Console, select Host Properties | Master Server, double-click the master name server to enter the master server Properties window. Select the Global Attributes tab. Modify the Maximum jobs per client parameter here (see figure 1).

Figure 1
 

2. Within the Policy which performs the backup of the client, on the Attributes tab, select the Allow multiple data streams check box (see figure 2)

Figure 2
 

3. Within the Policy which performs the backup of the client, on the Backup Selections tab, either use the ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES directive (which includes the System_State of the server), or use the NEW_STREAM directive as noted here.
   
a.  With the above two steps in place, the ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES directive will automatically generate a single stream per drive letter (see image 3).
   
b.  Using the NEW_STREAM directive between specified drive letters or paths will generate a unique stream per instance of the NEW_STREAM directive listed in the Backup Selections window. To learn more about the NEW_STREAM directive, read the NetBackup Administrator's Guide.  (see image 4).

Figure 3
 

Figure 4