SnapDrive Help

Nikumba · 25 Feb 2011 at 10:03

We currently have IBM N3700 SAN which is a re-branded NetApp box.

We currently use SnapDrive 6.0 on our file server to connect to the volumes, and to backup we have backup exec agent on our file server.

So at the moment we pull the data from the file server which resides on the N3700 then move it to a D2D folder which is on the other head of the N3700.

Not very efficient. Is there any way I can connect directly to the N3700 with snap drive so I can back it up directly without taking it through the file server?

Thanks

Kimbie

MossyUK · 25 Feb 2011 at 11:54

What's the other side of your Disk 2 Disk - ie N3700 to what?

Also, what data are you storing on the LUN?

Nikumba · 25 Feb 2011 at 11:58

We have a dual head N3700 with dual shelves.

Its file storage, word, excel etc

Then backup files on the other

MossyUK · 25 Feb 2011 at 13:24

Have you considered migrating off the snapdrive managed LUN on to a CIFS share direct on the filer instead?

This would remove your server as a single point of failure, especially as - if i read it right - your filers are active/active clustered. This would also remove the cost implication of snapdrive.

The only concern with CIFS shares is antivirus scanning, though you could reprovision your server to do regular AV scans, or buy the official filer scanner from your AV vendor.

Other options are volume snapmirror. That would require an equal sized volume on one of the shelves managed by your other filer head. Snapmirror will then complete mirror the contents of your live volume to your DR volume, including all snapshots etc - a true mirror. This works whether using CIFS or your snapdrive setup - though has licensing cost implications.

You could do regular / scheduled NDMP Copy commands to your filer to backup your volume contents to your DR shelf.

Likewise you could do scripted vol copy commands.

But to answer your original question, no snapdrive does not do what you are after. It is only designed to give you connectivity to LUNs and - hopefully - consistent snapshot copies of your LUN.

At least, thats my understanding of snapdrive, and if someone knows more, please correct me!