Backups taking too long

[nileshmorker]

Hi,
we have installed new CA Brightstor ARCserve backup application on sbs 2003 box and backups seem to be taking over 19hours. I have identified following session where it takes too long, is this a replication or something wrong with hardware i.e tape drive or media.
s/w version - r11.5SP1 build 4144 sbs edition
backup job - backup method Full (keep archive bit)
Job session for d drive (also backs up exchange edb files) takes 8 hours for 112gb, edb files are 35gb , speed at 209mb/min
Exchange brick level full - 52 mailboxes- takes 6hrs at 49mb/min
Brighstor does Information store full, 3hrs for 41gb at 215mb/min

h/w specs Dell server poweredge 2800, using Dell PERC 4e/Di RAID controller. Driver used by CA brighstor
medium - Ultrium
so it is taking too long at brick level. Suggesstions welcome

Nilesh Morker

 

[vschumpy]

Attaching the tape drive to the RAID controller is not supported - put it on a regular U160 or U320 SCSI card instead. Also disable the OS level drivers they are not required.

Brick level backups ALWAYS take much longer than regular filesystem backups by their very nature:

http://supportconnect.ca.com/sc/redir.jsp?reqPage=search&searchID=FAQ253355

 

[nileshmorker]

Hi,
sorry made a mistake with hw specs, tape drive is not connected to current RAID on server.OS drivers disabled.

 

[DSMCBackup]

Hi vschumpy,

When u say its not supported, do you mean its not supported by CA or wont work?

I noticed on an audit yesterday that 2 of our servers with locally attached tape units were attached to the RAID controllers and not separate SCSI controllers.

 

[DSMCBackup]

I just checked - its on a HP Smart Array 6i, so no connectivity issues there, its designed for hot swap tape drive connectivity.

 

[vschumpy]

@DSMCBackup - a bit of both - RAID cards and tape drives have never been a very good idea, even if some manufacturers are offering a separate single ended (so no LUN changers/autoloaders) external port on some cards these days they are often very limited in what they can or in most cases cannot do.

Be very careful about what you attach to SmartArray's. HP is very specific about what they will and will not support on the external ports of SmartArray controllers.

For a start they will only support their own branded equipment, and no autoloaders or libraries whatsoever (they started off supporting some LUN changers but withdrew support as it was 'problematic').

Support is very limited to a specific list of their own branded drives, usually DATs and DLT/VS drives. Check the SmartArray quick specs for your controller (on HP's website) to see what appears under supported options for your controller.

HP will not support anything not on the list (been there several times in the past), and therefore the software vendor (CA) will be unable to assist as HP will not support the configuration.

I have worked many cases in the past where this has come up with the customers and even the resellers have been blissfully unaware.

 

[nileshmorker]

resolved this as Dell replaced a new tape drive and backups are twice faster.
Hardware issue.
nmorker

 

[Grypht]

I know this question might sound stupid but I want to be sure before doing something wrong.

How do you disable the OS level drivers?

You just go in the device manager, right click on your SCSI adapter and select disable?
Thanks!

 

[davidmichel]

NO

Do not disable the driver for the SCSI controller. Do it for the tape drives and tape library only. There is an FAQ on it if you want more details.