Sei sulla pagina 1di 301

Asigra v13

Enterprise/Service Provider
Product Overview and
Implementation Guide
Trademark Statement
Asigra,AsigraCloudBackup,andtheAsigralogoaretrademarksofAsigraInc.All
otherbrandandproductnamesare,ormaybe,trademarksoftheirrespectiveowners.
AsigraInc.reservestherighttochangeormodifyanyoftheproductspecificationsor
featuresdescribedhereinwithoutnotice.Thisdocumentisforinformationonly.Asigra
Inc.makesnoexpressorimpliedrepresentationsorwarrantiesinthisdocument.
CopyrightAsigraInc.
Allrightsreserved.Confidential

About this Document


ThisdocumentexplainstheAsigraCloudBackupproductindetail.Itisintendedfor
thosepeoplewhosetupandadministertheproduct(Enterprise/ServiceProviders),not
forendusersoftheproduct(customers).However,itdoesexplainfunctionsofAsigra
CloudBackupthataffectcustomers,sothatEnterprise/ServiceProvidersunderstand
howtoimplementandsupportsuchfunctions.
Thisdocumentdoesnotdealwithsoftwarelicensingorversionspecificfeaturesof
AsigraCloudBackupforthatinformation,contactclient.services@asigra.com.
However,itdoesindicateitemsthatarelicensedseparatelyfromthebaseAsigraCloud
Backupproduct.

Navigating this Document


Throughoutthisdocument,whenAsigraspecifictermsareused,theyarelinkedtothe
glossarydocumentthatdefinesthetermandoffers,inturn,linkstomoredetailsabout
theterm.
ThisdocumentisorganizedbasedonthestructureoftheAsigraCloudBackup
product.Foraclickablelistoftopicsorganizedbytheme,seeNavigatingbyThemeon
page14.
Theindexoffersanalternativeformofnavigationandaquickwaytolocatespecific
information.

2
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Other Documents
SometopicsinthisdocumentreferenceAsigraCloudBackupdocumentation,whichis
availableseparatelyontheDVDshippedwiththeproduct.ThisDVDalsocontains:
releasenotesforeachversionissued(thesealsoexplainthecontentsoftheDVD)
InstallationGuidesforallproductsandallplatforms(theseincludetechnical
requirements)
DSClientUserGuide,includingaknowledgebaseofimportantissues
DSOperatorManual
DSNOCUserGuideandInstallationGuide
InstallationandBackup/RestoreSupportMatrix

Revision History

Date Details

February03,2015 FileLevelRestoreonpage135
v13 VirtualMachineReplicationonpage136
MicrosoftOffice365DSClientPlugInonpage272

3
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Trademark Statement .............................................................................................................. 2
About this Document ................................................................................................................ 2
Navigating this Document ........................................................................................................ 2
Other Documents ..................................................................................................................... 3
Revision History ....................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction Topics
Navigating by Theme .................................................................................................................. 14
Getting Started with Asigra Software ..................................................................................... 14
Backing up and Restoring Data ............................................................................................. 14
Ensuring Data Integrity and Security ...................................................................................... 14
Implementing Asigra Software ............................................................................................... 15
Monitoring Asigra Software ....................................................................................................15
Maintaining Asigra Software .................................................................................................. 15
Using Asigra Software with Third Party Tools ........................................................................ 15
Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup ................................................................................... 16
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 16
What Asigra Cloud Backup Does ....................................................................................... 16
Basic Components of Asigra Cloud Backup: DS-System and DS-Client ........................... 17
How Asigra Cloud Backup Handles Backups ..................................................................... 21
How Asigra Cloud Backup Handles Restores .................................................................... 23
Working with Removable Media ............................................................................................. 23
How Asigra Cloud Backup Handles Customer Information ................................................ 24
Maintaining Asigra Cloud Backup ....................................................................................... 24

DS-System Topics
Introduction to DS-System ......................................................................................................... 26
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 26
What DS-System Does .......................................................................................................... 26
Available DS-System Configurations ..................................................................................... 27
DS-System Database ............................................................................................................. 27
DS-System Interfaces ............................................................................................................ 28
Logs and Reports ................................................................................................................... 30
Notifications ............................................................................................................................ 35
DS-Operator Permission Control ........................................................................................... 36
DS-System N+1 ............................................................................................................................ 38
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 38
About DS-System N+1 Configuration .................................................................................... 38
How Systems Work Together (DS-Director) .......................................................................... 39
Redundancy Requirements .................................................................................................... 40
Hardware Scalability .............................................................................................................. 41
N+1 Monitoring ....................................................................................................................... 41
DS-System Online Storage ......................................................................................................... 42
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 42
About DS-System Online Storage .......................................................................................... 42
Why Use Extensible Storage ................................................................................................. 43
How Extensible Storage Works .............................................................................................. 43
Retiring Extensible Storage Locations ................................................................................... 47

4
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Monitoring DS-System Online Storage .................................................................................. 47
Browsing DS-System Online Storage .................................................................................... 47
Adding Storage Locations ...................................................................................................... 48
DS-System Online Storage Directory Structure ..................................................................... 48
DS-System Online Storage Replication ................................................................................. 51
Backup/Restore and DS-System Online Storage .................................................................. 53
Deleting from DS-System Online Storage .............................................................................. 53
About Retention ..................................................................................................................... 55
DS-System Administration ......................................................................................................... 58
Daily Processes ..................................................................................................................... 58
System Admin ........................................................................................................................ 58
Optimize Storage Space ........................................................................................................ 60
Empty Trash ........................................................................................................................... 60
Customer Accounts .................................................................................................................... 61
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 61
Introduction to Customer Accounts ........................................................................................ 61
Account Configuration ............................................................................................................ 61
About Limiting Customer Accounts and DS-Clients ............................................................... 64
Locking or Deleting Customer Accounts ................................................................................ 65
Migrating Customer Accounts ................................................................................................ 65
Delete Lock on Customer Accounts ....................................................................................... 65
DS-System Activities................................................................................................................... 66
DS-System Disaster Recovery ................................................................................................... 70
Components required ............................................................................................................. 70
Recovering from Failed Storage ............................................................................................ 70
Recovering from Loss of DS-System Database ..................................................................... 71

DS-Client Topics
Introduction to DS-Client ............................................................................................................ 73
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 73
DS-Client Tasks ..................................................................................................................... 73
DS-User Access ..................................................................................................................... 74
DS-Client Internal Security ..................................................................................................... 74
DS-Client Databases .............................................................................................................. 74
DS-Client Interfaces ............................................................................................................... 76
Logs and Reports ................................................................................................................... 77
DS-Client Notifications ........................................................................................................... 81
Introduction to DS-Mobile Client................................................................................................ 82
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 82
DS-Mobile Client Tasks .......................................................................................................... 82
DS-Mobile User Access ......................................................................................................... 83
DS-Mobile Client Database .................................................................................................... 83
DS-Mobile User Interface ....................................................................................................... 83
Logs and Reports ................................................................................................................... 84
Central Policy Management from DS-System ........................................................................ 84
Triggering Activities for DS-Mobile Client ............................................................................... 84
Restoring Backed Up Data ..................................................................................................... 84
About DS-Mobile Client Mass Deployment ............................................................................ 85

5
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to DS-Notebook Client .......................................................................................... 86
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 86
DS-Notebook Client Tasks ..................................................................................................... 86
DS-Notebook User Access .................................................................................................... 87
DS-Notebook Client Database ............................................................................................... 87
DS-Notebook User Interface .................................................................................................. 87
Logs and Reports ................................................................................................................... 87
Central Policy Management from DS-System ........................................................................ 88
Triggering Activities for DS-Notebook Client .......................................................................... 88
Restoring Backed Up Data ..................................................................................................... 88
Introduction to Android DS-Client ............................................................................................. 89
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 89
Android DS-Client Tasks ........................................................................................................ 89
Android DS-Client Upgrade .................................................................................................... 89
Synchronizing Android DS-Client ........................................................................................... 89
Android DS-Client User Interface ........................................................................................... 90
Introduction to iOS DS-Client..................................................................................................... 91
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 91
iOS DS-Client Tasks .............................................................................................................. 91
iOS DS-Client Upgrade .......................................................................................................... 91
Synchronizing iOS DS-Client ................................................................................................. 91
iOS DS-Client User Interface ................................................................................................. 92
Grid DS-Client .............................................................................................................................. 93
About this Section .................................................................................................................. 93
About Grid DS-Client Configuration ....................................................................................... 93
How DS-Clients Work Together (Main Node) ........................................................................ 94
Redundancy Requirements (Grid DS-Client) ......................................................................... 95
Hardware Scalability (Grid DS-Client) .................................................................................... 95
Grid DS-Client Monitoring ...................................................................................................... 95
Client Virtualization ..................................................................................................................... 96
Overview - Virtualization and Asigra Agentless DS-Client ..................................................... 96
Setting up and Managing Backups............................................................................................ 98
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 98
What Can Be Backed Up ....................................................................................................... 98
Creating Backup Sets ............................................................................................................ 99
Automating the discovery of servers and configuration of backup sets ............................... 101
Special Backup Types .......................................................................................................... 101
Limiting Backups .................................................................................................................. 101
Handling Locked/Open Files ................................................................................................ 102
Managing Backups and Backup Sets .................................................................................. 103
Restoring Backed-up Data........................................................................................................ 106
About this Section ................................................................................................................ 106
About Restoring Data ........................................................................................................... 106
Ensuring Restored Data is Valid .......................................................................................... 106
Speed of Restores ............................................................................................................... 107
Special Types of Restores ................................................................................................... 107
Other Data Recovery Issues ................................................................................................ 109
Restore Methods .................................................................................................................. 109
Alternative Restore Methods ................................................................................................ 110

6
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Buffer......................................................................................................................... 111
About the Buffer ................................................................................................................... 111
Setting up the Buffer ............................................................................................................ 111
Buffers Effect on Backup Processing .................................................................................. 112
DS-Client Local Storage Cache................................................................................................ 113
About the Local Storage Cache ........................................................................................... 113
Setting up the Local Storage Cache .................................................................................... 113
Local Storage Caches Effect on Backup Processing .......................................................... 113
Compression Methods.............................................................................................................. 115
Why Data is Compressed .................................................................................................... 115
Choosing Whether or Not Compression is Done ................................................................ 115
Compression Algorithms ...................................................................................................... 115
Compression for Common File Libraries .............................................................................. 116
Encryption Methods .................................................................................................................. 117
Why Encryption is Done by DS-Client .................................................................................. 117
Encryption Types ................................................................................................................. 117
Encryption Certifications ...................................................................................................... 117
Encryption Key ..................................................................................................................... 118
Encryption Key Validation .................................................................................................... 118
Encryption Security .............................................................................................................. 118
Helping Customers Manage Encryption Keys ...................................................................... 119
DS-Client Administration .......................................................................................................... 120
Types of DS-Client Admin Processes .................................................................................. 120
Admin Process Tasks .......................................................................................................... 121
Restrictions Imposed on DS-Client Admin ........................................................................... 123
Migrating Customer Accounts and DS-Clients ..................................................................... 124
DS-Client Activities ................................................................................................................... 125
DS-Client Maintenance.............................................................................................................. 128
Recovering Failed DS-Client Machine ................................................................................. 128
Recovering from Failed or Corrupted DS-Client Databases ................................................ 128
Upgrading DS-Client ............................................................................................................ 129
Upgrading DS-User Interfaces ............................................................................................. 129
ILM/HSM Integration.................................................................................................................. 130
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 130
How ILM/HSM Works ........................................................................................................... 130
Deleting Files Moved by ILM/HSM ....................................................................................... 130
Restoring Placeholders / Stubs ............................................................................................ 131
Continuous Data Protection (CDP) .......................................................................................... 132
About CDP ........................................................................................................................... 132
What CDP Applies To .......................................................................................................... 132
Trigger Policies for CDP ....................................................................................................... 133
Interrupted CDP ................................................................................................................... 133
Restoring Files Backed up with CDP ................................................................................... 134
Deleting Files Backed up with CDP ..................................................................................... 134
File Level Restore...................................................................................................................... 135
About File Level Restore ......................................................................................................135
Virtual Machine Replication...................................................................................................... 136

7
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
About Virtual Machine Replication ....................................................................................... 136

Asigra Software Topics


How Backed-up Data is Handled.............................................................................................. 139
About this Section ................................................................................................................ 139
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 139
About Online Generations .................................................................................................... 139
Regular Generations ............................................................................................................ 140
About Delta Processing ........................................................................................................ 140
Online Generations Explained ............................................................................................. 142
Common File Elimination ......................................................................................................... 153
About Common File Elimination ........................................................................................... 153
How DS-System Identifies Common Files ........................................................................... 153
Where Common Files Are Stored ........................................................................................ 154
How Library Files Move Between Libraries .......................................................................... 154
Working with Libraries .......................................................................................................... 155
Configuring the number of file occurrences at which Common File Elimination applies ...... 155
Disabling Common File Elimination ..................................................................................... 156
Communication and Authentication........................................................................................ 157
Communication Basics (DS-Client to DS-System) ............................................................... 157
Layers of Protection ............................................................................................................. 157
Reasons for DS-System Rejecting DS-Client Connections ................................................. 158
Recovering from Communication Failure ............................................................................. 159
Opening Firewalls (Windows XP) ......................................................................................... 160
Communication between DS-Systems belonging to the same Replication Group .............. 160
Communication between DS-System and BLM Archiver ..................................................... 161
Communication between DS-System / BLM Archiver and DS-License Server .................... 162
Communication between DS-License Server RLM and Asigra Licensing Server ................ 163
Communication between DS-System / BLM Archiver and DS-Billing System ..................... 164
Synchronizing DS-Client with DS-System .............................................................................. 165
About Synchronization .........................................................................................................165
Types of Synchronization ..................................................................................................... 165
Why Backup Sets Become Out of Sync ............................................................................... 167
SNMP Integration....................................................................................................................... 169
About SNMP Notifications .................................................................................................... 169
Types of Traps ..................................................................................................................... 169
Setting up SNMP Notifications ............................................................................................. 170
Restorability Validation............................................................................................................. 171
About Restorability Validation .............................................................................................. 171
Preconditions For Restorability Validation ........................................................................... 171
How Restorability Validation Works ..................................................................................... 172

Implementation Topics
Implementation Steps ............................................................................................................... 174
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 174
Implementation Steps (for Enterprise/Service Providers) .................................................... 174
Implementation Steps (For Each Customer) ........................................................................ 174

8
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Implementing DS-System ......................................................................................................... 176
Considerations for Choosing DS-System Configuration ...................................................... 176
Sizing Issues ........................................................................................................................ 176
Operating Systems for DS-System ...................................................................................... 176
Configuration in Relation to DS-Clients ................................................................................ 177
Considerations for DS-System Communication with IP over WAN ...................................... 178
Considerations for DS-System Database Configuration ...................................................... 179
Considerations for DS-System Online Storage Configuration ............................................. 179
DS-System N+1 Configuration ............................................................................................. 180
Considerations for Notifications ........................................................................................... 180
Considerations for Modules ................................................................................................. 181
Implementing DS-Client ............................................................................................................ 182
DS-Client Data Considerations ............................................................................................ 182
Considerations for DS-Client Software ................................................................................ 182
Considerations for DS-Client Platform ................................................................................. 183
Considerations for DS-Client Databases ............................................................................ 184
Considerations for Grid DS-Clients ...................................................................................... 185
Considerations for Source Computers ................................................................................. 185
Considerations for Notifications ........................................................................................... 185
Considerations for DS-Client Buffer ..................................................................................... 185
Considerations for Modules ................................................................................................. 186
Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup ................................................................................................. 187
Introduction to Sizing ............................................................................................................ 187
Estimating the Size of DS-System Online Storage .............................................................. 187
Estimating Bandwidth and Storage Requirements Based on Customer Data ..................... 188
Estimating Size of Extra Directory Information ..................................................................... 193
Tuning and Sizing for DS-System ........................................................................................ 194
Selecting the DS-System Online Storage ............................................................................ 198
DS-Client Sizing Issues ........................................................................................................ 199
Asigra DS-Software Licensing ................................................................................................. 201
What is Licensed .................................................................................................................. 201
ASIGRA DS-License Server ................................................................................................ 201
License-Related Events (DS-License Server licenses) ........................................................ 203
Statistical Backup...................................................................................................................... 205
About Statistical Backup ......................................................................................................205
How to Use Statistical Backup ............................................................................................. 205
Analyzing the Results of Statistical Backup ......................................................................... 206
DS-Client Mass Deployment..................................................................................................... 207
About DS-Client Mass Deployment ...................................................................................... 207
How DS-Client Mass Deployment Works ............................................................................. 207
Installation Templates .......................................................................................................... 208
Configuration Parameters for Mass Deployment ................................................................. 208
Service Packs ............................................................................................................................ 211
About Service Packs ............................................................................................................ 211
Service Pack Numbering ...................................................................................................... 211
Inter-compatibility ................................................................................................................. 212
Deploying a Service Pack to DS-Clients .............................................................................. 212
Hot Fixes .................................................................................................................................... 213
About Hot Fixes .................................................................................................................... 213

9
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Hot Fix Numbering ............................................................................................................... 213
Inter-Compatibility ................................................................................................................ 214
Deploying a Hot Fix to DS-Clients ........................................................................................ 214

Asigra Software Modules


Autonomic Healing Module ...................................................................................................... 217
About the Autonomic Healing Module .................................................................................. 217
Running Autonomic Healing ................................................................................................. 218
What Autonomic Healing Can Check ................................................................................... 219
What Autonomic Healing Can Fix ........................................................................................ 219
Autonomic Healing Manager ................................................................................................ 220
Disc/Tape Module ...................................................................................................................... 221
Setting up Disc/Tape Module ............................................................................................... 221
Use Disc/Tape requests as Disaster Restore ...................................................................... 221
Handling Customer Requests for Disc/Tape ........................................................................ 221
Local Storage Module ............................................................................................................... 222
About Local Storage ............................................................................................................. 222
Setting up Local Storage Module ......................................................................................... 222
How Data is Stored on Local Storage .................................................................................. 223
Storing Multiple Generations on the Local Storage Buffer ................................................... 223
How Data is Restored from Local Storage ........................................................................... 223
Monitoring Local Storage Disk Space .................................................................................. 224
Data Deletion and Local Storage ......................................................................................... 224
Synchronization and Local Storage .................................................................................... 224
LAN Discovery ........................................................................................................................... 225
About LAN Discovery ..........................................................................................................225
How LAN Discovery Helps Customers ................................................................................. 225
LAN Discovery Reports ........................................................................................................ 226
Setting up LAN Discovery .................................................................................................... 227
LAN File Summary ............................................................................................................... 227
DS-Recovery Tools Module ...................................................................................................... 228
About DS-Recovery Tools Module ....................................................................................... 228
About DS-MLR (Message Level Restore) ............................................................................ 228
What DS-MLR Does ............................................................................................................. 229
What DS-MLR Backs Up ...................................................................................................... 229
About DS-Recovery Tools Service ....................................................................................... 229
What DS-Recovery Tools Service Does .............................................................................. 229
Upgrading DS-Recovery Tools: DS-MLR / MS SharePoint Agent ....................................... 230
Online File Summary Module ................................................................................................... 231
About the Online File Summary Module .............................................................................. 231
How the Online File Summary Module Works ..................................................................... 231
DS-NOC Module......................................................................................................................... 232
About DS-NOC ..................................................................................................................... 232
Customer Account Setup/Web Registration Options ........................................................... 234
DS-NOC Monitoring Dashboard ........................................................................................... 235
Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics ........................................................................ 236
About this Section ................................................................................................................ 236

10
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
What BLM Does ................................................................................................................... 236
Available BLM Configurations .............................................................................................. 236
How BLM Works .................................................................................................................. 237
About BLM Replication .........................................................................................................238
Data Categories Handled by BLM ........................................................................................ 239
BLM Configuration ............................................................................................................... 239
BLM Database ..................................................................................................................... 240
BLM Interfaces ..................................................................................................................... 241
Logs and Reports ................................................................................................................. 242
BLM Online Storage ............................................................................................................. 244
Triggering archive operations ............................................................................................... 244
Data receiving and reduction ............................................................................................... 246
Data accumulation period and consolidation ....................................................................... 248
Restoring Data ..................................................................................................................... 249
Restoring indexed data ........................................................................................................249
Automation and interaction with Third-Party software .......................................................... 251
Request and confirm data destruction ................................................................................. 253
Billing Integration .................................................................................................................. 253
Tape Converter (Import Data to BLM Archiver) ................................................................... 254
DS-Billing ................................................................................................................................... 255
About this Section ................................................................................................................ 255
DS-Billing as a component of Asigra Cloud Backup ......................................................... 255
What DS-Billing Does ........................................................................................................... 256
DS-Billing Components Diagram ......................................................................................... 257
DS-Billing Database ............................................................................................................. 257
DS-Billing Interfaces ............................................................................................................. 258
DS-Billing GUI ...................................................................................................................... 258
DS-Billing Logs and Reports ................................................................................................ 259
Notifications .......................................................................................................................... 262
Billing Parameters ................................................................................................................ 263
Local DS-VDR Module............................................................................................................... 266
About the Local DS-VDR Module ......................................................................................... 266
About Virtual Machine Cloning ............................................................................................. 266
About Physical Machine Conversion to Virtual Machine ...................................................... 266
Local DS-VDR Backup Sets ................................................................................................. 266
Setting up Local DS-VDR Module ........................................................................................ 267
Running Local DS-VDR Activities ........................................................................................ 267
Local & Remote DS-VDR Overview Diagram ...................................................................... 267
Remote DS-VDR Module ........................................................................................................... 268
About the Remote DS-VDR Module ..................................................................................... 268
Setting up Remote DS-VDR Module .................................................................................... 268
Running Remote DS-VDR Activities .................................................................................... 268
Local & Remote DS-VDR Overview Diagram ...................................................................... 269
SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In........................................................................................... 270
About the SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In ...................................................................... 270
Setting up Cloud To Cloud (Salesforce.com) Backup Sets .................................................. 270
Running Cloud To Cloud (SalesForce) Activities ................................................................. 270
Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In................................................................................................ 271
About the Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In ........................................................................... 271

11
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Setting up Cloud To Cloud (Google Apps) Backup Sets ...................................................... 271
Running Cloud To Cloud (Google Apps) Activities .............................................................. 271
Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In.................................................................................... 272
About the Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In ................................................................ 272
Setting up Cloud To Cloud (Microsoft Office 365) Backup Sets .......................................... 272
Running Cloud To Cloud (Microsoft Office 365) Activities ................................................... 273
Snapshot Manager Module....................................................................................................... 274
About the Snapshot Manager Module .................................................................................. 274
Setting up Snapshot Manager Module ................................................................................. 274

Appendices
Glossary and Links ................................................................................................................... 276
A ........................................................................................................................................... 276
B ........................................................................................................................................... 277
C ........................................................................................................................................... 277
D ........................................................................................................................................... 278
E ........................................................................................................................................... 281
G .......................................................................................................................................... 281
I ............................................................................................................................................ 282
L ........................................................................................................................................... 282
M .......................................................................................................................................... 283
N ........................................................................................................................................... 284
O .......................................................................................................................................... 284
P ........................................................................................................................................... 285
R ........................................................................................................................................... 285
S ........................................................................................................................................... 286
T ........................................................................................................................................... 287
V, W ..................................................................................................................................... 287
Index ........................................................................................................................................... 288

12
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction Topics

ThissectiongivesanoverviewofAsigraSoftware.

13
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Navigating by Theme

Thissectionoffersanalternativewaytonavigatethroughthisdocument.

Getting Started with Asigra Software


IntroductiontoAsigraCloudBackuponpage16
IntroductiontoDSClientonpage73
IntroductiontoDSSystemonpage26
DSSystemN+1onpage38
DSSystemOnlineStorageonpage42
HowBackedupDataisHandledonpage139
CommonFileEliminationonpage153
CompressionMethodsonpage115

Backing up and Restoring Data


SettingupandManagingBackupsonpage98
RestoringBackedupDataonpage106
Disc/TapeModuleonpage221
DSClientBufferonpage111
LocalStorageModuleonpage222
DSRecoveryToolsModuleonpage228
BackupLifecycleManagement(BLM)Topicsonpage236

Ensuring Data Integrity and Security


EncryptionMethodsonpage117
CommunicationandAuthenticationonpage157
SynchronizingDSClientwithDSSystemonpage165
AutonomicHealingModuleonpage217
RestorabilityValidationonpage171

Navigating by Theme 14
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Implementing Asigra Software
CustomerAccountsonpage61
ImplementationStepsonpage174
ImplementingDSSystemonpage176
ImplementingDSClientonpage182
SizingAsigraCloudBackuponpage187
BrandingSoftwareonpage204
DSClientMassDeploymentonpage207
AsigraDSSoftwareLicensingonpage201
LANDiscoveryonpage225
ServicePacksonpage211
StatisticalBackuponpage205

Monitoring Asigra Software


DSSystemActivitiesonpage66
DSClientActivitiesonpage125
OnlineFileSummaryModuleonpage231
DSNOCModuleonpage232

Maintaining Asigra Software


DSSystemAdministrationonpage58
DSClientAdministrationonpage120
DSClientMaintenanceonpage128
DSSystemDisasterRecoveryonpage70

Using Asigra Software with Third Party Tools


ILM/HSMIntegrationonpage130
SNMPIntegrationonpage169

Navigating by Theme 15
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup

About this Section


ThissectiongivesabasicoverviewofAsigraCloudBackup.

What Asigra Cloud Backup Does


AsigraCloudBackupusesagentlessDSClientasabackup/restoresoftwaredelivery
platform.ItenablesEnterprise/ServiceProviderstodeliversecondarystorage(thatis,
backup,butnotmirroringorreplication)servicesanddisasterrecoveryservicesto
Enterprisecustomers.AsigraCloudBackupalsohandlesarchivingofdatafromthe
secondarystorageanddataretention.
Thevaluepropositionstothecustomerinclude:
freeingupITstafftoallowworkonotherprojects
savingcosts,comparedtothecostoftapebasedbackupandrestoremethods
increasingconfidencethatdataisproperlyprotectedoffsite
providinghotstandbyvirtualmachinesfordisasterrecoveryscenarios.
AsigraCloudBackupofferstheadvantageofautomaticandunattendedbackupsfor
dataenvironmentsrangingfrommobiledevices,singleuserlaptopPCsthroughto
enterprisewideenvironmentsandcloudservices.

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 16


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Basic Components of Asigra Cloud Backup: DS-System and DS-
Client

Overview
AsigraCloudBackupconsistsofthreemaincomponents:DSClient(whichisfree
software,licensedatnocharge),DSSystem,andBackupLifecycleManagement(BLM)
(whichmustbelicensedbyEnterprise/ServiceProvidersdirectlyfromAsigraInc.).

DSClientdefinesthebackupsetsthatdeterminewhatdataistobebackedupfromthe
sourcecomputers.ItsendsbackupdatathroughanIPWANtoDSSystemforstorage.
DSClientalsohandlesdatarestores,requestingandreceivingrestoreddatafromDS
System.
DSClientselectionshouldbedonebasedonthedevicethatneedstobeprotectedand
basedonthedatasourcethatneedstobeprotected.AcustomercanhavemultipleDS
Clients,althoughasingleDSClientcanprotectanentireLAN(files,databases,EMails,
etc.).SourcecomputersthatarenotontheLANallthetime,suchaslaptops,canbe
protectedbyinstallingtheDSMobileClientorDSNotebookClientsoftwareonthose
machinesandconnectingtoDSSystemthroughtheIPWAN.Androiddevicescanbe

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 17


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
protectedusingAndroidDSClientandAppleiOSdevicescanbeprotectedusingiOS
DSClient.
DSSystemreceivesbackedupdatafromDSClientandstoresitinDSSystemOnline
Storage.AsingleDSSystemcanstorebackupdatafromnumerousDSClients,withina
singlecustomeroracrossseveralcustomers.Whenarestoreisneeded,DSSystem
assemblesandretrievesthedatarequestedforrestoringbyDSClient,althoughDS
Clienthandlestheactualrestoreofdatatotheappropriatelocation.
DSSystemcanreplicateitsonlinestoragetoanotherDSSystemrunningatadifferent
location.TheDSSystemthatsendsthereplicationdataistheProductionDSSystemand
theDSSystemthatreceivesthereplicationdataistheReplicationDSSystem.
BLMArchiverreceivesdataforarchivingfromDSSystemandstoresitintheBLM
ArchiversStaging,ConsolidationorCloudStorage.OneBLMArchivercanreceivedata
fromnumerousDSSystems.Whenarestoreofthearchivedataisneeded,restorable
imagerequestsmustbeperformed,andtheresultingdatamustbeshippedor
downloadedtotheDSClientthatencryptedthedata.TheDSClientcanthenbeusedto
restorethedata.
BLMArchivercanreplicateitsdatatootherBLMArchiversrunningindifferent
geographicallocations.TheBLMArchiverthatsendsthereplicationdataisthe
ProductionBLMArchiverandtheBLMArchiverthatreceivesthereplicationdataisthe
ReplicationBLMArchiver.

Product Installation Options


DSClientcomesineightdifferentproductinstallations:
DSClientforWindows,whichbacksupwholenetworks,databases,andmore,in
Windowsenvironmentsandcloudservices
DSMobileClientforWindows,whichbacksuplaptopcomputersorcomputersthat
arenotconnectedtotheWANatalltimes
iOSDSClientforAppledevices,whichbacksupiPhones,iPodTouchdevicesand
iPads
AndroidDSClientforAndroiddevices
DSClientforLinux,whichbacksupwholenetworks,databases,andmore,inUnix
environments
DSClientforMACOSX,whichbacksupwholenetworks,databases,andmore,in
MACOSXandUnixenvironments
DSNotebookClientforMACOSX,whichbacksupthelocalcomputer(e.g.laptopsor
MACOSXdesktops)
WindowsDSClientisavailableintwodifferentconfigurations:StandaloneDSClient
andGridDSClient.
AstandaloneWindowsDSClientisoneDSClientserviceworkingwithonedatabase
serverinordertoprovideagentlessbackupandrestoreofaLANenvironment.
AGridWindowsDSClientismadeofmultipleDSClientservicesworkingwithone
databaseserverinordertoprovideagentlessbackupandrestoreforlargerLAN
environments,tobefaulttolerantandscalable.

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 18


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DSSystemcanbelicensedwithtwodifferentbackupstoragecapacities:Mobileand
FullFeatured.ItcanalsobelicensedforReplication.
MobileDSSystem:backupstoragecapacitybasedlicense.Canbeinstalledonboth
WindowsorLinuxandcanacceptincomingconnectionsfromDSMobileClients,DS
NotebookClients,iOSDSClientsandAndroidDSClients.
FullFeaturedDSSystem:backupstoragecapacitybasedlicense.Canbeinstalledon
bothWindowsorLinuxandcanacceptincomingconnectionsfromFullFeaturedDS
Clients(Windows,LinuxorMac),DSMobileClients,DSNotebookClients,iOSDS
ClientsandAndroidDSClients.
ReplicationDSSystem:licensebasedonnumberofinstallations.Canbeinstalledon
bothWindowsandLinuxbutitcanONLYacceptreplicationdatafromotherDS
SystemsorRESTOREconnectionsfromDSClients.Itdoesnotallowbackupactivities.
AlltheseDSSystemscanbeinstalledinStandaloneorN+1configurations.AnN+1DS
SystemismadefrommultipleDSSystemsworkingtogetherwithacommondatabase
andacommononlinestorageinordertoprovidefaulttoleranceandloadbalancing.

About DS-System
DSSystemrunsasaservice(onWindows)ordaemon(onUnix),andstarts
automatically.ItincludesaDSSystemdatabase.
TheinterfacetoDSSystemisDSOperator.
DSSystemincludesanumberofmodulesthatenhanceAsigraCloudBackup.
DSSystemsfunctionispurelytorespondtorequestsbyDSClient:itdoesnotinitiate
interactionswithDSClients.BackedupdatastoredonDSSystemsisencrypted.
TogetstartedwithDSSystem,Enterprise/ServiceProvidersshould:
1 InstallDSLicenseServer(seeDSLicenseServerInstallationGuideformoredetails).
2 InstallDSSystem(seeDSSystemInstallationGuidesformoredetails).
3 ConfigureDSLicenseServerwithDSSystemIPAddress.
4 RunDSOperatorandlogintotheappropriateDSSystemservice/daemon.
5 Configurerolesforavaliduser,loginwiththatuserandregisterDSSystemwithDS
LicenseServer.
6 SetupcustomeraccountsandDSClients.
7 Setupbusinessandbillinginformation(seeDSBillingModuleOperatorManualfor
moredetails).

About DS-System Online Storage


DatastoredinDSSystemOnlineStorageisprocessedtoeliminatecommonfilesand
handlemultipleonlinegenerations.

Backup LifeCycle Management (BLM)


BLMrunsasaservice(onWindows)ordaemon(onUnix),andstartsautomatically.It
hasaBLMdatabase.TheinterfacetoBLMisBLMGUI.BLMenhancesAsigraSoftware

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 19


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
byaddingarchivingcapabilities.BLMsfunctionistorespondtorequestsbyDSNOC,
DSSystemandBLMGUI.BLMsavesthebackedupdataasitisreceivedfromtheDS
Systems(i.e.inencryptedandcompressedform).
TogetstartedwithBLM,Enterprise/ServiceProvidersshould:
1 InstallBLMontheplatformoftheirchoice.
2 RunBLMGUIandlogintotheappropriateBLMservice/daemon.
3 ConfigureDSLicenseServerwithBLMIPAddressandregisterBLMwithDSLicense
Server.
4 RegisterDSSystemswithBLM.
5 ConfigureDSClientstoautomaticallyarchivedatafromDSSystemtoBLMbasedon
customdataarchivingpolicies.

About DS-Client
SinceAsigraCloudBackupfeaturesagentlessDSClient,DSClientsoftwareisnot
installedonsourcecomputers,butonanymachineintheLANthesourcecomputers
connectto.
DSClientrunsasaservice(Windows)ordaemon(Unix),andstartsautomatically.Each
standaloneDSClienthasitsownDSClientdatabase.InaGridDSClient,allDSClients
workwithacommondatabase.
WindowsDSMobileClient,whichisusedmainlyforlaptopcomputers,hasitsown
embeddeddatabase.MacDSNotebookClientisintendedforstandalonecomputers/
MacOSXlaptopsthatrequireCloudBackup,andlikeDSMobileClient,havetheirown
embeddeddatabase.
DSClientisresponsibleforhandlingdatacompressionandthedataencryptionthat
ensuresdatasecurity.DataiscompressedandencryptedbeforeitistransmittedtoDS
System.
TheinterfacetoDSClientisDSUser.
TogetstartedwithDSClient,customersshould:
1 InstallDSClient.
2 StartDSUser.
3 ConnecttoDSClient.
4 Definebackupsets.
5 Setupbackupschedules.
6 Optionally,performondemandbackups.
Asneeded,customerscanperformotherfunctions,suchasrestoreanddelete.

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 20


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
How Asigra Cloud Backup Handles Backups

About Initial Backup


TheinitialbackupformanycustomersmaytakealongtimeovertheIPWAN:possibly
solongthatitwillnotbecompletedbeforethenextscheduledbackupisrequired.Asigra
Softwarehasaninitialbackupfeaturethatallowsbackingupdirectlytodisk.The
customerscancreateabackupsetandspecifythatitisaninitialbackupsetandcan
performthefirstbackuponadiskattachedtotheDSClientcomputerorontheDSClient
computernetwork.Theinitialbackupoffersthepossibilitytoprocessfilesforlibraries
(deduplication)afterimporttoDSSystem.Thiswaythecustomerscanbackupthe
initialbackupatLANspeed,whichistypicallymuchfasterthantheIPWAN
communicationandcanalsotakeadvantageofcommonfileelimination.
Anotherapproachforlonginitialbackupsistodotheinitialbackupinseveralsessions
overtheIPWANspreadovertime.
InitialBackupisnotsupportedforDSMobileClients,DSNotebookClients,iOSDS
ClientsandAndroidDSClients.

Asigra Cloud Backup Uses Incremental Forever Backups


Typicalbackupsoftwareperformsfullandincrementalbackups.Fullbackupsbackupall
thenecessarydata(bothinitiallyandatintervals,suchasweekly).Incrementalbackups
sendonlychangessincethelastfullbackup.Ingeneral,restoreprocessesusea
combinationoftheincrementalbackupsandtheinitialbackup.Also,thereisnoeasyway
todeleteoutdatedversionsoffullorincrementalbackups.
AsigraCloudBackupfeaturesincrementalforeverbackups:onceafileissenttoDS
System,itisnormallyneversentagaininitsentirety.Datatobebackedupishandled
throughblocklevelprocessingandchangedblocksofdatainthatfileareisolatedin
subsequentbackupsessionsandonlythechangedblocksaresenttotheDSSystem.

Overview
Aftertheinitialbackup,incrementalforeverbackupprocessingbegins.Backupsare
typicallyscheduledforaspecificfrequencyandtimeperiod,althoughtheycanbestarted
manually.Whatdatashouldbebackedup,whenitshouldbebackedup,andother
relatedinformationisstoredinthebackupsetdefinition.

Note:Customerscancreatealimitednumberofselfcontainedbackupsets
thatstorebackedupdatalocallyontheDSClientLAN,meaningaDS
Systemconnectionisnotneeded.Thiscanhelpcustomersquicklysee
howDSClientworksasabackupandrestoresolution,beforeusing
thefullversionandwithoutneedingacustomeraccountonDS
System.

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 21


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:BasedonalicensedcapacityfromtheDSSystem,customersmayalso
createLocalOnlyBackupSets.Thistypeofbackupsetonlyperforms
backupslocallyontheDSClientLANanddoesnotsendthebacked
updata/filestotheDSSystem.

Backup Process
Thebasicstepsofthebackupprocessareasfollows:
1 Backupisstartedbyscheduleorondemand.
2 Anypreexecutionfunctions,suchasstoppingaservice,arestarted.Forsomebackup
sets,adatabasedumpisperformed.
3 Aprescanmaybedone.Thisperformsthesametasksasthescandescribedinthe
nextstep,andisusefulformonitoringbackupprogress.However,usingprescan
slowsthebackupprocesssomewhat.
4 DSClientscansfordatatobebackedup,comparingwhatitfindsintheDSClient
databasewiththefileattributesofthebackedupdata.Itlooksfor:
fileswithachangedsizeorchangedwritetimesincethelastbackup
filesthathavenopreviousbackup(noentryintheDSClientdatabase)
databasesorpermissionsonlybackupsetsforthese,thedatabases,tables,or
dumpsarealwaysconsideredtohavechangedsincethelastbackup
5 DSClientconnectstoDSSystem.Forabackupsetconfiguredtobackuptoalocal
diskcache,eveniftheDSSystemconnectionisnotavailable,DSClientwillbackup
locallyandwillsendthedatatotheDSSystemwhenaWANconnectionisavailable.
Forascheduledbackupset,itcheckstoseeifthebackupsetisoutofsyncand,ifitis,
performssynchronization.
6 DSClientdetectswhatdatashouldbebackedupforeachfiledetectedbythescan
doneinstep4.
7 DSClientperformscompression,thenencryption(evenifdatawasencryptedat
source).
8 DSClientsendsdatatoDSSystem,whichputsthefilesinthecorrectlocationinDS
SystemOnlineStorage.
9 ConfirmationofsuccessfuldatastorageissentbacktoDSClient,whereitislogged.
TheDSClientdatabaseisupdated.
10 Anypostexecutioncommands(suchasrestartingadatabaseserver)arerun.
11 Notificationissenttoindicatethebackupiscomplete.

Interrupted Backups
BackupsthatlosetheirconnectiontoDSSystemwillretry,bydefault,threetimesover
fiveminutestoresumethebackup.Iftheconnectionisreestablished,DSClientrestarts
thebackupwhereitleftoff.Forfilesystembackupsets,ordatabasebackupsetsusingthe
DSClientbuffer,backupisresumedattheblocklevel(notfilelevel).

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 22


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
TheEnterprise/ServiceProvidershouldmonitortheDSSystemsandDSClientstotrack
theprogressofbackupevents24hoursaday.Supportpeoplecanbekeptawareof
problemsthroughDSSystemnotifications,DSClientnotifications,DSClient
Monitoring,andnotificationsviaDSNOC.

How Asigra Cloud Backup Handles Restores

Routine Restores
Whendataneedstoberestored:
1 Acustomer,viaDSUser,requeststhespecificonlinegenerationtheywantrestored.
Dependingonhowmanygenerationsarebeingsaved,andhowtherestoreis
requested,customercanchoosetorestoredatabackedupduringaspecifictime
periodorevenchoosetorestoredeletedfiles.Thescopeoftherestoreisflexible:
customerscanrestoreasinglefileorentireshares/directories.Manyrestoreoptions
areavailable,includingactivitiestobedonebeforeoraftertherestore(suchas
stoppingorstartingaservice),andwhethertorestoretotheoriginaloralternate
locations(includingtoadisklocationforsomebackupsettypes).Notethattherestore
optionsavailabledependonwhattypeofdataisbeingrestored.
2 DSSystemidentifiesthedatatoberestored:
forregulargenerations,theprocessskipstothenextstep
forfilesmovedtolibrariesofcommonfiles,identifiesthelinkandretrievesthefile
fromtheappropriatecommonfilelibrary
formastergenerationordeltagenerations,identifieswhichgenerationsshouldbe
usedtorestorethespecifiedfile,basedonthemaster/deltageneration
dependencies,andreconstructsthefileintheappropriatestate
3 DSSystemsendsthereconstructedfilestoDSClients.
4 DSClientdecryptsanddecompressesthefilesandstorestheminthechosenlocation,
afterhavingcheckedthedigitalsignature.

Disaster Restores
Whenalargequantityofdataneedstoberestored,perhapsduetosomesortofdisaster,
aDisc/Taperequestcanbeusedtogeneratethefilesthatneedtoberestoredandthento
transfertherequireddataforrestoretothecustomerslocationwhocanperformthe
restore,atLANspeed.
IfthewholeDSSystemmustbetransferredtothecustomerslocationthelicenseonly
needstobereconfiguredtothenewlocation(e.g.IPaddress)ontheAsigraDSLicense
Server.

Working with Removable Media


TheDisc/TapemoduleallowsEnterprise/ServiceProviderstooffertotheircustomersthe
opportunitytopurchaseremovablemedia(CD,DVD,disk,tapeetc.)containingbacked
upfilesfromDSSystem.Thisallowscustomerstoarchivedataortohavedataonhand

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 23


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
foremergencyrecoveries.Inemergencysituations,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscan
generateasnapshotofthelatestonlinegenerationofabackupsetforcustomerswho
havelosttheiroriginalDSClient.
InordertorestorefromDisc/Tapedata,customersmusthaveaccesstotheencryption
keythatwasusedoriginallytoencryptthedata.Ifapplicable,theywillalsoneedthe
encryptionkeythatwasusedtoencryptthemetadatawhentheDisc/Tapewas
generated.

How Asigra Cloud Backup Handles Customer Information


AcustomermusthaveacustomeraccountinordertouseAsigraCloudBackup.
AccountsaresetupinDSOperator,andcontainavarietyofinformationincluding
storagequotasandbandwidththrottling.WhencustomersinstallaDSClientthey
referencetheiraccountnumber.TheyalsoreferencethenumberassignedtotheirDS
ClientandtheIPaddressoftheDSSystemtowhichtheywillconnect.
Thebillinginformationforacustomeraccount/DSClientisconfiguredseparatelyinthe
DSBillingModule.

Maintaining Asigra Cloud Backup


ForDSSystem,asystemadminprocess,whichcanbescheduled,checksforcorruptand
inconsistentfiles.Inaddition,ascangathersstatisticalinformation(suchasthenumber
ofbackedupfiles)foreachDSClient.TheAutonomicHealingprocesschecksforlogical
andphysicalconsistencyofdata,anditcanbescheduledorrunondemand.
ForDSClient,DailyAdminandWeeklyAdminprocessesareruntoclean,tuneand
backuptheDSClientdatabase,andcalculatestatisticaldata.WeeklyAdmincanbe
configuredfromtheDSClientsidetoperformsynchronizationontheDSClients
currentbackupsets,ifthecustomerrequiresit.

Introduction to Asigra Cloud Backup 24


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System Topics

ThissectioncontainstopicsspecifictoDSSystem.

25
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to DS-System

About this Section


ThissectionintroducesDSSystemanditscomponentparts.Fordetailsonhowto
implementDSSystem,seeImplementingDSSystemonpage176.

What DS-System Does


Inadditiontoitsresponsibilitiesforbackupandrestorefunctions,andformaintaining
DSSystemOnlineStorage,DSSystemalsodoesrelatedtaskssuchasthese:
managingcustomeraccounts
providingdetailedreports;recordingcomprehensiveactivity,event,andaudittrails
(seeLogsandReportsonpage30)
detectingandeliminatingfilecorruptionthroughitsSystemAdminfunctionand
AutonomicHealingmodule
handlingonlinegenerationandcommonfilesmanagement(incombinationwithDS
Client)
enforcingstoragequotastokeepstorageuseunderlimits
handlingbandwidththrottlecontrolstolimitresourceuseduringbusytimeseither
basedonafixedconfigurationorbasedonscheduledlimits
supportingnotificationsaboutspecificevents
offeringtheDisc/Tapemodulesocustomerscanrequeststorageonremovablemedia
orcanbeusedtoofferdisasterrecoverymediaforcustomerswhoexperiencedlossof
data
providingautoupgradepackages(ServicePacks,HotFixesandVersionUpgrades)
forDSClients,DSRecoveryToolsmodule(DSMLRforEMails&DSRecoveryTools
forMSSharePoint),DSUserGUIsonDSClientrequest,andRemoteDSVDRauto
upgradepackagesforRemoteDSVDRTools
handlingreplicationofdatabetweentheproductionDSSystemsandReplicationDS
Systems
validate/updatetheDSSystemlicensefromtheDSLicenseServer
initiatedisasterrecoveryrestoresforvirtualmachinesviaRemoteDSVDRTool

Introduction to DS-System 26
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Inallitsfunctions,DSSystemrespondstorequestsfromDSClient,butdoesnotinitiate
thecommunication.Communicationchannelsareclosedexceptwhenneededforbackup
orrestore.DSSystemdoes,however,initiatetheconnectionwiththeRemoteDSVDR
Tool.

Available DS-System Configurations

Standalone DS-System
ThestandaloneDSSystemconfigurationiseitherasingleDSSystemorseveralDS
Systemsoperatingseparately,eachwiththeirowndatabaseandDSSystemOnline
Storage.

N+1 DS-System
TheN+1DSSystemconsistsofseveralDSSystemsworkingtogetherwithacommon
databaseandcommonDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Note:AstandaloneDSSystemconfigurationcaneasilybemigratedtoan
N+1DSSystemconfiguration,retainingthesamedatabaseandDS
SystemOnlineStoragebyinstallingadditionalDSSystemnodesand
upgradingtheDSSystemlicense(assumingthatthestorageisshared
toallowread/writeforalltheDSSystemsintheN+1Grid).

DS-System Database

DS-System Database Contents


Platform Database Type Database Database Contents
Name

Windows MSSQLServer2005Express* dssystem configurationinformation


MSSQLServer2008Express* suchascustomer
accounts,DSClients,
MSSQLServer2008R2Express*
logs,reports,Disc/Tape
MSSQLServer2012Express* requests,andsoon,as
MSSQLServer2005/2008/2008R2/2012 wellasinformationabout
commonfiles
Unix PostgreSQL dssystem

*supportedforDemo/ProofofConcept(POC)environmentsonly.
Best Practice: Data files should be configured on different physical disks than the
databases log files. See the DS-System Installation Guide document for details
about installing the DS-System.

Introduction to DS-System 27
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System Database Backups
DSSystemdoesafulldatabasebackupeveryday.Itdumpsitsdatabasetothe\bak
foldereverydayat:
00:00a.m.(midnight)onWindowsDSSystems
08:00a.m.onLinuxDSSystems
andeverytimetheDSSystemserviceisrestarted(30minutesafterrestart)
Asaresult,DSSystemOnlineStoragealwaysincludesadailybackupoftheDSSystem
database(however,itonlykeepsthelasttwodatabasedumps).
ForDSSystemsrunningwithMicrosoftSQLServerDatabases,incrementaldatabase
dumpsareperformedeveryhour,andtheyareappendedtothefulldatabasedumpthat
existsonDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Note:ProtectingtheDSSystemdatabaseiscrucialfordisasterrecoveryof
DSSystem.

DS-System Database Clustering


ItisrecommendedthatyouuseaclusteredDSSystemdatabase.

DS-System Interfaces

Overview of Interfaces
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersinteractwithDSSysteminavarietyofways:
throughtheDSOperatorinterface
throughtheDSNOC
throughtheDSBillingmodule(seeDSBillingonpage255)
throughEMailnotifications(seeEMailNotificationsonpage35)
throughconfiguredSNMPtraps
InformationaboutDSSystemisavailableinlogsandreports(seeLogsandReportson
page30).
TheDSSystemserviceisstoppedorstartedusingtheDSSystemServiceManager.

DS-Operator Interface
DSOperatorallowsEnterprise/ServiceProvidersto:
managecustomeraccount/DSClientinformation(bandwidththrottle,storagequotas,
enabledmodulesinformation,andsoon)
lockcustomeraccountsorindividualDSClients,temporarilypreventingthemfrom
connectingtoDSSystem,deactivate/reactivatethem,ordeleteaDSCliententirely
migratecustomers/DSClientstoadifferentDSSystem
viewactiveprocessesonaDSSystem

Introduction to DS-System 28
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
specifyEMailnotificationsfromDSSystem:determinewhoshouldreceivethemand
whentheyshouldbesent
enableordisablemodulesforDSClients
configureDSSystemtouseextensiblestorage:add,setfilllevelsfor,monitor,and
organizeextensiblestoragelocationsintoextensiblestoragegroups,aswellasretire
extensiblestoragelocations
configureDSSystemtousestoragesnapshotsforDSSystemreadonlyactivities
(suchasrestore,replication,BLMArchiving,Disc/Tape,etc.).SeeDSOperator
manualforsupportedhardwarevendorsforDSSystemstoragesnapshots.
emptyTrashfolderonselectedextensiblestoragelocations
viewinformationaboutbackupsetsandbackupstatistics

Note:BackupsetstatisticsaredrawnfromtheDSSystemdatabase,while
backupsetinformation(suchascomputername,owner,filesbacked
up,andsoon)isdrawnfromDSSystemOnlineStorage.

viewN+1DSSystemstatusandevents
viewstatisticsandcontentsoflibrariesforcommonfiles,removeorphanedlibrary/
librariesorcleanlibraries
viewreportsandvieworclearlogs(seeLogsandReportsonpage30)
shutdownDSSystemmachine(onDSOperatorrequest)
sendmessagestoDSOperatorusers(forexample,totellthemthesystemisshutting
down)
configureandruntheAutonomicHealingmodule
scheduleAutonomicHealing,SystemAdmin,periodicEMailingofDSSystem
reports,EmptyTrashactivities,andsavingDSSystemreportstodisk
seepopupmessages,generatedbyDSSystem,aboutfreespaceonDSSystemOnline
Storageordatabasediskspacebeinglow(seeOperatorNotificationsonpage36)
requestDisc/Tape
requestBLMArchiving
configureDSSystemReplicationGroups
configureDSClientsforReplicationtoanotherDSSystem
configureDSSystemstoauthenticatelicensefromaDSLicenseServer
allow/disabledatadeletion
controlHotFixautoupgrades
restoredata(onafilebyfilebasis)
configurereconstructionparameters
configureDSSystemwithRemoteDSVDRToolinformation,theVirtualMachinesto
berestored,andtheparametersfortherestoreprocessandrestoredestination
(vCenter,DataCenter,host,etc.)

Introduction to DS-System 29
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Logs and Reports
DSSystemlogsandreportsareavailablethroughDSOperatorandDSNOC.
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscancleanthelogsandreportsmanuallybyusingtheClear
DSSystemLogsfeature.DSSystemautomaticallycleansthelogsandreportsbasedon
thevaluesthatareconfigurableintheDSOperator(SetupMenu>Advanced
Configuration).BeforeremovinganylogsorreportsfromtheDSSystemdatabase,DS
Systemsavesacopyofthelogstoindividualfilesontheprimarystoragelocationofthe
DSSystemOnlineStorage(intheLogssubfolder).

Logs
DSSystemlogsinclude:

ActivityLog UsefulforexaminingtheactivityontheDSSystem.
Showsthelengthoftheconnectionsestablishedbyanactivity,a
descriptionoftheactivity,theamountofdatatransferredduring
theactivity,whetherornotanyerrorsoccurred,andother
information.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesActivityLogentriesolderthan
12months.

AuditTrail ArecordofallchangesmadetotheDSSystemdatabase.Shows
whomadeachange,thetimeofthechange,andwhatthechange
was.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.
Bydefault,DSSystemdoesnotremoveanyAuditTrailentries
fromtheDSSystemdatabase.

CurrentActivityMonitor AlistofactivitiescurrentlyrunningonDSSystem.

DSClientEventLog Arecordofnetworkactivity,errormessages,andother
informationitemsrelatedtoDSClientactivities.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesDSClientEventLogentries
olderthan6months.

EventLog Arecordofnetworkactivity,errormessages,andother
informationitemsrelatedtoDSSystemactivitiesorother
internalprocessesofDSSystem.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesEventLogentriesolderthan12
months.

HealingHistory ForAutonomicHealingmoduleonly.Keepstrackofthe
modulesresults.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesHealingHistoryentriesolder
than12months.

Introduction to DS-System 30
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
N+1DSSystemLog ForDSSystemN+1only.ShowswhenN+1startsandstops,
whenDSSystemsjointheconfigurationandwhentheyplaya
specificroleintheconfiguration.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesN+1DSSystemLogentriesolder
than12months.

RecoveryLog ForRecoveryLicenseServerenvironmentsonly.
Arecordofallrecoveryactivities,includingrecoveriesthat
counttowardstheRecoveryPerformanceScorecalculationand
DRDrillrecoveries,whichusethepurchasedDRDrillrecovery
licensecapacity.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.
Showsbackupsetinformationandtherecoverysizerecordedfor
eachrecoverysessionID.

SystemBackupProcess Monitorsthecumulativeaddition(orsubtraction)ofbackup
Monitor datatoDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Graphs
DSSystemgraphsinclude:

ActivityDistribution AgraphicrepresentationoftheActivityLog;canbeusedto
investigateconcurrentactivities.

LoadSummary Agraphicrepresentationofmemoryanddatatransfer,andofloads
onDSSystem.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesLoadSummaryentriesolderthan12
months.

StorageSummary Agraphicrepresentationofstorageinformation,suchasnumberof
onlinefiles,sizeoffiles,andsoon.
Bydefault,DSSystemarchivesStorageSummaryentriesolderthan
12months.

StorageTrend Avisualsummaryofstoragetrends,basedontheDSClientsstorage
historyinformation:agoodtooltomonitor.Showsthestoredsize
(current/average/peak),protectedsize,andnativesize,aswellas
otherusefulinformation.AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

Uptime GraphicalviewofDSSystemuptime.

Introduction to DS-System 31
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Reports
DSSystemreportsinclude:
Report Description

BackupSets ShowsasummaryofbackupsetsforaspecificDSClientorcustomer.
ThereportcolumnsshowtheDSClientnumber,thebackupsetname,
andthestoredsize,protectedsizeandnativesizeinMB.Agrandtotal
appearsattheendofthereport.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

BackupStatus ShowsasummaryofthebackupstatusforDSClients.Canbe
generatedforaspecifictimeperiod,forallcustomers(macroreport)or
foraspecificcustomerorspecificDSClient(microreport).Optionally,
thereportcanalsoshowDSClientbackupsets.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
Bydefault,deactivatedDSClientsarenotincluded,buttheycanbe
includedifrequired.
Thereportshowsthecustomernameandthecustomersbackupstatus
summary,alistofthecustomersDSClients,theversionandstatusof
eachDSClient,andabackupstatussummaryforeachDSClient.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

Backup/Restore Showsasummaryofthebackupandrestoreactivitiesforaspecified
period.Canbegeneratedforallcustomers(macroreport)orfora
specificcustomerorDSClient(microreport).Foreachcustomer,the
reportshowsthecustomersDSClients,thenumberandtheduration
oftheirconnections,backupactivitiesstatistics(numberofactivities,
numberoffiles,protectedsizeinMB)andrestoreactivitiesstatistics
(numberofactivities,numberoffiles,protectedsizeinMB).Grand
totalsareshownattheendofthereport.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

Introduction to DS-System 32
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Report Description

DSClientsVersion ShowsasummaryofDSClientsandtheirversion.Canbegenerated
forallDSClients(andorderedbytheDSClientnumberorthe
customername)orforaspecificcustomerorDSClient.
ThereportshowstheDSClientnumber,thecorrespondingcustomer
name,theDSClientversion,aflagindicatingifaspecificDSClientis
compatiblewiththeDSSystem,theDSClientsoperatingsystem
name,andwhentheinformationwasreceived(normally,thiswould
bethetimetheDSClientlastconnectedwiththeDSSystem).
Asummaryappearsattheendofthereport.ItliststhenumberofDS
Clientsthatareincludedinthereport,thenumberofunregisteredDS
Clients,thenumberofDSClientsthatrunonWindows,thenumberof
DSClientsthatrunonLinux,thenumberofDSClientswhichare
compatiblewiththeDSSystem,aswellasthenumberofDSClients
thatshouldbeupgraded.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

DSVDRUsage ShowstheLocalDSVDRCountthatisallocatedandused,andthe
RemoteDSVDRCountthatisallocatedandusedforeachDSClientin
theDSSystem.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
ThisreportcanbeorderedbyDSClient#,CustomerName,LocalDS
VDRLastValidationTime,LocalDSVDRCount,LocalDSVDRUsed,
RemoteDSVDRCount,RemoteDSVDRUsed.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

EnabledTools Showsasummaryoftools(modules)enabledforDSClients.Canbe
generatedforallDSClientsandorderedbytheDSClientnumberor
bythecustomername,orcanbegeneratedforaspecificcustomeror
DSClient.ReportcolumnsshowtheDSClientnumber,thecustomer
name,andalistoftoolsenabledforeachspecificDSClient.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

ExportDSClient ShowsselectedcolumnsinacustomreportselectedbytheDS
OperatorAdministrator.ReportisexportedinaCSVformat.Canbe
generatedforallDSClients,aspecificaccountoraspecificDSClient.
ThereportcanbeorderedbyCustomerName,DSClientNumber,
StoresSize,ProtectedSize,NativeSizeorbythecreationdateforthe
DSClients.CanincludedataforDSClientswithnodataandcan
includestoredsizesfromthepreviousmonth.

Introduction to DS-System 33
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Report Description

GlobalListof ShowsthemonthlystorageforeachDSClientontheDSSystem.The
Customers reportcanbesortedbytheDSClientnumber,thecustomername,the
protectedsize,thestoredsize,thenativesizeortheDSClientcreation
date.Thisreportisonlyasnapshotofthestorageasoftheprinting
date.Bydefault,itincludesDSClientswithnodata.TheseDSClients
canoptionallybeexcludedfromthereport.
ReportcolumnsshowtheDSClientnumber,thecustomername,DS
Clientcreationdate,DSClienttype(evaluationorchargeable),theDS
Clientstatus(active,deactivated,unregistered),theprotectedsizein
MB,thestoredsizeinMB,andthenativesizeinMB.Agrandtotalis
shownattheendofthereport.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.

LocalOnly ShowstheLocalOnlyCapacityallocatedforeachDSClient.Also
Capacity displayshowmuchofthiscapacityhasbeenusedforLocalOnly
backupsets.ItalsodisplaysthelastvalidationoftheLocalOnly
capacityLicensedamounttotheDSSystem.
ThereportcanbeorderedbyDSClientnumber,CustomerName,
AllocatedQuota,CurrentUsedcapacityandthelastvalidationtime.
ThereportshowstheamountsinGB.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.

StorageQuotas Showsthestoragequotas(limits)setforcustomers/DSClients.Canbe
generatedforallcustomersorforaspecificcustomerorDSClient.
Optionally,thereportcanbeusedtoshowonlythecustomersorDS
Clientsthathavereachedthestopbackuplevel.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
Thereportshowsbothcustomerstoragequotaandthestoragequotaof
thecustomersDSClients.ForeachcustomerandeachofitsDS
Clients,showsthequota,thecalculation(protectedsize,storedsize,or
nativesize),theamountofspacecurrentlyused(expressedasasize),
andtheamountofspacecurrentlyused(expressedasapercentageof
theavailablequota).
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

StorageUsage ShowsthecurrentstorageusageonDSSystem.Canbegeneratedfora
specificcustomerorDSClient.Bydefaultthereportshowsthe
customername,theDSClientnumber,theprotectedsizeinMB,and
thestoredsizeinMB.Itcanalsobeenabledtodisplaythenativesizein
MB.Alsoshowscustomersubtotalsandagrandtotal.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

Introduction to DS-System 34
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Report Description

BLMDestruction ShowstheDatewhenthedestructionofthedataoccurred,thepackage
Certificates numberwherethedataresided,thecreationdateandthe
consolidationdateofthepackage.Showsthebackupsetinformation:
BLMArchivername,DSSystemname,Account#,DSClient#and
BackupSetname,thenumberofdestroyedfiles,protectedsizeand
storedsizeofthedataandthetypeofdeleteappliedwhenthe
destructionoccurred.Showsinformationabouttheuserwho
requestedthedatadestruction:name,grouptowhichtheuserbelongs,
phonenumber.
Thereportcanbedisplayedwithoutbranding,withthedefaultAsigra
Branding,orwithotherbrandingselectedusingtheDSOperatorGUI.

CustomReports Thisfeatureallowsyoutocreatecustomreportsbyusingseveralviews
oftheDSSystemdatabase.Itrequiresthirdpartyreportmanagement
software:JasperReports.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.

Other
OtherinformationisavailablefromDSOperator:
libraryinformation
individualbackupset/directorystatisticsandbackedupfileinformation
informationaboutspecificstoragepath(customername,customeraccount,DSClient,
backupset,share,directory,andfilename)

Notifications

Event Viewer
Theeventvieweroftheoperatingsystem(EventVieweronWindows,/var/logs/
messages onLinux)showscriticalerrorsoreventswhenaserviceisstoppedorstarted.

E-Mail Notifications
EMailnotificationscanbesentviaSMTPforavarietyofconditions:
customersDSClientstoragequotashavereachedstopbackuplevel
customersDSClientstorageorcustomerstoragehasreachedcertain%ofquota
amountoffreespaceondatabasedrivehasreachedspecifiedlevel(warning,
emergency,orstop)
amountoffreespaceonDSSystemOnlineStoragedrivehasreachedspecifiedlevel
(warning,emergency,orstop)
storageusagesummarynotificationsataspecifiedfrequency(configurable)
DSSystemlicenseisabouttoexpire,orspecificpercentageoflicensesstorage
capacitylimitorspecificpercentageoflicensesrecoverycapacitylimithasbeen
reached

Introduction to DS-System 35
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
StoragelockforSnapshot
ConnectionbetweenDirectorandLeafwaslost
N+1formationprocesssucceeded
RemoteDSVDRrestoreactivityhasfinished
ThefrequencyofthenotificationfortheseeventsissetthroughDSOperator.

Operator Notifications
Notifications about license capacity or license expiration
Bydefault,DSSystemwilldisplaylicenseexpirationnotificationsintheDSOperator
popupwindows.DSSystemwillalsolognotificationsintheOperatingSystemEvent
Log,DSSystemeventlog,anditwillEMailnotifications(ifconfiguredwithnotification
settings)whenthelicenseisabouttoexpire.
Thelicenseexpireswhenthelicensestoragecapacityisreached,orifthelicense
expirationtimehaspassed.
Incaseswherethelicensestoragecapacityorlicenserecoverycapacitygoesover90%,the
DSSystemwilldisplaymessageseveryhourintheOperatingSystemEventLog,DS
SystemEventLog,andintheDSOperatorGUI.Theseparametersarenotconfigurable.
TheEMailnotificationfrequencyforlicensestoragecapacityisconfigurablefromthe
DSOperatorGUI.
Incaseswherethelicenseexpirationtimeisclose,theDSSystemwilldisplaymessages7
daysbeforetheexpirydateintheOperatingSystemEventLog,DSSystemEventLog,
andintheDSOperatorGUI.TheEMailnotificationfrequencyforlicenseexpiration
timeisconfigurablefromtheDSOperatorGUI.

Other Notifications
DSOperatorcanbeusedtosendmessagestootherusersloggedintothesameDS
Systemservice.
CriticalerrorsfoundbyDSSystemappearaspopupmessagesinDSOperator.

Maintenance Notifications
UseDSOperatortosendnotificationstoappearinDSUserforallDSClients.

Notifications from Modules


OthernotificationsaboutDSSystemcanbesentthroughmodulessuchastheDSNOC.

DS-Operator Permission Control


Initially,DSOperatoronlypermitsloginsfromsuperusers(e.g.rootforUNIX,
AdministratorsforWindows).YoucanmanageDSSystembydefiningRolesto
establishDSOperatorpermissionsfordifferentusersandgroups.

Introduction to DS-System 36
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
TheDSSystemRolesfeatureallowsyoutorestrictpermissionsbasedontherole(s)
assignedtoauser(orausersgroup).Forexample,youmaynotwanttheoperatorthat
doesdailymaintenancetochangethestatusofcustomeraccounts.
RolesalsoallowyoutoassignDSSystemAdministratorrightstoanaccountthatisonly
aregularuserontheDSSystemcomputeritself.Thishelpstoavoiduseofasuperuser
accountoncetheroleshavebeendefined.
ThefollowingroleshavebeendefinedintheDSSystem:

Data Operator
Rolewithrightstomanagedata.
Dailymaintenancework
Reports
Filelevelrestore
RemoteDSVDRconfigurationandTriggerofRemoteDSVDRrestoreprocess

Account Manager (Manage Account)


Rolewithrightstomanagetheaccountprofiles.
Create,update,ordeleteaCustomer/DSClient

Export CRI
RolewithrightstoexportandsaveCustomerRegistrationInformationfiles.CRIfiles
mayincludethe(encrypted)encryptionkeysfortheDSClients,iftheDSClientsused
EncryptionKeyManagementtoforwardtheirencryptionkeystotheDSSystem.
SaveCRIfiles

View Logs
RolewithrightstoreviewtheDSSystemActivityLog,EventLogandAuditTrail.
ViewDSSystemLogs

Introduction to DS-System 37
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System N+1

About this Section


ThissectionintroducesDSSystemN+1.Fordetailsonhowtoimplementit,see
ImplementingDSSystemonpage176.

About DS-System N+1 Configuration


SeveralDSSystemscanworktogetherinaDSSystemN+1gridtoprovidebackupand
restoreservicesforDSClients.Asfewas3DSSystems(callednodes)canbejoinedin
oneN+1grid.EachDSSystemperformsitsownstorageandretrievalactivities,butall
haveaccesstoasharedDSSystemdatabaseandsharedDSSystemOnlineStorage.Any
nodeinthegridcanprovideanyDSClientwithservices.
AllthenodesinagridmustbeonthesameLAN.However,morethanoneN+1gridcan
beonasingleLAN.
NodesshareaccesstoacommonDSSystemOnlineStorage,typicallyhandledthrougha
NASorotherdevicethatprovidessharedread/writeaccess.Activepassiveclustering
softwaremaybeneededfortheDSSystemdatabase.Dataiswrittenefficiently:internal
DSSystemcommunicationisbasedonthehardwarearchitecture,suchasgigabitor
fiber.
DSSystemN+1providesthefollowingbenefits:
PerformanceloadbalancingacrossmultipleDSSystems(allthenodessharethe
communicationandprocessingloadofbackupsfromalloftheDSClients)
Scalabilitytheabilitytoeasilyaddmorehardwareasneeded(seeHardware
Scalabilityonpage41)
RedundancyifanN+1nodefails,thegridwillcontinuetofunction(see
RedundancyRequirementsonpage40)

DS-System N+1 38
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
SinceDSClientscanaccesseachofthenodesintheN+1grid,aDSClientsbackupand
restoreserviceskeeprunningevenifsomeofthenodesfail.WithstandaloneDSSystem,
acrashedDSSystemmeansnoserviceforDSClients.However,withN+1,evenifaDS
Systemmachinecrashes,downtimeisnomorethan5minutesandonlytheDSClients
withactiveprocessesforthecrashedmachineareaffected.EvenifDSClientsare
affected,itisonlyforashorttime,sinceactivitiesforthoseDSClientswillretrythe
connectioninfiveminutes,atwhichpointtheywillconnecttoanactivenode.

How Systems Work Together (DS-Director)

Synchronizing the Nodes


Toensurethatitsnodesdonotrunconflictingactivities,anN+1gridrandomlyselects
onesystemtobeitssynchronizationpoint.ThatsystembecomestheDSDirector.
ThereisonlyoneDSDirectoratatimeinanN+1grid.

DS-System N+1 39
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
What DS-Director Does
DSDirectorkeepstrackofhowmuchdatastorageisusedbythenodes.Justaswith
standaloneDSSystem,notificationscanbesentconcerningstorageproblems.However,
thesenotificationsreportforthewholeN+1grid.
DSDirectoralsodistributesscheduledDSSystemactivitiesacrossnodes:forexample,if
ithasfivescheduledactivitiesandmorethanfivenodes,itgiveseachscheduledactivity
toadifferentnode.TheDSSystemwilluniformlydistributethenumberofSystem
AdminprocessesandAutonomicHealingprocessesthatarerunningontheN+1atthe
sametime.
Forgridswithunder10nodes,theDSDirectoralsoperformsDSClientrequested
activities,butforgridswith10ormorenodes,itisdedicatedtoDSDirectortasksonly.

If the DS-Director Fails


IftheDSDirectorfails,alltheactivitiesofthegridstop.Thegridreconfiguresitselfwith
anewDSDirector(assumingredundancyrequirementsaremet,asdescribedbelow).
Thismaytakeupto1.5minutes.ThedefaultDSClientreconnecttimeis5minutes,so
backupswillsimplyreconnectandcontinue.

Redundancy Requirements
AnN+1gridcankeeprunningaslongasmorethanhalfofitsfullcomplementofnodes
areactive.(Thecriticalnumberissometimeslooselyreferredtoas(n/2)+1.)Belowthat
number,thenodesinthegridgointostandbymodeandwillnotacceptanynew
activities(thatis,nobackupsorrestoresaredone)untiltheappropriatenumberof
machinesareavailable.Whilethegridisinstandbymode,theDSDirectorroleislost.
Agridmadeupofthreenodescansurvivethecrashofonenode;agridoffivecan
survivethecrashoftwonodes;andsoon,asshowninthefollowingtable:
Grid Min. # of Max. # nodes
configured active nodes that can be
for # nodes required down

3 2 1

4 3 1

5 3 2

6 4 2

7 4 3

8 5 3

9 5 4

10 6 4

11 6 5

DS-System N+1 40
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Grid Min. # of Max. # nodes
configured active nodes that can be
for # nodes required down

12 7 5

13 7 6

14 8 6

Hardware Scalability
TheDSSystemN+1gridallowsDSSystemprocessingpowertobeaddedasneeded.A
gridcanstartwithasfewasthreenodes.Toaddanode,theEnterprise/ServiceProvider
mustinstalltheDSSystemsoftware,configureitfortheN+1configuration,andaddthis
newnodesIPAddressintheDSLicenseServerlistofIPAddressesforthisN+1DS
System.YoumustalsoaddtheIPAddressesoftheDSLicenseServerandEmergency
DSLicenseServertotheDSSystemsDSLicenseinformation(DSOperator>Setup
Menu>LicenseServer).
Ifhardwarealreadyinthegridfails,itcanbereplaced.Thesoftwareinstalledandthe
configurationfileonthenewhardwaresetup.ThenewhardwarewilljoinN+1
automaticallyandbeginprovidingservicesimmediately.
Ifhardwarealreadyinthegridneedstobereplaced,itcanbereplacedwithoutstopping
theN+1DSSystemGridorevenwithoutstoppingtheactivitiesonthenodeitself.N+1
DSSystemallowsdisablingincomingconnectionsonanN+1nodewithoutinterrupting
existingandrunningconnections.OncetheDSSystemActivitiesaredisabledonanN+1
node,thenodewillallowexistingactivitiestofinishandwillrejectanynewactivities.
IftheDSSystemisproperlyconfigured,DSClientsautoupdatewithDSSystemIP
addressesduringDailyAdminorWeeklyAdmin,soasnewN+1nodesareaddedor
configured,DSClientsautomaticallyretrieveandusetheneworupdatedIPaddresses.

N+1 Monitoring
AsingleDSOperator,connectedtotheDSDirector,providesmonitoringfunctionsfor
allnodesintheN+1grid.AnychangesmadeusingDSOperatorapplytoallnodesinthe
grid.TheDSOperatorGUIoffersspecificfunctionsforN+1,includingaspecificstatus
displayandEventLog(showingeventssuchasN+1formationordisconnection).

DS-System N+1 41
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System Online Storage

About this Section


ThissectionexplainsthefunctionsofDSSystemOnlineStorage.Fordetailsonhowto
configureDSSystemOnlineStorage,seeImplementingDSSystemonpage176.For
informationonestimatingsizesforDSSystemOnlineStorage,seeSizingAsigraCloud
Backuponpage187.

About DS-System Online Storage


Backedupcustomerdata,includingDSClientdatabasedumps,isstored(after
compressionandencryption)intheDSSystemOnlineStorage.Librariesofcommonfiles
arealsostoredhere.
DSSystemOnlineStorageshouldbebackedupregularlytoprotectcustomerassets.If
desired,datafordifferentcustomerscanbebackedupindifferentways.See
ConsiderationsforDSSystemOnlineStorageConfigurationonpage179.
Storagelevelscanbemonitored(seeMonitoringDSSystemOnlineStorageonpage47).
Filesarestoredindividually,makingiteasytorestorejustasinglefileveryquickly.By
default,thisappliesifthefilesizeisbiggerthan32KB.Iffilesarelessthan32KBinsize
(configurable),theyarestoredinabiggerfileontheDSSystemOnlineStorageinthe
parentdirectory.
EachDSClientcanretrievedataonlyfromtheportionoftheDSSystemOnlineStorage
wheretheirdataisstored,orfromcommonfilelibraries.
Bydefault,aDSSystemusesasinglestoragelocation.Tooffermorestoragecapacity,
AsigraCloudBackupoffersextensiblestorage,usingadditionalstoragelocations,
eitherphysicallyorlogicallyseparate,forstoringbackedupdata.Storagecanbeadded
atanytimewithoutshuttingdownDSSystem.
Best Practice: If your storage vendor can support large volumes (16+ TB), a single
storage location is recommended. If this is not possible, the alternative is to use
extensible storage. Some file systems may have their own limit that, when reached,
requires using extensible storage.

DS-System Online Storage 42


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Why Use Extensible Storage
Extensibledatastoragesolvestheproblemofevergrowingdata.Itenablesmorestorage
spacetobeaddeddynamically:DSSystem(standaloneorN+1DSSystem)beginstouse
itimmediately.
Typicalharddrivestoragesolutionsfeatureonelocationwherethedataisstored.Datais
usuallyaddedtothestorageuntilthestoragespaceisfilled,afterwhichmanual
interventionisrequired(todeleteobsoletedata,addmorestoragespace,ormovedatato
otherstoragespace/media).
Havingasingledatastoragelocationposesseveralinconveniences:
Oncethestoragespaceisnearlyfull,manualinterventionisrequiredandgaining
morestoragespaceisnoteasy.
Filesystemsmayhavesizelimitations,eitherduetointernalformat(anabsolutelimit)
orbecauseofspeed/reliabilityconcerns.Thismeansthatonceastoragelocationhas
reacheditsstoragelimit,newfilesystemshavetobecreatedandingeneralitis
difficultandtimeconsumingtomergethetwofilesystemsbymountingafilesystem
asasubpathoftheother.
Filesystemshavelimitationsonhowmanyfilestheycanhold.Althoughthenumber
offilesislimitedonlybyavailablestoragespaceonmanyfilesystems,thereisan
approximatelimitonthenumberoffile/directoryentriesafilesystemcanhold
becauseofperformanceandreliability.

How Extensible Storage Works


TheEnterprise/ServiceProvider,usingDSOperator,setsuppointerstostoragelocations
(mountpointsonUNIX)anddefinesdatalevelsforeachlocation.Thelevelsarethe
limitatwhichdatawillbebalancedacrossthelocations.DSSystemdoesthebalancing.

Warning:DSSystemcankeeptrackofthedatastoredonlyifitdoesallthe
addinganddeletingoffilesinitsstoragelocationitself.Iffilesare
addedordeletedmanuallyorbythirdpartyapplications,DS
Systemsrecordsarenolongeraccurateanditmightrunoutof
storagespaceunexpectedlyorissuefalsewarnings.

TheDSSystemkeepsalistofstoragelocationsandhowmuchdatatheycanhold,byfile
sizeandfilecount.Hereisanexample:

Path Max. storage Max file/dir entries


D:\bak 1.5TB 7,000,000
E:\bak 1.75TB 9,000,000
F:\bak 2TB 10,000,000
\\192.10.10.1\Share1\bak 1.5TB 7,000,000

.....etc. ..etc. ..etc.

DS-System Online Storage 43


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:UnixDSSystemshavethecapabilitytomonitorthemountpoints.
DSSystemwillstandbyifitdetectsthatanyofthemonitoredfile
systemsareinaccessible.Anymountpointsusedasstoragelocations
shouldbemonitored.ThisisusefulifyourebootaUNIXDSSystem
andoneofthe(storagelocation)filesystemsdoesnotmountproperly,
DSSystemwilldetectthiswithin5minutesandstandby(thereby
preventingitfromrunninginthisconditionforanextendedperiod).If
themountpointisremounted,DSSystemwilldetectthisandwill
startacceptingincomingconnectionsfromDSClients.

Note:WindowsDSSystemsautomaticallymonitortheExtensibleStorage
Locations.IfaStorageLocationisnotaccessible,WindowsDSSystem
waitsinstandbymodeuntiltheStorageLocationisavailable.Assoon
astheStorageLocationbecomesavailable,DSSystemwillaccept
incomingconnectionsforactivitiesfromDSClients.

TheEnterprise/ServiceProviderdefineslevelsatwhichthestoragelocationisconsidered
full.Forexample:

Fill Percentage Fill Level

25.00% Level0(almostempty)

50.00% Level1

70.00% Level2

85.00% Level3

90.00% Level4

95.00% Level5

99.00% Level6

99.90% Level7

DSSystemuseslevelstotriggeractions.Databalancingdoesnotstartuntilthelevel
number,howeveritisdefined,isfull.Whendatainalocationreachesaspecifiedlevel,
DSSystembeginstobalancethedataacrosstheotherlocations.

DS-System Online Storage 44


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Forexample,herenoneofthelocationshavereachedLevel1:

WhenanylocationreachesLevel1,DSSystembalancesacrossallstoragelocations,as
shownhere:

Gradually,allthestoragelocationsfilltoLevel1andbeyond.DSSystemdoesntstart
usingthenextlevelorstorageuntilthepreviouslevelisreachedinalllocations.

Forexample,hereweseetheeffectofalllocationsreachingthesamelevel.The
notificationsaresent,morestorageisadded,andthelevelsarerebalanced.

DS-System Online Storage 45


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Thestorageisreachingahighlevel:

Newstoragehasbeenaddedanddetected:

Thestorageusageisrebalanced,usingthenewstorage:

Asdataisaddedordeleted,DSSystemcontinuouslydistributesitsoitisbalancedacross
storagelocations.

Extensible Storage Configuration


TheDSSystemExtensibleStoragebalancesthequantityofdataandthenumberoffiles
betweenthestoragelocations.WiththedefaultExtensibleStorageconfiguration,the
customersdataisspreadacrossallstoragelocations.Tobeabletosendsomecustomer

DS-System Online Storage 46


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
datatospecificdisks,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanconfigureExtensibleStorage
Groups.
WhenusingExtensibleStorageGroups,thequantityofdataandthenumberoffilesare
balancedasdescribedabove,butonlybetweendisksthatbelongtothesameExtensible
StorageGroup.DatafromdifferentExtensibleStorageGroupscannotbebalancedacross
theentireDSSystemExtensibleStorage.

Retiring Extensible Storage Locations


AsDSSystemsgrowolder,someofthestoragelocationsmaybecomeobsolete(e.g.
becauseoftheStorageLocationsize,diskspeed,numberofstoragelocations,etc.).In
thesesituations,DSSystemAdministratorscanmovethedatafromthoseStorage
LocationsandremovethatlocationentryfromtheDSSystemconfiguration.
Onceanextensiblestoragelocationismarkedfordeletionandtheretireprocessis
started,theDSSystemcanautomaticallymovethedatatootherextensiblestorage
locationsfromthesameextensiblestoragegroup(balancedacrossthosetargetlocations).

Monitoring DS-System Online Storage


StorageinallDSSystemOnlineStoragelocationscanbemonitoredusingDSOperator.
Bothphysicalandlogicaldiskspacearemonitoredincasetheyreachoneofthreelevels:
warning(bydefault,5%available):sendsnotificationswhenreached
emergency(bydefault,2%available):deniesallnewbackupactivities,sends
notificationsandchecksspaceevery20secondswhenreached
stop(bydefault,0.5%available):stopsallexistingbackupactivities,deniesallnew
backupactivities,sendsnotificationsandchecksspaceevery20seconds(DSSystem
Servicewillcontinuetorun)
NotificationsappearintheeventlogandDSOperator,andcanbesentasSNMPtraps.
ThevaluesfortheselevelscanbesetintheDSOperatorAdvancedConfiguration.Both
physicalandlogicalspacearecheckedevery5minutesuntiltheyhavereached
emergencylevel,atwhichpointtheintervalchangestoevery20seconds.
Forphysicaldiskspace,ifanydiskoperationfailedonthatstorage,DSSystemwill
performanadditionalcheckfordiskspace.
Ifusingextensiblestorage,diskspaceusagewillbecontinuallymonitored,andnew
incomingfileswillbesenttothebestdestinationbasedonthegivenstoragefilllevels.

Browsing DS-System Online Storage


ThebrowseandfastbrowsefunctionsinDSOperatorallowEnterprise/Service
Providerstoviewinformationaboutbackupsets.Informationincludes:
directoryandfilenames
storagestatistics(size,DSSize,streamsize)
backupsetstatistics(dateoflastbackup,originalfilesize,etc.)
typeoffileandwhereitisstored(onlineorarchive)

DS-System Online Storage 47


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanalsousethesefunctionstoverifylogicalfile
dependencies(usingVerifyLink),andtooptimizetheMaster/Deltagenerationsfor
storagesize(usingOptimize),andperformfilelevelrestorefromDSOperator.

Adding Storage Locations


Newstoragelocationscanbeaddedatruntime,evenwhilebackups/deletes/restoresare
underway.Newstoragelocationswillbeusedimmediately(ifneeded).

DS-System Online Storage Directory Structure

Diagram
HereisadiagramofthebasicDSSystemOnlineStoragedirectorystructure:

root

cd

blm_pitc

data ExtraCustID

dump CustomerID

tmp ClientID

_dir_store
Logs BackupSetID
_dirdesc

cluster ApplicationID _dirdesc

config cln ExtraDirID

Storage_Label.txt _client.ini DirID _dirdesc

trash acc FileID.GenID

_cust.ini _file_store
Upgrade

pub

Description
Root therootlocationforonlinestorage.Itisbydefaultd:\bakinWindows,butmay
beaUNCpath.ItshouldnotbeamappeddriveforWindowsDSSystems.
Itisbydefault/bak/rootonLinuxDSSystems.
cd Disc/Tapeselectiverequestfilelist.

DS-System Online Storage 48


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
blm_pitc usedbyDSSystemandBLMArchiverwhenpointintimecopiesofthedata
arerequired.Thirdpartysnapshotapplicationscanbeemployedtomovethe
datafromDSSystemtoBLMArchiver.
Data usedtoholdcustomerdata
dump usedtoholdDSSystemdatabasedumps
tmp/temp usedtoholdtemporaryfiles(oneusedfornormaloperations,oneusedbysome
ofthemodules)
Logs usedtoholdarchivedlogfilescontainingentriesthatwereremovedfromthe
DSSystemdatabasebytheClearDSSystemLogsfeature.
cluster N+1DSSystemonly:containstheN+1configurationfile(filenameconfig).
config N+1DSSystemonly:filethatlistsallnodesintheN+1(IPaddressandPort
number).
Storage_Label.txt TextfilecontainingtheExtensibleStoragelocationIDanditspath.
trash Allfilesdeletedfromonline(/data)willbemovedhere.EachDSSystem
StorageLocationhasitsownindividualtrashfolder.
Upgrade AllautoupgradepackagesthatneedtobepushedtoDSClientsarestored
here.TheDefaultsubfoldercontainstheDSSystem/DSClientlevelbranding
(ifapplicable)andeachVARbrandinghasitsownindividual,uniquesub
folder.TherootoftheUpgradefolderincludesautoupgradepackagesforhot
fixreleaseswhicharecommon(notbranded).
ExtraCustID usedtoaddressperformanceandfilesystemlimitations(similarto
<ExtraDir>)
calculatedas:
CustomerID
--------------------------------------- + 1
16384

CustomerID numericIDgeneratedbythedatabase;incrementedforeachnewcustomerand
uniqueforagivenDSSystem.
pub usedtostorepubliclibrarycommonfiles(seeLibraryFilesonpage51)
ClientID numericIDgeneratedbythedatabase;incrementedforeachnewclientand
uniqueforagivenDSSystem.
acc usedtostoreaccountlibrarycommonfiles(seeLibraryFilesonpage51)
_cust.ini containsinformationaboutthecustomeraccount,whichcanbeusedincaseof
DSSystemdisasterrecovery,intheeventthisinformationisnolongerinthe
DSSystemdatabase
BackupSetID numericIDgeneratedbytheDSClientdatabasewhenanewbackupsetis
created.MorethanoneDSClientmayhavethesamebackupsetID,althoughit
mustbeuniqueforeachDSClient.Hasadescriptor.
cln usedtostoreclientlibrarycommonfiles(seeLibraryFilesonpage51)

DS-System Online Storage 49


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
_client.ini containsinformationabouttheDSClientnumber,whichcanbeusedincaseof
DSSystemdisasterrecovery,intheeventthisinformationisnolongerinthe
DSSystemdatabase
ApplicationID DSClientnumberseachapplicationforabackupsetinauniqueway,starting
with1.MorethanonebackupsetmayhavethesameapplicationIDevenfor
thesameDSClient.Anapplicationisdefinedasashare,partition,orany
otherbackupitem(usuallythefirstlevelinadirectorylistingperformedbythe
DSClient).Applicationsareusefulfordatamigrationbetweenshares.
ApplicationIDhasadescriptor.
ExtraDirID anextradirectoryIDthatisautomaticallygenerated.Itisusedtoaddress
performanceandfilesystemlimitationsonthenumberofsubdirectoriesper
directory(seeExtraDirIDonpage50).
DirID directoryIDgeneratedbytheDSClientdatabaseforeachnewbackedup
directory.(Thereisnomodoperation;theactualdirectoryIDisstored.)Must
beuniquewithinabackupset(databaseconstraint).Hasadescriptor.
FileID thefileIDgeneratedbytheDSClientdatabaseoneachnewbackedupfile;
mustbeuniquewithinabackupset(databaseconstraint).
GenID auniqueIDnumberusedtodistinguishbetweendifferentonlinegenerationsof
afile.Itsvalueisthetimestampofthebackupsessionwhenthisgenerationwas
backedup.Canbenegative,forarecycledgeneration.
_file_store fileusedtostoresmallfiles(under32KBinsize)ontheDSSystemOnline
Storage.Allsmallfilesunderadirectorywillbestoredinthesame_file_store
file.Eachdirectorymayhaveitsown_file_store.

ExtraDir ID
TheExtraDirIDexpandsthebasedirectorystructuretoaddressanumberofissues:
Somefilesystems(notablyUnix)limitthenumberofsubdirectoriesinadirectory.
The<Application>levelcouldreachthislimitonbigbackups.
Itcantaketimetomanuallybrowsemanysubdirectories,slowingdown
investigationofproblems.
Dependingonthefilesystem,havingmanydirectoriesunderonedirectorymay
impedeperformance.
ExtraDirIDisdefinedas[ DirID
------------------- + 1 ]
16384
Itisautomaticallygenerated.

Note:DirIDistheactualIDandnotDirmod 16384.

Directory Description Files


Thedirectorydescriptionfiles(filename:_dirdesc)includethefollowinginformation
(dependingonlevelinthetree):
theoriginalbackupsetnameforastoredbackupsetID

DS-System Online Storage 50


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
thesharenameforthestoredshares
theDSClientdirectorynameforastoreddirectoryID
Thestatisticalinformationincludesthefilecountforonlinegenerations,aswellaslibrary
files,andfilesizes.
TheDSSystemdefaultbehavioristouseaconsolidatedbackupsetdirectorydescription
file(filename:_dir_store).Thisfilecontainstheequivalentofallthedirectorydescription
(_dirdesc)filesinthatbackupsetssubfolders.Thisimprovestheresponsetimeby
reducingtheI/O(especiallyforbackupsetswithmanythousandsofsubfolders).

Library Files
Librariesareusedtohandlecommonfiles.Librariesarestoredasfilesunderdirectories
foreachlibrarytype(andcustomer/DSClient).Eachlibraryfilehasanumberasitsfile
name(noextension):thenumberrepresentsthelibraryid(uniqueinaDSSystem).
LibrariesarestoredatthelevelofthecorrespondingDSClient/customeraccount,to
speedupsearchesandtomakesurealibraryisautomaticallydeletedincasetheDS
Client/customerisdeleted.

Other Files
Besidesthesestandardfilelocations,someotherfilesmayexistonDSSystemOnline
Storage.
dump/dssystem_number.dmpcontainsthedatabasedump,identifiedwithanumber
representingthedateandtimeofthedumpthedumpisperformedat00:00a.m.
(midnight)everydayforWindowsDSSystems,at08:00a.m.everydayforLinuxDS
Systems,andwhenevertheDSSystemserviceisrestarted.
ForDSClient:
root/CustomerID/ClientID/xxxxxxxxxxxx.dmp,wherexxxxxxxxxxxxistheDSClient
number(notid),representstheDSClientdatabasebackupperformedbytheDS
ClientduringtheDSClientAdminprocesses
root/CustomerID/ClientID/xxxxxxxxxxxx_diff.dmp,wherexxxxxxxxxxxxistheDS
Clientnumber(notid),representstheDSClientdatabasedifferentialbackup
performedbytheDSClientduringtheDSClientDailyAdminprocesses(Windows
DSClientonly)
root/CustomerID/ClientID/dsdelta.dmp,wherethedumpofthedsdeltadatabaseis
stored(forWindowsDSClientonly)
root/CustomerID/ClientID/dsdelta_diff.dmp,wherethedifferentialdumpofthe
dsdeltadatabaseisstored(forWindowsDSClientonly)

DS-System Online Storage Replication


DSSystemOnlineStoragecanbereplicatedbetweentwoormoreDSSystems.This
offersmanybenefits,suchas:
redundancy,withmultipleworkingcopies(secondarybackups)oftheDSSystem
OnlineStorage

DS-System Online Storage 51


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
highavailability,withDSClientsabletoswitchfromafailedDSSystemtoa
ReplicationDSSystem

Diagram
HereiscloserviewofthereplicationportionoftheAsigraCloudBackupcomponents:

About Replication
InordertobeabletoreplicatetheDSSystemOnlineStorage,theDSSystemwherethe
datawillbereplicatedmustberunningwitheitheraproductionDSSystemlicenseor
withaReplicationDSSystemlicense.AReplicationDSSystemlicensedoesnotallow
backupactivitiestorun,howeveritallowsreplicationactivitiesandrestoreactivities.A
ReplicationDSSystemmaybeeasilyswitchedtoaproductionDSSystembyupdating
theDSSystemlicensetypetoProductionLicense.
ReplicationisperformedattheDSClientlevel.EachDSClientthatyouchooseto
replicatemustbesharedforreplication.Onceshared,DSSystemwillautomatically
check(bydefaultevery6hours)thereplicationstatusfortheDSClientsbackupsetsand
willtransferneworchangeddatatotheReplicationDSSystem.Thisintervaloftimeis
configurable.Areplicationactivitywillbeautomaticallytriggeredwhenabackup
activitycompletesforabackupset.

DS-System Online Storage 52


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ThedatareplicatedbetweenthetwoDSSystemsisthedataresidingontheDSSystem
OnlineStorageandthedatathatneedstoberestored.Otherconfigurationdetailsforthat
customer/DSClientarenotreplicated.
Afterreplicationhasprocessedthemastergenerationofafileinabackupset(orthe
initialbackupofafile),thereplicationprocesswillperformreplicationincremental
foreverforsubsequentbackupsofthatfile.(Normally,itwillnottransmitanother
masterforthatsamefileunlessafilecorruptionoccursoneitheroftheDSSystems.
WhicheverDSSystemhasagoodcopyofthefilewillreplicatetotheother,hencethe
termmultidirectionalreplication).ThedataontheDSSystemOnlineStorageis
replicatedfilebyfile.Onlynewfilesornewgenerationsofafilewillbereplicatedin
subsequentreplicationsessions.
Ifareplicationsessionisinterrupted,itwillresumeatblocklevelifthefilethatitwas
replicatingisbiggerthan10MBoratfilelevelifthefilethatwasreplicatedissmaller
than10MB.

Configuring DS-Clients for Replication Fail-over


DSClientsthatconnecttoaDSSysteminareplicationgroupshouldbeconfiguredwith
theIPAddressinformationofalltheDSSystemsinthegroup.IftheDSClientsarenot
yetconfigured,theEnterprise/ServiceProvidercanusetheautoupdateXMLfeatureto
pushtheIPAddressconfigurationtotheDSClients(update.xml).Thisfilewillbe
downloadedbyDSClientsduringDailyAdminorWeeklyAdminactivitiesanditgets
appliedimmediatelytotheDSClientdatabase.BothprimaryandsecondaryIP
addressescanbeupdatedusingthisfeature.
IncasetheproductionDSSystemfails,andthedataforaDSClientisreplicatedtoa
replicationDSSystem,theEnterprise/ServiceProvidermustswitchtheDSSystem
licensetoaproductionlicenseinordertoallowDSClientstotemporarilyconnecttothe
ReplicationDSSystem.Oncethelicenseisswitched,DSClientswillbeabletoconnectto
theReplicationDSSystemandwillbeabletocontinuetheirdaytodayoperations.

Backup/Restore and DS-System Online Storage


DSSystemstoresbackedupfilesintheappropriatelocationinDSSystemOnline
Storage.Whenarestoreisrequested,DSSystemassemblesthenecessaryfilesfromDS
SystemOnlineStorage,thentransmitsthefilestoDSClient,whichdetermineswhereto
restorethemontheDSClientside.

Deleting from DS-System Online Storage

Deleting via DS-System


Deleting Data
WhendataisdeletedfromDSSystemOnlineStoragebyDSSystem(forexample,when
acustomeraccountisdeleted)datawillbemovedtothetrash folder ofthestorage
locationratherthanbeingdeleted.Thisisaprecautionincaseitisnecessarytorestorethe
deletedfiles.Filesremaininthetrash folderuntilremovedbytheDSOperators

DS-System Online Storage 53


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
emptytrashfunction.
DatamayalsobearchivedtoBLMArchiver(ifDSSystemandBLMArchiverexistinthe
environmentandtheyareproperlylicensedandconfigured).

Deleting a DS-Client
ADSClientcanbedeletedfromtheDSOperatorGUIorfromtheDSBillingGUI.In
ordertodeleteaDSClient,itmustbefirstdeactivated(aprocessthatgeneratesa
finalinvoice)andthenremoved.WhenaDSClientisremoved,alldatabackedup
fromthatspecificDSClientcanbemovedtothetrash folder or movedtoBLM
Archiver.

Deleting via DS-Client


Overview
Whencustomersdeletefilesfromtheirsourcecomputers,eithermanuallyorviaanILM/
HSMsolution,thefilesremain,intheirbackedupstate,onDSSystemOnlineStorage.
Customerscanchoosetodeletethosefiles,usingDSUser,inoneofthewaysdescribedin
thissection.
Deletionisatwostepprocess:deletetherecordfromtheDSClientdatabaseanddelete
thefilefromtheDSSystemOnlineStorage.Asaresult,iftheDSSystemisstopped
beforethesecondstepcanbecarriedout,filesthatshouldbedeletedfromDSSystem
OnlineStoragewillremain.AlldatadeletedfromDSSystemwillbemovedtothetrash
folder.DSOperatorcanmanuallystartanEmptyTrashprocesstocleanthetrash,or
thisprocesscanbescheduled.

Assisted Delete
AnassisteddeletedeletesfromDSSystemOnlineStoragealldirectoriesforoneormore
specificbackupsets,whenabackupfindsthatthedirectoriesweredeletedfromsource
computersorthatthedatawasmovedfromthesourcecomputersbyanILM/HSM
solution(andwasreplacedwithaplaceholder/stub).AllthedataremovedfromtheDS
SystemOnlineStoragebytheAssistedDeletecanbemovedtotheBLMArchiver.

Retention
Retentionallowscustomerstobuildcomplexrulesformaintainingfilegenerationsonline
accordingtotheirownspecifications.Thesecanbebasedontime,andonrulesfor
maintainingfilegenerationsonline,andbasedonthefileage(e.g.:keep1generation
everydayfor1week,keep1generationeverymonthfor1year,keep1generationevery
yearfor7yearsetc.,Archiveallfilesolderthan7years).
AlldataremovedfromtheDSSystemOnlineStoragebyRetentioncanbemovedtoBLM
Archiver.AlldataremovedfromtheDSSystemOnlineStoragebythefileagerulesis
savedintheBLMArchiver.
SeeAboutRetentiononpage55.

DS-System Online Storage 54


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Retention Delete Options
AdeleteoffilesdeletedfromthesourcecomputerscanbeconfiguredusingtheRetention
feature.Customerscanchoosetodelete:
filesinDSSystemOnlineStoragethatthebackupprocessfindshavebeendeleted
fromthesourcecomputers(optiontokeepaspecifiednumberofonlinegenerations)
filesinDSSystemOnlineStorageifaplaceholderhasbeencreatedonthesource,for
example,byanILM/HSMproduct
CustomerscanalsochoosetoMovetoBLM(BLMModulemustbeenabledforDS
Client):
DSSystemwillsendacopyofanyfilesthataredeletedtotheBLMArchiver
registeredwiththatDSSystem.

Selective Delete
AselectivedeleteisondemanddeletionofdatastoredforanybackupsetinDSSystem
OnlineStorage.Deletioncanbebasedonafileitself(forexample,afilethecustomer
knowsisobsolete)orbasedonthetimeperiodsinceafilewasdeletedfromthesource
computers(eithermanuallydeletedormovedbyILM/HSM,withaplaceholderleft
behind).
CustomerscanalsochoosetoMovetoBLM(BLMModulemustbeenabledforDS
Client).

Remove Backup Set (delete backup set)


Backupsetremovalisondemanddeletionofabackupset.Theentirecontentsofthe
backupsetaredeletedfromDSSystemOnlineStorageandthebackupsetisremoved
fromtheDSClientdatabase.
CustomerscanalsochoosetoMovetoBLM(BLMModulemustbeenabledforDS
Client).

About Retention
Retentionisafeaturethatallowscustomerstoimplementtheirdatastoragebusiness
requirementsforthelengthoftimethatdatawillbesavedontheonlinestorage.
Retentioncansavecomplexsetsofretentionrules,basedonwhichdataiskeptonthe
onlinestorageandcanreducecostsbyallowingimplementationofrulesthatmoveold
datatothe(lowercost)BLMArchiver.

About Retention Rules


Retentionrulesaretherulesthatdefinewhendataisrelevant(hastobekeptonthe
onlinebackup)andwhenitisobsolete(hastobedeletedfromthebackup).

Types of Retention Rule


TimebasedOnlineRetention
SpecifiestheamountoftimedatashouldbestoredontheDSSystemOnlineStorage
basedonthebackuptime.

DS-System Online Storage 55


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ArchiveOlddatatoBLM
SpecifiestheamountoftimedatashouldbestoredontheDSSystemOnlineStorage
basedonthefileage.
LocalStorageRetention
SpecifiestheamountoftimedatashouldbestoredontheDSClientLocalStorage
basedonthebackuptime.

Retention Rule Specifications


Inaretentionrule,youcanconfigurethefollowing:
Daystokeepallgenerationsofafile/database
Keepanumberofmostrecentgenerations
Dataexpirationoptions(DeletedDatafromsource,HSMplaceholders)
Keeponegenerationeveryxnumberofminutes,hours,days,weeks,months,and
years
Keeponegenerationonaspecificdayofaweekataspecifictime
Keeponegenerationonaspecificdayofamonth
Enforcetheserulesforaperiodofhours,days,weeks,months,andyears
Archiveall(orspecific)filesolderthanxnumberofminutes,hours,days,weeks,
months,andyears

About data expiration options


Thedataexpirationoptionscanspecifywhentodeletefilesandgenerationsoffilesif:
thefilesweredeletedfromsourceacertainnumberofdaysago,or
thefilesweremovedbyanHSM/ILMtoaremotestorageandwerereplacedwitha
stub.
RetentionrulescanbedefinedintheDSClientusingtheDSUserGUI.
Retentionrulesareassignedatthebackupsetlevel.

Applying retention rules


RetentionrulesareappliedwhentheEnforceRetentionoptionisselectedmanuallyor
whenascheduleisconfiguredwiththeEnforceRetentiontaskselected.Aretention
rulemustbeassignedtoabackupset,beforeitcanbeenforced.

Retention rule options


Aretentionrulecanbeconfiguredwithseveraloptions.Theseoptionsestablishhowto
deletethedata,basedoncumulativeparameters.Retentionalwaysdefaultstokeepthe
mostdataontheonlinestoragethatmeetstheretentionrulespecifications.Allretention
rulesareappliedtoabackupsetasaunion(eachoptionisjoinedwiththeANDlogic).

DS-System Online Storage 56


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Delete Lock
Whenapplied(atthecustomeraccountorDSClientlevel),alldatawillbeforcedtoBLM
Archiverwheneveranydataisdeleted(bydelete,retention,ormaximumgeneration
recycling)byDSClient.IfBLMArchiverisnotavailable,thegenerationiskeptonline
(overrulinganyDSClientmaximumgenerationsettings).

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT RETENTION:


Theretentionwilltaketheretentionrulesbasedonthetimewhenretentionruns.If
retentionrunsondifferentdaysthanthebackup,retentionwillcalculatetimesfrom
themomenttheEnforceRetentionprocessisstarted(i.e.1weekisaweekback
fromtimewhentheprocessstarts).
RetentionissplittingthetimeslicesstartingwithJanuary1st,1970.

Local Storage Retention


LocalStorageRetentionisafeaturethatallowsDSClienttomanagemultiplegenerations
ofdatasavedintheLocalStorageBuffer.Bydefault,abackupsetconfiguredwiththe
LocalStorageoptioncankeeponegenerationofdataontheLocalStorageeventhough
multiplegenerationofdataarekeptontheDSSystemOnlineStorage.
DSClientcankeepmultiplegenerationsofdataintheLocalStoragebuffer,ifthat
backupsetisconfiguredwiththeLocalStorageoptionandisassignedtoaretentionrule
configuredwithLocalStorageRetentionoptions.Themultiplegenerationsofdatainthe
LocalStoragebufferaremanagedwiththehelpoftheLocalStorageretentionrules.As
withtheDSClientsregularretention,thelocalstorageretentionisasmartdelete.On
theLocalStoragepath,theDSClientcanmaintainuptothesamenumberofgenerations
asaremaintainedontheonlinestorage.
TheDSClientwillnotusethemaster/deltaalgorithmwhenstoringmultiplegenerations
ontheLocalStoragebuffer.Allthegenerationssavedonthelocalstoragearemaster
generationsofthebackedupdata(theycontainallthedatablocks).SelfContained
backupsetscannotbeconfiguredtostoremorethanonegenerationonthelocalstorage.

DS-System Online Storage 57


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System Administration

Daily Processes
Eachdaythefollowingadministrativeactivitiesareautomaticallyperformed:
theDSSystemdatabaseisdumpedat00:00a.m.(midnight)forWindowsDSSystems
andat08:00a.m.forLinuxDSSystems.Thepreviousdumpisalsoretained.Database
dumpconfigurationparameterscanbeadjustedafterinstallation.

Note:ForWindowsDSSystemsusingtheMSSQLdatabase,adifferential
dumpisperformedhourly.

clientsforwhomSystemAdminshouldberunareidentified
onthe2nddayofthemonth(andwhenevertheDSSystemservice/daemonis
restarted),theClearDSSystemLogsprocessstarts.
backupsetsthatrequirereplicationareidentifiedbasedontheconfigurationofthe
DSSystem(ReplicationCheckparameterinAdvancedConfigurations).
Optimizationisrundaily,bydefault.DSSystemwilldetectmodifieddirectoriesand
willattempttoperformDeltaChainOptimizationforfilesinthesedirectories.
WhenevertheDSSystemserviceisstarted,theconsistencyofthedatabaseischeckedto
seewhetheritisinanormalstateorwhetherithasbeenrestoredfromadump(aswould
bethecaseindiskfailure).

System Admin

Overview
SystemAdministheprocessthatupdatesstatistics.Thisprocesscanbescheduledand
canalsoberunmanuallyattheDSClient/backupsetlevel.Ithaslowerprioritythan
otheractivities,suchasbackups.
SystemAdminperformsthefollowingfunctions:

DS-System Administration 58
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Checksallfilesforheadercorruptionand,ifheadercorruptionisfound,movesthe
filestothetrash folder.Headercorruptionmaybetheresultofabaddiskoradisk
driverfailure.
Ifacorruptedfileismovedtothetrashfolder,SystemAdminwilltrytoretrievethe
corruptedfilefromoneoftheReplicationDSSystemsinthesamegroup(if
configured).Otherwise,thebackupsetwillbemarkedoutofsyncandwhentheDS
Clientconnects,itwillsynchronizethebackupsetandtrytoresendthefilefromthe
sourcemachine.
Checkslibrarylinksforconsistencyandupdatescorrespondinginformationinthe
database.
Checksdirectoriesforstreamheadercorruptionand,iffound,reportsthisandskips
thetreeitemsfollowingthecorruptedstreamheader.
Updatesstatisticsviaaregularorfullscan(seeTypesofScansonpage59).
Whenstartedmanually,canbeinstructedtoupdatestoredsize.
IfDSSystemisreconfiguredtonotuseonlinegenerationrecycling,clearsallrecycled
generationsbyreconstructingmastergenerations.
IfDSSystemisconfiguredtoperformStorageSpaceOptimization,SystemAdmin
triggersreconstruction,whenapplicable.
IfSystemAdmin(withthePerformaRegularScantoUpdateStatisticalInfo:
Regularoptionselected)isinterruptedbyahigherprioryactivity,itwillresumeits
scanwhereitleftoff.ThisavoidssituationswhereascanofabackupsetorDSClient
neverfinishesduetofrequentinterruptions.

Types of Scans
SystemAdmincanruntwotypesofscanofDSClients.
Theregularscan,runaspartofoverallSystemAdmin,updatesallstatistical
information(suchasnumberoffilesandfilesizes)forthatDSClient.Theregularscanis
forbothinvoicingandintegritychecking.Forexample,itcanfindthatafilehasbeen
movedtoalibraryandrecalculatestoragesize.Thisscancanalsoberunmanuallyif
necessary.
Thefullscan,runmanually,gathersinformationonlyforinvoicing,withoutreadingor
validatingfiles.Italsodeletesrecycleddeltagenerations,ifDSSystemisconfiguredto
nowuseonlinegenerationrecycling.
IfusingN+1DSSystem,anautomaticscanhastheN+1DSDirectorchoosewhichDS
Systemtouseforthescan.AmanualscanletstheuserchoosewhichoftheN+1systems
touseforthescan.

Frequency of Scans
Bydefault,SystemAdminisconfiguredtoruntheregularscaneverydayoftheweek,
foreveryDSClient(oneprocessperDSClient).However,theSystemAdminscancan
alsobescheduledforspecificdays,forspecificdaysoftheweek,orspecificdaysofthe
month.

DS-System Administration 59
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Optimize Storage Space
Aslongasonlinegenerationrecyclingisbeingused,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscan
specifytoremovetherecycleddeltagenerationsandrebuildmastergenerationsforany
ofthefollowing:
fileswithaspecificnumberofrecycleddeltagenerations.
fileswithacertainsizeofrecycleddeltagenerations(ormore).
fileswithanonlinegenerationolderthanaspecificnumberofdays.
fileswithaspecifiedcumulativedeltasize(asapercentageofthemasterfile).

Empty Trash
ForanyExtensibleStorageLocation,youcanmanuallystarttheEmptyTrashfromthe
activity.Thisactivitycanalsobescheduledtorunperiodically,otherwiseDSSystem
doesnotphysicallyremovethedatafromtheOnlineStorage.Bydefault,thisactivityis
notscheduledtorun.

DS-System Administration 60
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Customer Accounts

About this Section


Thissectionexplainshowcustomeraccountsarehandled.

Introduction to Customer Accounts


AnaccountnumbermustbeprovidedinordertoallowaDSClienttoconnecttoaDS
System.AllEnterprise/ServiceProviderswillneedtosetupaccountsfortheircustomers,
eveninternalenterprisecustomers.
Accountdefinitionsincludeaccountconfigurationinformationsuchas:storagequotas,
bandwidththrottling,storagehistoryetc.
Settingupcustomeraccountsinvolvesthefollowingsteps:
1 EnterEnterprise/ServiceProviderinformation,suchasEMailaddress.
2 SetupcustomeraccountsandDSClients(seeCustomerAccountsandDSClientson
page61).
3 SetuplimitsforcustomeraccountsandDSClients(seeAboutLimitingCustomer
AccountsandDSClientsonpage64).

Account Configuration

Default Values
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscansetupdefaultvaluestobeusedforeachnewcustomer
accountorDSClient.InformationforaspecificcustomeractsasthedefaultforanyDS
Clientcreatedforthatcustomer.

Customer Accounts and DS-Clients


Eachcustomerhasasinglecustomeraccount,butcanhavemanyDSClients.

Customer Accounts 61
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Customer Account and DS-Client Information
InformationenteredaboutcustomeraccountsandtheirDSClientsincludes:

Item Set for Set for


Customer DS-Client?
Account?

accountnumber yes no

companynameandcontact yes no

storagegroup yes yes

IPaddressrestrictions no yes

descriptionoflicense no yes

whethertoshowstoredsizeinbackupsetreports yes yes

whethertoenableadefaultBackupPolicyforDS yes yes


Clients
settingsforbandwidththrottle,storagequotas,and yes yes
storagehistory(seeAboutLimitingCustomer
AccountsandDSClientsonpage64)

EMailaddress yes yes

MassDeploymentAutoRegistrationandautofill no yes
descriptionwithcomputername

Note:Whereanitemcannotbeset,orisnotset,foranindividualDSClient,
theDSClientinheritsthedefaultvaluesofthecustomeraccount.

Customer Accounts 62
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Customer Account Information to Provide to Customers
InordertoinstallDSClients,Enterprise/ServiceProvidersmustprovidecustomerswith:
customeraccountnumber
DSClientnumber(systemgenerated)
DSSystemIPaddressorfullyqualifiednodename
IncaseEncryptionKeyManagementisenabledandcustomershaveforwardedthe
EncryptionKey(s)totheDSSystem,Enterprise/ServiceProvidersmayprovidethe
customerwithanencryptedcopyoftheirencryptionkey(includedaspartofa.CRI
file).ThisencryptedstringmaybeupdatedtotheWindowsDSClientusingtheDS
ClientSetup(bybrowsingfortheprovided.CRIfile)orbyrerunningtheDSClient
installation.Linux/MacDSClientcanapplytheseupdatesusingtheModify
functionoftheDSClientconfiguration(DSUser>SetupMenu>Configuration...).

Note:ForanN+1DSSystem,theEnterprise/ServiceProvidermustprovide
theircustomerswiththeDSSystemIPaddress(orfullyqualified
machinename)foreachnodeintheN+1DSSystem.

Note:ForaDSSystemthatbelongstoareplicationgroup,theEnterprise/
ServiceProvidermayprovidetheircustomerswiththeDSSystemIP
address(orfullyqualifiedmachinename)foreachDSSysteminthe
replicationgroup.

Customer Accounts 63
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
About Limiting Customer Accounts and DS-Clients

Setting up Storage Quotas


Enterprise/ServiceProviderscansetdefaultstoragequotastobeappliedtoallnew
customeraccountsandDSClients,orspecificquotasforindividualcustomeraccounts
andtheirDSClients.Thecustomerstoragequotadoesnotneedtoequalthesumofthe
individualDSClientquotas.Forexample,considerthefollowingcase:
customerquotais200MB
DSClientAsquotais100MB
DSClientBsquotais100MB
DSClientCsquotais50MB
Oncethe200MBcustomerquotaisreached,backupswillnotbeallowed.Thismaymean
thatDSClientCdoesnotgetbackedup,iftheothertwoDSClientsusetheirfullquotas
first.
Hereisanothercase:
customerquotais400MB
DSClientAsquotais200MB
DSClientBsquotais800MB
DSClientBwillonlybeabletobackupamaximumof400MBofdata,regardlessofits
ownquota,andonlyifDSClientAdoesnotbackupanydata.
ForbothcustomersandDSClients,Enterprise/ServiceProvidersspecify:
thequotalimit,inGB
howthequotaistobecalculated(basedonstoredsize,protectedsize,ornativesize)
what%overthequotaconstitutesstopbackuplevel,wherecustomerswillno
longerbeabletobackup(or,forDSClient,beabletobackupusingthatparticular
DSClient)
what%overthequotawilltriggeroneofthethreewarninglevelEMailmessages,
andwhetherornottosendanEMailmessagewhenthestopbackuplevelis
reached

Caution:AsigraInc.recommendsusingquotaswithcaution,sincethey
canpreventdatabackup.

Setting up Bandwidth Throttle


Enterprise/ServiceProviderscan,optionally,specifythemaximumthroughput(inKB/
second)toandfromDSSystem.Thisthroughputcanbefixedforawholeday,or
scheduledfordifferentpartsoftheday,oronspecificdaysoftheweek.Thiscanapplyto
allnewDSClients,ortoindividualDSClients.Thesesettingstakeeffectimmediately,
affectingallactivitiesthatarelaunchedafterthethrottlehasbeenset.Bydefault,no
bandwidththrottleisset.Theminimumlimitforthethrottleis5KB/second.

Customer Accounts 64
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ThisfeatureisusefulinpreventingasingleDSClientfromusingtheentireavailable
bandwidth,sinceitmayaffectotherconnectionsonasharedline.

Setting up Storage History


Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanspecifydefaultvaluesforhowoftentorecordstorage
history(e.g.theamountofstoragespacebeingused),andhowlongtokeepthatstorage
history.ThesevaluesapplytoallnewDSClients.Inaddition,Enterprise/Service
ProviderscanspecifyvaluesforspecificDSClients.Thisinformationcanbeviewedin
theStorageTrendreport.
StoragehistoryiscollectedperDSClient(DSClientParameters>AdvancedTab:History
Interval).Thecurrentavailablesettingsare1day(defaultvalue),1hour,andthen30,15,
10and5minutesintervals.Forexample:ifa5minuteintervalisselected,thestorage
spaceusedbythatDSClientwillberecordedevery5minutesintotheDSSystem
database.
UsingtheDSOperatorStorageTrendReport,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanviewa
chartortableofaDSClientsstoragetrend.AmorefrequentHistoryIntervalsettingwill
allowyoutoseethestoragetrendoverthemorepreciseintervalsoftime.

Warning:Keepingadetailedlevelofstoragehistoryforalongperiodof
timeandforalargenumberofDSClientsmaysignificantly
increasetheDSSystemdatabasesize.

Locking or Deleting Customer Accounts


Enterprise/ServiceProviderscantemporarilylockcustomeraccountsforbusiness
reasons(suchasnonpayment).LockedaccountscannotconnecttoDSSystemand,
therefore,cannotbackuporrestoredatato/fromonline.However,theycancontinueto
backuplocally(tothelocalstoragecache),ifconfigured.Accountscanalsobede
activatedandthenreactivated.Finally,accountscanbedeleted.
Locking/UnlockingandDeactivating/Reactivatingcustomeraccounts/DSClientscan
alsobedonethroughtheDSNOCinterfacewithauserthathassufficientpermissions.

Migrating Customer Accounts


Whencustomeraccounts/DSClientsaremigrated(seeMigratingCustomerAccounts
andDSClientsonpage124),theaccountconfigurationfortheaccountscanbemigrated
aswell.

Delete Lock on Customer Accounts


Whencustomeraccounts/DSClientshaveaDeleteLockapplied,theirbackupsets
becomeappendonly,meaningnogenerationscanbedeleted(evenwithnormal
retentionorgenerationrecycling).

Customer Accounts 65
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System Activities

ThefollowingactivitiesappearintheDSSystemActivityLog:

Activity Meaning For more information...

ApplicationAuto DSRecoveryTools:autoupgrade UpgradingDSRecovery


Upgrade beingperformed Tools:DSMLR/MS
DSUser:autoupgradebeing SharePointAgentonpage230
performed UpgradingDSUser
Interfacesonpage129
AutoUpgrade DSClientautoupgradebeing UpgradingDSClienton
performed page129
Backup backupprocessisrunning SettingupandManaging
Backupsonpage98
BLMArchiving databeingsenttoBLMArchiver BackupLifecycle
Management(BLM)Topics
onpage236
BLMRequest BackupLifecycleManagement BackupLifecycle
modulerequestbeingprocessed Management(BLM)Topics
onpage236
CleanLibraries cleanupoforphanedcommonfile CleaningUpLibraries
librariesunderway (AdministrativeFunction)on
page155
CleanLogs cleanupofDSSystemlogs
underway

DailyAdmin DailyAdminprocessisrunning DSClientAdministrationon


page120
Delete databeingdeletedfromDSSystem DeletingviaDSClienton
OnlineStorageoncustomer page54
request

DisasterRecovery DSSystemrunninginDisaster DSSystemDisaster


Recoverymode Recoveryonpage70

DS-System Activities 66
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Activity Meaning For more information...

Disc/Tape disc/tapemodulerequestisin Disc/TapeModuleonpage


progress 221
EmptyTrash itemsbeingremovedfromtrash DSSystemAdministration
folder onpage58
FileOptimization optimizationoffilesstoredonDS
SystemOnlineStorageis
underway

GroupAdmin oneofthefollowingprocessesis DSSystemOnlineStorage


beingperformedonaDSSystemin Replicationonpage51
areplicationgroup:
Share/UnshareCustomers
Share/UnshareDSClients
CheckReplications
ReplicationStatus

InitialBackup initialbackupunderway AboutInitialBackuponpage


21
Migration customeraccount/DSClientbeing MigratingCustomer
migrated(exported,imported) AccountsandDSClientson
page124
Recovery DSClientrunningrecoveryofits
owndatabases

RemoteDSVDR VirtualMachinesbackedupwith
Restore VMwareVADPbackupsetsare
periodicallyrestoredforDisaster
RecoverystandbyintheMSP/
DataCenterenvironmentandare
readytobeusedincaseofdisaster
atcustomersite

ReplicationDelete ReplicationDSSystemisdeleting DSSystemOnlineStorage


anentirebackupsetthathasbeen Replicationonpage51
completelyremoved(deletedat
DSClientrequestfromthe
primaryDSSystem).

ReplicationReceive DSSystemisreceivingreplication DSSystemOnlineStorage


datafromanotherinthereplication Replicationonpage51
group

ReplicationSend DSSystemissendingreplication DSSystemOnlineStorage


datatoanotherinthereplication Replicationonpage51
group

DS-System Activities 67
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Activity Meaning For more information...

ReplicationSend DSSystemisattemptingtorepair
Repair corruptedfilesfoundonthe
ProductionDSSystemduring
AutonomicHealing,System
Admin,ValidationRestoreand
SystemValidationbyreplicating
thecorruptedfilefromagoodcopy
onanotherDSSysteminthesame
replicationgroup

Report ascheduledactivity:
thatsendsDSSystemreportsby
EMail,basedonconfiguration
specifiedbyDSSystem
Administrator
thatsavesDSSystemreportsto
disk,basedonconfiguration
specifiedbyDSSystem
Administrator

Restore DSClientperformingarestore RestoringBackedupDataon


page106
Retention DSClientperformingascheduled AboutRetentiononpage55
orondemandretentionactivityon
abackupset

RetireStorage extensiblestoragelocation RetiringExtensibleStorage


retirementprocess Locationsonpage47
StorageScan scanofextensiblestoragetoupdate HowExtensibleStorage
statistics Worksonpage43
StorageStatistics reportonDSSystemOnline
Storagecontent,e.g.largestfiles,
etc.

Synchronization synchronization(anykind)is SynchronizingDSClientwith


running DSSystemonpage165
SystemAdmin SystemAdminunderway DSSystemAdministration
onpage58
SystemAutonomic AutonomicHealingprocess AutonomicHealingModule
Healing underway onpage217
SystemBackup commonfileidentificationprocess CommonFileEliminationon
underway page153

DS-System Activities 68
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Activity Meaning For more information...

System DSSystemperformscompression
Compression andencryptionofdataonDS
SystemOnlineStorageifdatawas
foundtobeuncompressed

Validation DSClientvalidationprocess RestorabilityValidationon


underway page171
SystemValidation aRestoreValidationprocess RestorabilityValidationon
triggeredfromDSOperatoris page171
running

WeeklyAdmin WeeklyAdminprocessisrunning DSClientAdministrationon


page120

DS-System Activities 69
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-System Disaster Recovery

Components required
InordertorecoveraDSSystem,thefollowingmustbebackedup(aspartofyour
secondarybackup):
1 dataonallDSSystemstoragelocations
replicationprovidesareadytousesecondarybackupoftheDSSystemOnline
Storage.Note,whenaReplicationDSSystemisused,thatreplicateddatamust
workwiththeexistingReplicationDSSystemsdatabasecontent.Formore
information,see:DSSystemOnlineStorageReplicationonpage51.
DSSystemprovidesanadditionalfeaturethatallowsDSSystemtocommunicate
withthirdpartysnapshotsoftwareinordertolocktheDSSystemOnlineStorage
forshortperiodsoftimetoensureaconsistentsnapshotforalloftheDSSystem
storagelocations.
2 theDSSystemdatabase
MSSQLandPostgreSQLdatabasesaredumpeddailytotheDSSystemsPrimary
StorageLocation(bydefault).Therefore,abackupwillexistifthestorage
locationsarebackedup.

Recovering from Failed Storage


AfterafailureofallorpartofDSSystemOnlineStorage,thefollowingmustbedone:
1 datamustberecoveredfromanysecondarybackup
2 thereplacementfilesystemmustbeconfiguredwiththesameabsolutepath(name/IP
address,shareandfolder)astheoriginal
3 DSSystemshouldberuninDisasterRecoverymode:thisensuresdataconsistency
withinDSSystemOnlineStorageandacrossextensiblestoragelocations.
InDisasterRecoverymode,DSSystemscanstheentirestoragetocheckforfile
consistencyandrestorability.Nootheractivitiesareallowedtorunduringthisscan,
althoughnewbackupsetscanbebackeduponceanynecessarylibrariesforcommon
filesarerecovered.AllbackupsetsaremarkedoutofsyncbyDisasterRecoverymode,
andthenextconnectionwithDSClientwillensuretherequireddataisretransmitted.

DS-System Disaster Recovery 70


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Thenumberofparallelprocessesusedfordisasterrecoveryis,bydefault,four,butcanbe
changed.
Afterdisasterrecoveryiscomplete,DSSystemshouldbescannedusingSystemAdmin
(toupdatestatistics),andAutonomicHealing(todetectandrepairanyinvaliddata).

Recovering from Loss of DS-System Database

If Data Files and Log Files Stored on Separate Disks


Ifthediskholdingthelogfilesfails,runafullbackupoftheDSSystemdatabaseand
replacethedisk.
Ifthediskholdingthedatafilesfails:
1 Backupthecurrentlyactivetransactionlog.
2 RestorethemostrecentbackupofDSSystemdatabase,withoutrecoveringthe
database.
3 Ifotherbackupsweredone,forsomereason,betweentwoconsecutiveautomatic
dailybackups,dothefollowing:
Ifdifferentialbackupsexist,restorethemostrecentone.
Restoreeachtransactionlogbackupcreatedsincethedatabasebackupor
differentialbackup.Usethesamesequenceusedwhentheywerecreated,without
recoveringthedatabase.
4 Applythemostrecentlogbackupandrecoverthedatabase.

If Data Files and Log Files on the Same Disk, or Both Data File
and Log Files Disks Fail
Recoverthedatabasefromtapeorothersecondarybackup.DSSystemincludesan
automatedprocessthatsynchronizesthelibraryinformationbetweenthedatabaseand
theDSSystemOnlineStorage.DSSystemalsoscansthestorageforexistingaccounts
andDSClientswhichdonotexistintherecovereddatabaseandreinsertsthat
informationinthedatabase.

DS-System Disaster Recovery 71


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Topics

ThissectioncontainstopicsspecifictoDSClient.

72
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to DS-Client

About this Section


ThissectionintroducesDSClientanditscomponentparts.Fordetailsonhowto
implementDSClient,seeImplementingDSClientonpage182.

DS-Client Tasks
DSClient:
initiatescommunicationtoDSSystemwhenauserrequestsaspecificoperationor
whenabackupsetisscheduled;closescommunicationafteractivityiscomplete
selectsdatatobebackeduporrequestsdatatoberestored
identifiescommonfiles(inconjunctionwithDSSystem)
doescompressionandencryptionofdatabeingbackedup;decryptsandde
compressesdatabeingrestored
sendsdatatoorreceivesrequesteddatafromDSSystem
integrateswithcustomercredentialsaswellasWindowsusersandgroupstocontrol
useraccess;individualuserswhoneedtodobackupswillneedtobegivenspecific
rolesthroughDSUser
recordscomprehensiveactivity,event,andauditlogs
sendsnotifications,asrequested,aboutbackupcompletionanddetailedlogs,orsends
dailyactivitiessummary
DSClientscanrequestarchivingofdata,andcanrestoredatafromanarchived
package
selectsdatatobedeleted
allowsconfiguringofretentionrulesandschedules
runsrequesteddiscoveryprocessesforLANcomputers,shares,andfiles
initiatescommunicationtoLocalDSVDRToolwhenanewLocalDSVDRBackupSet
isconfigured(forVMcloningorPhysicaltoVirtualconversion)orwhenabackupset
isscheduled;closescommunicationafteractivityiscomplete
DSClientonlyrequestsasmuchdataasitcanprocess:itwillnotpullmoredataacross
thenetworkthanitcanhandle.

Introduction to DS-Client 73
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:Somefunctions(asopposedtoDSClientactivities)requirea
connectiontoDSSystem,eventhoughtheyappeartoberelatedonly
toDSClient.Forexample,requestsforviewingstoragequotasrequire
aconnectiontoDSSystem.

DS-User Access
AccesstoDSUsercanbesetupwithavarietyofpermissionsforfunctionssuchas
backup,restore,delete,modifysetup,andsoon.Forexample,aparticularusercouldbe
allowedtobackupandrestoreotherusersbackupsets,butnotbeabletomodifyor
deletedata.

DS-Client Internal Security


IfDSClientandDSUserareinstalledonseparatemachines,theyconnecttoeachother
overanIPWANconnection.CommunicationusesarandomAES256bitencryptionkey
toencryptthedatatransmittedbetweenDSClientandDSUser.Thismakesitimpossible
foranoutsidepartytomakesenseofthecommunication.

DS-Client Databases
WindowsDSClientusesthreedatabasestoprovideafunctioningDSClient.Bydefault,
theWindowsDSClientdatabasenamesare:dsclient,dsdeltaanddslanfiles.Different
databasenamescanbespecifiedduringtheinstallationoftheDSClient.
WindowsDSClientcanbeconfiguredtoautomaticallycreateadditionaldatabasesin
ordertobypassMicrosoftsdatabasesizelimitationsforMSSQLServerlimited
(express)editions.
Linux/MACDSClientusestwodatabasesinordertoprovideafunctioningDSClient.
Thedatabasenamesaredsclientanddslanfiles.Linux/MACDSClientdoesnotsupport
alternatedatabasenamesfortheDSClientdatabases.

Database Types and Content


Platform Database Type Database Name Database Content

DSClient MSSQL, dsclient * storesconfigurationinformation,backupset


Windows MSSQLServer detailssuchasfilestobebackedup,andonline
2005Express, generationinformation
MSSQLServer dsdelta * storesinformationspecificformastergeneration
2008Express, anddeltageneration
MSSQLServer
dslanfiles storesconfigurationinformationandscanning
2008R2Express
results;forLANDiscoveryonly
MSSQLServer
2012Express

Introduction to DS-Client 74
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Unix PostgreSQL dsclient * storesconfigurationinformation,backupset
detailssuchasfilestobebackedup,andonline
generationinformation;usedformaster
generationanddeltageneration.
dslanfiles storesconfigurationinformationandscanning
results;forLANDiscoveryonly

*Bydefault,backedupregularlybyDSClientandprotectedontheDSSystemOnline
Storage.

Monitoring DS-Client Databases


CustomersmayspecifyhowmuchfreespaceontheDSClientdatabasedrivemustbe
maintainedusingtheDSClientAdvancedConfigurationparameters.Threelevelscanbe
configured:thelevelthattriggersawarningmessage,thelevelthattriggersan
emergencymessage,andthelevelthatcausesDSClientservicetostop.IfDSClient
serviceisstopped,spacewillneedtobefreedupontheDSClientdatabasedisksbefore
theDSClientservicewillrunagain.
DSClientsconfiguredwithSQLServer2005/2008Expressdatabases(whichhavea4GB
databasesizelimitation)orwithSQLServer2008R2/2012Expressdatabases(whichhave
a10GBdatabasesizelimitation)canissueadditionalwarningsifapproachingthe
maximumdatabasesize.TheycanalsobeconfiguredtoworkwithmultipleDSClient
databasesinordertobypassMicrosoftsdatabasesizelimitationsontheseversionsofMS
SQLServer.
MessageswillalsoappearintheeventviewerandpopupontheEventLog.

Maintaining DS-Client Databases


IfthediskholdingtheDSClientdatabasesfallsbelowcertainfreediskspacelevels
(configurableusingtheDSClientAdvancedConfigurationparameters),awarningor
emergencymessageappearsonDSUser.ThemessageisalsorecordedintheDSClient
EventLogandoperatingsystemlog.
TheDSClientAdminprocessesregularlycleanthedatabaseandtransferadumpofitto
DSSystem.

Synchronizing DS-Client Databases


SynchronizationchecksareperformedonthecontentsoftheDSClientdatabaseto
ensuretheyareconsistentwiththecontentsoftheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Introduction to DS-Client 75
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Interfaces

Overview
UsersinteractwithDSClientinavarietyofways:
throughDSUserInterface
throughDSUserlogs,reportsandmessages
throughtheDSNOC
throughEMailnotifications
throughconfiguredSNMPtraps
throughDSClientAPI
TheservicesofDSClientarestoppedorstartedusingtheDSClientServiceManager.

DS-User Interface
TheDSUserinterfaceisusedprimarilybycustomersto:
performsetupfunctions:
viewandmodifyDSClientsetupinformation(WindowsDSClientcanmodify
setupinformationusingtheDSClientSetupapplication.BothWindowsDS
ClientsandUnixDSClientscanchangethisconfigurationusingtheauto
configurationfeature.
setupusersandgroupswithdifferentlevelsofaccesstoDSClient
setupSNMPnotificationsandeventsthattriggeranotification
setupDSClientparametersthatidentifythelocationofDSClientbufferand,if
theLocalStoragemoduleisenabledorselfcontainedbackupsetsarebeingused,
thelocationofthelocalstoragepath
setupdefaultsforbackupsetcreation
ifhardwareisreplacedoroperatingsystemischanged,reregistertheDSClient
ifnecessary,modifytheconnectioninformationtoDSSystem
newDSNOCsettings
storagequotamanagement
setupbandwidththrottlingto/fromtheDSSystem
managemultitenantDSClientconfiguration
rununprotectedLANResourceDiscovery
cleanLocalOnlytrash
manageGridDSClient
configurepasswordrotation
manageuserrolesandpermissions
tapeconversiontoBLM
LocalDSVDRconnectioninformation
performbackup/restore/deletefunctions:
setupbackupsets,defaults,andschedules
performondemandbackups

Introduction to DS-Client 76
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
setupandrunstatisticalbackups
setupandrunselfcontainedbackups
setupandrunLocalOnlybackups
convertLocalOnlytofullbackupset
performInitialBackupandmanagement
deletebackupsetsandonlinefiles
restoredata(online,Disc/Tape,BLM)
defineanduseretentionrules
performmaintenanceandmanagementfunctions:
setupand,ifnecessary,runDSClientAdminprocesses
shutdowntheDSClientcomputer
repairtheDSClientdatabase(orphanedbackupsets)
monitorDSClient:
viewstoragequotas
viewlogsandreports(seeLogsandReportsonpage77)
viewmessagesfromtheEnterprise/ServiceProvider
performoptionalfunctions:
requestdisc/tapemediafromtheDisc/Tapemodule
configurebackupsetstousetheLocalStorage
usetheOnlineFileSummarymodule
usetheLANDiscovery
exportthecurrentDSClientconfiguration,schedules,retentionrulesorbackup
setsandsavetheminanXMLfilethatcanbereappliedlatertorecreatethesame
configuration.
synchronizationofabackupset
validationofabackupset
migratebackupset
clonebackupset
managebackupsetproperties

Logs and Reports


DSClientlogsandreportsareavailablethroughDSUser.Itemsmarkedwithanasterisk
(*)arekeptforatleastsixmonths.Itemsmarkedwithtwoasterisks(**)canbekeptany
lengthoftime.BothtypesareclearedbyDSClientAdmin,basedontheDSClient
parameters.

Introduction to DS-Client 77
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Logs
DSClientlogsinclude:

ActivityLog* ActivitiesontheDSClient,includingthedurationofthe
connectionfortheactivity,theamountofdatatransmitted
duringeachactivity,thenumberoferrors&warnings
encounteredduringtheactivity,andthenumberofbackups
complete.Thisisusefulforverifyingthestatusofanactivity(for
example,whetherthelastbackupofasetwassuccessful).

AuditTrail* ArecordofallchangesmadetotheDSClientdatabase.Shows
whomadeachange,thetimeofthechange,andwhatthechange
was.

CurrentActivityMonitor AlistofactivitiescurrentlyrunningontheDSClient.

DetailedLog** Detailedinformationonfilesbackeduporrestored.Showsa
recordofexactlywhatfileswerebackedupandrestored,rather
thanjustacountofthenumberoffilesbackedupandrestored.

EventLog* Errors,warningsandinformationmessages.Foreachbackup
set,customerscandeterminewhatactiontriggersanevent(e.g.
backupcomplete).Thiscanhelpdeterminewhatcauseda
backupfailureorotherproblem.
Note:Themaximumnumberoferrorsallowedbeforeanactivity
quitsisconfigurable.

Reports
DSClientreportsinclude:

BackupItemsReports ShowsinformationabouteachofthebackupsetsontheDS
Client.
Showsthebackupsource(server),owner,typeofset,andalistof
thebackupitems.Folderswithsubdirectoriesareindicatedwith
atwoplussigns(++).Folderswithoutsubdirectoriesare
indicatedwithasingleplussign(+).Exclusionsareindicated
withaminussign().
Candisplayincludedorexcludeddataforregular,self
contained,localonly,statisticalbackupsets,orLocalDSVDR
backupsets.

BackupGroupsReports AbreakdownofthecurrentDSSystemOnlineStorageusage,
sortedbyusergroup.Canbelimitedtoaspecificusergroupas
wellasincludeorexcludedataforregular,selfcontained,local
only,statisticalbackupsets,orLocalDSVDRbackupsets.For
eachgroup,showstheusernames,theirfullnames,thenumber
andamountinMBoffilesthattheusercurrentlyhasstored
online.Atotalforallusersinagroupfollowseachgroup.

Introduction to DS-Client 78
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
BackupSetsReport ShowsinformationabouteachoftheDSClientsbackupsets.
Canshowdataforregular,selfcontained,localonly,statistical
backupsets,orLocalDSVDRbackupsets.Foreachbackupset,
showstheusernameusedtoconnectwiththebackupshare(e.g.
thismightbetheAdministratorforaWindowssystem,theroot
foraLinuxsystemortheQSECOFRforaniSeries/AS400system).
Thedataofeachbackupsetisshown:theprotectedsizeinMB
(theoriginalsizeofdataonthesourcecomputers)aswellasthe
storedsizeinMB(thesizeofdataontheDSSystem,whichcan
bedifferentfromtheprotectedsizeduetocompressionand
eliminationofcommonfiles).Thestatuscolumnindicatesifa
backupsetisactive,suspendedornotsynchronized.

BackupTrendsReport Showsweeklyormonthlyusagestatisticsduringaspecified
period.Canbelimitedtoaspecificbackupsetand/oruseraswell
asincludeorexcluderegular,selfcontained,localonly,
statistical,deleted,orLocalDSVDRbackupsetsora
combinationofthese.
Foraweeklyreport,eachweekwithinthereportperiodisshown
asanewlineandtheexactweekdurationisshown.Fora
monthlyreport,eachmonthwithinthereportperiodisshownas
anewline.Thereportshowsthenumberoffilesbackedup
withinaweek/amonth,theirtotalsizeinMB,andthebackup
timeinminutes.Atotalforthereportisshown.

BackupUsersReport Showseveryusercurrentlyassociatedwithanybackupseton
theDSClient.Canshowusersofregular,selfcontained,local
only,statisticalbackupsets,orLocalDSVDRbackupsets.For
everyuser,showstheusersfullname(e.g.JohnSmith),the
usernameusedtoconnecttothebackupshare,namesofallthe
backupsets.andthestoredonlineamountinMB.TheLimit
columnshowsthestoragelimitinMBforeachuser.Thislimit
canbesetintheDSUsersUsers&Groupsdialog.

Backup/RestoreReport Summarizeseachusersbackupandrestoreoperationsduringa
specifiedperiod.Canbelimitedtoaspecificbackupsetand/or
useraswellasincludeorexcluderegular,selfcontained,local
only,statistical,deleted,orLocalDSVDRbackupsetsora
combinationofthem.Foreachuser,showseverydateinthe
specifiedperiodonwhichanactivityoccurred,thenumberof
activities,andtheirduration.Thenumberofactivities,numberof
files,andamountofdataisthenshownforbothbackupand
restoreactivities.Asummaryforeachuserfollows;grandtotals
areshownattheendofthereport.

Introduction to DS-Client 79
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
RestorableVolume Showsinformationaboutrestorablefiles.Canshowdataof
regular,selfcontained,localonly,statisticalbackupsets,orLocal
DSVDRbackupsets.Showsthenumberofrestorablefilesas
wellastheirtotalsize,eitherincludingorexcludingdeleteddata
(backedupfilesthatnolongerexistonthesourcecomputer).DS
Clientkeepstrackofthenativesizeofrestorablefiles(including
deleteddata).LastBackupcolumnshowsdateoflastbackup,
whichhelpsusersquicklyestimatetheageoftherestorabledata.

StatisticalSummary Showsusagestatistics.Particularlyusefulinconjunctionwith
statisticalbackup.Thestatisticsshouldbemanuallyupdatedor
Daily/WeeklyAdminshouldberunbeforethisreportis
generated,otherwisethereportmaynotbeaccurate.Foreach
machine,thereportshowsallthedatesonwhichabackup
activityhasoccurred.Foreachdate,itshowsthenumberofnew
files(aswellastheirsize,inMB)thatappearedontheparticular
machine,withinthedefinedbackupsets,sincetheprevious
backup.Forafirstbackupoperation,thisnumberwillincludeall
thefilesthatwerepartofthebackupsets.
Thereportalsoshowsthenumberoffilesthatwerebackedup
(thiscanincludeoldfilesthatchanged)aswellastheirsizein
MB,theamountoftransmitteddata(thisnumberisexpectedto
besmallerthanthesizeofthebackedupfiles,dueto
compressionandcommonfileelimination),thecompression
ratio,thenumberoffilesstoredoffline,theiramountinMB,and
thedurationofthebackupprocess.

Customerscanexportbackupsetinformationtoa.CSVfileforimportingintoother
applications.
DSClientgraphsinclude:

LANDiscoverygraphs AssortedreportsbasedonLANDiscoverymodulefindings:list
(optional) oflargefiles,filessortedbyextension,filessortedbylastaccess
time,filessortedbygrowth,filessortedbyownerandshare.

LoadSummary AgraphicrepresentationofloadsonDSClient.Usefulfor
determiningifneedtotakeactiontoaccommodateload.

StorageSummary Agraphicrepresentationofstorageinformationaboutbackup
sets.Showstrendsinfilestorage.

Custom Reports
TheCustomReportsfeatureallowsyoutocreateyourownreports,basedonthedata
providedfromtheDSClientdatabasetables.Thisfeatureismeantforadvancedusers.
Thisrequiresathirdpartyapplication(eitherJasperReportsorCrystalReports),which
meansyoumusthavethedevelopmentresourcestocreateandcompilethecustom
reporttemplates.
Forinstructions,refertotheDSClientUserGuidesection12:CustomReports.

Introduction to DS-Client 80
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Notifications

Event Viewer
Theeventvieweroftheoperatingsystem(EventVieweronWindows,/var/logs/
messagesonLinuxandMAC)showscriticalerrorsoreventswhenaserviceisstoppedor
started.

E-Mail/Pager/SNMP/Broadcast/Event Notifications
NotificationbyEMail,pagerand,optionally,SNMPshouldbeconfiguredforDSClient.
Foreachbackupset,userscanspecifyanEMail,page,eventorbroadcasttobetriggered
byaparticularactivity.EMailnotificationsaresupportedviaMAPI(WindowsDS
Clients),andviaSMTPservers(WindowsandLinux/MacDSClients).Notificationsvia
SMTPserversalsoprovidesupportforSSLandTLSprotocols.Activitiescouldincludea
backupbeingcompleteoracompletedDSClientAdmin.Broadcastsaresenttothe
messengerserviceonaspecificrecipientdomain,workgrouporserver.
DSClientAdminprocessessendEMailmessagesoncompletionoftheirtasks.

User Notifications
Customersmayseemaintenancenotifications(suchassystemwillbeunavailablefrom
6p.m.to8p.m.)intheDSUserinterface.ThesearesentbyEnterprise/Service
Providers.
DSUsercanbeusedtosendmessagestootherusersloggedintoDSUser.

Introduction to DS-Client 81
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to DS-Mobile Client

About this Section


OneofthekeydifferentiatingcomponentsofAsigraSoftwareistheDSMobileClientfor
Windows.Designedtoaccommodatelaptopbackuprequirements,DSMobileClient
enablesquickbackupandrecoverythroughintuitivewizardsandoptions.Conceived
withtheusersmobilityneedsinmind,theDSMobileClientcombinessimplicitywith
selfmanagementcapabilitieswhileprovidingenduserswiththeabilitytobackupand
restoretheirowndataanytime,anywhere.TheDSMobileClientprovidesManaged
ServiceProviderswiththeabilitytomassdeployaselfbranded,customizedGUIwhile
reducingcostsonsupport,backup/recoverymanagementandbandwidthusage.
WithAsigraSoftware,allofacompanyslaptopdataistransferredefficientlyoverthe
WANtoacentralonlinerepository.AspartoftheAsigraSoftwarearchitecture,theDS
MobileClientisdesignedtoimprovetherecoveryservicelevelsoflaptops.Justlikethe
fullDSClientversion,DSMobileClientisadisktodisksolutionthatenablesfastand
reliabledatarecoveryonmobiledevicesthankstoitsbuiltindatareductiontechniques
suchasblockleveldatadeduplication,compression,commonfileelimination,anddata
validationtechniques.Inaddition,dataisencrypted(FIPS1402certified)bytheDS
MobileClientbeforebeingsentovertheWANtotheDSSystem.
Conceivedwitheaseofuseinmind,DSMobileClientistheperfecttoolforsecuring
laptopsofmobileemployeeswhoneedtheirdatatobeimmediatelyrecoverable.DS
MobileClientlaptopuserscansimplybackupandrestoretheirowndataviaintuitive
wizardsandoptions.Inaddition,takingadvantageofAPIsandasmallinstallation
packagesizeoflessthan15MB,ManagedServiceProvidersareabletobrandand
customizetheirownDSMobileClientGUI,beforemassdeployingitviaActive
Directory,therebyreducingbandwidth,managementandsupportcosts.

DS-Mobile Client Tasks


DSMobileClient:
1 initiatescommunicationtoDSSystemwhenauserrequestsaspecificoperationor
whenabackupsetisscheduled;closescommunicationafteractivityiscomplete

Introduction to DS-Mobile Client 82


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
2 selectsdatatobebackeduporrequestsdatatoberestored(agentlessDSMobile
Clientcanbackupthelocalmachineaswellasremotemachineswithfilesystem
backupsets)
3 identifiescommonfiles(inconjunctionwithDSSystem)
4 doescompressionandencryptionofdatabeingbackedup;decryptsand
decompressesdatabeingrestored
5 sendsdatatoorreceivesrequesteddatafromDSSystem
6 recordscomprehensiveactivity,andeventlogs
7 canbecentrallymanagedfromtheDSSystembysendingandapplyingXML
configurationfiles
8 canbecentrallymanagedandmonitoredfromDSNOCbysendingconfiguration
informationwhenDSMobileClientchecksintoDSNOC
DSMobileClientonlyrequestsasmuchdataasitcanprocess:itwillnotpullmoredata
acrossthenetworkthanitcanhandle.

DS-Mobile User Access


DSMobileUsercanonlybeinstalledonthesamemachinewiththeDSMobileClient
andcanonlyconnecttotheDSMobileClientlocally.WindowsuserscanlogintoDS
MobileUser(iftheyarenotlocal/domainadministrators)iftheyhavearoleassignedin
theDSMobileClient.Rolesareassignedviatheautoconfigurationfiles.

DS-Mobile Client Database


DSMobileClientusesanembeddeddatabasetomaintaindataaboutthebackupsets
configuredandthedatathathasbeenbackedup.DSMobileClientdatabasepatchesare
appliedautomaticallybytheAsigraautoupgradeprocess.Incaseamanualapplication
ofthedatabasepatchesisneededfortheDSMobileClient,simplycopythedatabase
scriptintotheDBfolderoftheDSMobileClientInstallationandrestarttheDSMobile
Clientservice.

Maintaining DS-Mobile Client database


TheDSClientadminprocessregularlycleansthedatabaseandtransfersadumpofitto
DSSystem.

Synchronizing DS-Mobile Client Database


Toensuredataconsistency,synchronizationchecksthatthecontentsoftheDSMobile
ClientdatabaseareinsyncwiththecontentsoftheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

DS-Mobile User Interface


TheDSMobileUserinterfaceisusedprimarilybycustomersto:
reregistertheDSClient(ifhardwareisreplacedoroperatingsystemischanged)
performbackupfunctions:

Introduction to DS-Mobile Client 83


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
setupbackupsets,schedulesandretentionrules
performondemandbackups
deletebackupsetsandonlinefiles
restoredata
setupand,ifnecessary,runDSClientAdminprocesses
repairtheDSClientdatabase(orphanedbackupsets)
monitorDSClient
useWindowscurrentsecuritycontexttoautoconnecttoDSMobileClient

Logs and Reports


DSMobileClientlogsandreportsareavailablethroughDSMobileUser.

Logs
DSClientlogsinclude:

ActivityLog* ActivitiesontheDSMobileClient,includingthedurationofthe
connectionfortheactivity,theamountofdatatransmitted
duringeachactivity,thenumberoferrorsencounteredduring
theactivity.Thisisusefulforverifyingthestatusofanactivity
(forexample,whetherthelastbackupofasetwassuccessful).

CurrentActivityMonitor AlistofactivitiescurrentlyrunningontheDSMobileClient.

EventLog* Errors,warningsandinformationmessages.Foreachbackup
set,customerscandeterminewhatactiontriggersanevent(e.g.
backupcomplete).Thiscanhelpdeterminewhatcauseda
backupfailureorotherproblem.
Note:Themaximumnumberoferrorsallowedbeforeanactivity
quitsisconfigurable.

Central Policy Management from DS-System


DSSystemadministratorscanconfigurebackuppolicies,schedules,retentionrulesand
DSMobileClientconfiguration(includingaccessroles)viaXMLfilesthatarepushed
fromDSSystemtoDSClient.

Triggering Activities for DS-Mobile Client


Backup,retentionandDaily/WeeklyAdminactivitiescanbetriggeredeithermanuallyor
byaschedule.Restoreactivitiescanonlybetriggeredondemand.

Restoring Backed Up Data


DSMobileClientcanrestorebackedupdatatoitsoriginalsourcelocation(thereby
overwritinganyexistingfilesofthesamename),ortothesamecomputerinanalternate
directory,ortoadifferentcomputerentirely.

Introduction to DS-Mobile Client 84


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
About DS-Mobile Client Mass Deployment
TheDSMobileClientcanbedeployedusingtheMSIpackagesprovidedbyAsigra
throughtheWindowsActiveDirectoryGroupPolicies.SeeDSMobileClientMass
DeploymentGuideformoreinformation.

How DS-Mobile Client Mass Deployment Works


1 TheMSTfilethatcontainsinformationaboutDSClientnumber,accountnumber,
customername,encryptionkeys,etc.mustbecustomized.
2 PairthecustomizedMSTfilewiththeMSIpackagefordeployment.
3 PlacetheMSIpackageandMSTfileonacomputerinthedomain.
4 ConfigureActiveDirectoryandGroupPolicyObjecttoenabletheMassDeployment.
5 Allowtimeforthedeploymenttostart.

Introduction to DS-Mobile Client 85


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to DS-Notebook Client

About this Section


DSNotebookClientforMacOperatingSystemsisdesignedforlaptopbackup
requirements.Itenablesquickbackupandrecoverythroughintuitivewizardsand
options.WithDSNotebookClient,allofthelaptopsdatacanbetransferredefficiently
overtheWANtoacentralonlinerepository(DSSystem).LiketherestoftheAsigraDS
Clientproductline,DSNotebookClientisadisktodisksolutionthatenablesfile
backupsfromthelocalmachine.Itappliesalldatacompression/reductiontechniques
suchasblockleveldatadeduplication,compressionandcommonfileelimination.In
addition,dataisencrypted(FIPS1402certified)byDSNotebookClientbeforebeing
sentovertheWANtotheDSSystem.
DSNotebookClientcanprotectlocalfilesonMACOSXdesktopsorlaptops.DS
Notebookuserscansimplybackupandrestoretheirowndataviatheintuitivewizards
andoptions.

DS-Notebook Client Tasks


DSNotebookClient:
1 initiatescommunicationtoDSSystemwhenauserrequestsaspecificoperationor
whenabackupsetisscheduled;closescommunicationafteractivityiscomplete
2 selectsdatatobebackeduporrequestsdatatoberestored(DSNotebookClientcan
backupthelocalmachineonlywithfilesystembackupsets)
3 identifiescommonfiles(inconjunctionwithDSSystem)
4 doescompressionandencryptionofdatabeingbackedup;decryptsand
decompressesdatabeingrestored
5 sendsdatatoorreceivesrequesteddatafromDSSystem
6 recordscomprehensiveactivity,andeventlogs
7 canbecentrallymanagedfromtheDSSystembysendingandapplyingXML
configurationfiles
8 canbecentrallymanagedandmonitoredfromDSNOCbysendingconfiguration
informationwhenDSNotebookClientchecksintoDSNOC

Introduction to DS-Notebook Client 86


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DSNotebookClientonlyrequestsasmuchdataasitcanprocess:itwillnotpullmore
dataacrossthenetworkthanitcanhandle.

DS-Notebook User Access


DSNotebookUsercanonlybeinstalledonthesamemachinewiththeDSNotebook
ClientandcanonlyconnecttotheDSNotebookClientlocally.Windowsuserscanlogin
toDSNotebookUser(iftheyarenotlocal/domainadministrators)iftheyhavearole
assignedintheDSNotebookClient.Rolesareassignedviatheautoconfigurationfiles.

DS-Notebook Client Database


DSNotebookClientusesanembeddeddatabasetomaintaindataaboutthebackupsets
configuredandthedatathathasbeenbackedup.DSNotebookClientdatabasepatches
areappliedautomaticallybytheAsigraautoupgradeprocess.Incaseamanual
applicationofthedatabasepatchesisneededfortheDSNotebookClient,simplycopy
thedatabasescriptintotheDBfolderoftheDSNotebookClientInstallationandrestart
theDSNotebookClientservice.

Maintaining DS-Notebook Client database


TheDSNotebookClientadminprocessregularlycleansthedatabaseandtransfersa
dumpofittoDSSystem.

Synchronizing DS-Notebook Client Database


Toensuredataconsistency,synchronizationchecksthatthecontentsoftheDSNotebook
ClientdatabaseareinsyncwiththecontentsoftheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

DS-Notebook User Interface


TheDSNotebookUserinterfaceisusedprimarilybycustomersto:
reregistertheDSNotebookClient(ifhardwareisreplacedoroperatingsystemis
changed)
performbackupfunctions:
setupbackupsets,schedulesandretentionrules
performondemandbackups
deletebackupsetsandonlinefiles
restoredata
setupand,ifnecessary,runDSNotebookClientAdminprocesses
repairtheDSNotebookClientdatabase(orphanedbackupsets)
monitorDSNotebookClient
useWindowscurrentsecuritycontexttoautoconnecttoDSNotebookClient

Logs and Reports


DSNotebookClientlogsandreportsareavailablethroughDSNotebookUser.

Introduction to DS-Notebook Client 87


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Logs
DSClientlogsinclude:

ActivityLog* ActivitiesontheDSNotebookClient,includingthedurationof
theconnectionfortheactivity,theamountofdatatransmitted
duringeachactivity,thenumberoferrorsencounteredduring
theactivity.Thisisusefulforverifyingthestatusofanactivity
(forexample,whetherthelastbackupofasetwassuccessful).

CurrentActivityMonitor AlistofactivitiescurrentlyrunningontheDSNotebookClient.

EventLog* Errors,warningsandinformationmessages.Foreachbackup
set,customerscandeterminewhatactiontriggersanevent(e.g.
backupcomplete).Thiscanhelpdeterminewhatcauseda
backupfailureorotherproblem.
Note:Themaximumnumberoferrorsallowedbeforeanactivity
quitsisconfigurable.

Central Policy Management from DS-System


DSSystemadministratorscanconfigurebackuppolicies,schedules,retentionrulesand
DSNotebookClientconfiguration(includingaccessroles)viaXMLfilesthatarepushed
fromDSSystemtoDSNotebookClient.

Triggering Activities for DS-Notebook Client


Backup,retentionandDaily/WeeklyAdminactivitiescanbetriggeredeithermanuallyor
byaschedule.Restoreactivitiescanonlybetriggeredondemand.

Restoring Backed Up Data


DSNotebookClientcanrestorebackedupdatatoitsoriginalsourcelocation(thereby
overwritinganyexistingfilesofthesamename),ortothesamecomputerinanalternate
directory,ortoadifferentcomputerentirely.

Introduction to DS-Notebook Client 88


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to Android DS-Client

About this Section


AndroidDSClientcanrunonphonesortabletsrunningAndroidOperatingSystemsto
backupandrestoredataonthesedevices.Itenablesquickbackupandrecoverythrough
intuitivescreens.WithAndroidDSClient,selecteddataontheAndroiddevicecanbe
transferredefficientlyovertheWANtoacentralrepository(calledDSSystem).The
AndroidDSClientappliesdatacompression/reductiontechniquessuchasblocklevel
datadeduplication,andcompression.Inaddition,dataisencrypted(FIPS1402
certified)byAndroidDSClientbeforebeingsentovertheWANtotheDSSystem.

Android DS-Client Tasks


AndroidDSClient:
1 initiatescommunicationtoDSSystemwhenaspecificoperationisrequestedbyauser
orwhenascheduledoperationistriggered;closescommunicationafteractivityis
complete
2 verifiesthenetworkconnectivityusedbyphoneortablet,andinformstheuser(3Gor
WIFI)
3 selectsdatatobebackeduporrequestsdatatoberestored
4 sendsdatatoorreceivesrequesteddatafromDSSystem
5 recordscomprehensiveactivitylogsandeventlogs

Android DS-Client Upgrade


AndroidDSClientcanbemanuallyupgradedbydownloadinganewversionofthe
AndroidDSClientfromGooglePlayorbyrunninganewversionoftheAndroidDS
ClientfromtheAsigraReleaseDVD.

Synchronizing Android DS-Client


Toensuredataconsistency,synchronizationchecksthatthecontentsoftheAndroidDS
ClientdatabaseareinsyncwiththecontentsoftheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Introduction to Android DS-Client 89


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Android DS-Client User Interface
TheAndroidDSClientUserinterfaceisusedprimarilybyendusersto:
configuretheAndroidDSClienttoconnecttotheDSSystem
performbackupfunctions
setupbackuppolicy,scheduleandretentionrule
performondemandbackupoperations
deletebackedupdata
restoredata
monitorAndroidDSClient

What can be backed up with Android DS-Client


Applications
Data
AndroidHome
Bookmarks
Calendar
CallLogs
Contacts
MusicPlaylists
Sound&DisplaySettings
SMS
MMS
UserDictionary
FilesoninternalandexternalSDCards
Music
Photos
Videos

Introduction to Android DS-Client 90


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Introduction to iOS DS-Client

About this Section


iOSDSClientcanrunoniPads,iPodsandiPhonestobackupandrestoredataonthese
devices.Itenablesquickbackupandrecoverythroughintuitivescreens.WithiOSDS
Client,selecteddataontheAppledevicecanbetransferredefficientlyovertheWANtoa
centralrepository(calledDSSystem).TheiOSDSClientappliesdatacompression/
reductiontechniquessuchasblockleveldatadeduplication,compressionandcommon
fileelimination.Inaddition,dataisencrypted(FIPS1402certified)byiOSDSClient
beforebeingsentovertheWANtotheDSSystem.

iOS DS-Client Tasks


iOSDSClient:
1 initiatescommunicationtoDSSystemwhenaspecificoperationisrequestedbyauser
orwhenascheduledoperationistriggered;closescommunicationafteractivityis
complete
2 verifiesthenetworkconnectivityusedbyiPhone,iPodoriPadandinformstheuser
(3GorWIFI)
3 selectsdatatobebackeduporrequestsdatatoberestored
4 sendsdatatoorreceivesrequesteddatafromDSSystem
5 recordscomprehensiveactivitylogsandeventlogs

iOS DS-Client Upgrade


iOSDSClientUsercanbemanuallyupgradedbydownloadinganewversionoftheiOS
DSClientfromApplesAppStore.

Synchronizing iOS DS-Client


Toensuredataconsistency,synchronizationchecksthatthecontentsoftheiOSDSClient
databaseareinsyncwiththecontentsoftheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Introduction to iOS DS-Client 91


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
iOS DS-Client User Interface
TheiOSDSClientUserinterfaceisusedprimarilybyendusersto:
configuretheiOSDSClienttoconnecttotheDSSystem
performbackupfunctions
setupbackuppolicy,scheduleandretentionrule
performondemandbackupoperations
deletebackedupdata
restoredata
monitoriOSDSClient

What can be backed up with iOS DS-Client


Photos
Calendar
Contacts(includingContactGroups)
Videos
Reminders

Introduction to iOS DS-Client 92


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Grid DS-Client

About this Section


ThissectionintroducesGridDSClient.Fordetailsonhowtoimplementit,see
ImplementingDSClientonpage182.
InhighperformanceWindowsenvironments,youcanconfiguremultipleDSClient
installations(nodes)touseasingleDSClientdatabaseandoperateasaGridDS
Client.
AGridDSClientwilllikelyhelpcustomerswhoalreadyhavemorethanoneDSClient
ontheirLAN.Themultiplenodesallowmaximumloadbalancing(allthenodescan
accessthesamesourcedataforbackup/restore).Ahighspeednetworkconnection(at
least1Gigabitpersecond)isnecessarybetweentheGridDSClientandthedatasource
inordertoimproveoverallbackupperformance.
Forsetupandconfigurationinstructions,refertotheGridDSClientsectionsinboth
the(Windows)DSClientInstallationGuideandDSClientKnowledgeBase.

About Grid DS-Client Configuration


SeveralDSClientscanworktogetherinaGridDSClienttoprovidebackupandrestore
servicesforallthebackupdatasources.Two(2)ormoreDSClients(callednodes)can
bejoinedinoneGridDSClient.EachDSClientperformsitsownbackupandrestore
activities,butallhaveaccesstoasharedDSClientdatabase.Anynodeinthegridcan
provideanybackupsetwithservices.
AllthenodesinagridmustbeonthesameLAN(subnet).However,morethanoneGrid
DSClientcanbeonasingleLAN.
GridDSClientprovidesthefollowingbenefits:
PerformanceloadbalancingacrossmultipleDSClients(allthenodessharethe
communicationandprocessingloadofbackupsfromallofthebackupsets)
Scalabilitytheabilitytoeasilyaddmorehardwareasneeded(seeHardware
Scalability(GridDSClient)onpage95)
RedundancyifaDSClientnodefails,thegridwillcontinuetofunction(see
RedundancyRequirements(GridDSClient)onpage95)

Grid DS-Client 93
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
SinceallDSClientnodescanaccesseachofthedatasources,backupandrestoreservices
keeprunningevenifsomeofthenodesoftheGridDSClientfail.WithstandaloneDS
Client,acrashedDSClientmeansnoserviceforallthebackupsets.However,withGrid
DSClient,evenifanodecrashes,onlybackupsetswithrunningprocessesonthe
crashedmachinewillbeaffected.

How DS-Clients Work Together (Main Node)

Synchronizing the Nodes


Toensurethatitsnodesdonotrunconflictingactivities,aGridDSClientrandomly
selectsoneDSClientnodetobeitssynchronizationpoint.ThatnodebecomestheMain
Node.ThereisonlyoneMainNodeatatimeinaGridDSClient.

Grid DS-Client 94
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
What the Main Node Does
TheMainNodekeepstrackofwhatactivitiesarerunningoneachGridDSClientnode.It
isresponsibleforsendingthenotificationsfortheactivities,andfortriggeringscheduled
activities.TheMainNodedistributesactivitiesamongtheGridDSClientnodesbasedon
thenumberofactivitiesrunningoneachnodeandbasedontheCPUpercentageused.
Thisway,amorepowerfulmachineinthegridwillbeassignedmoreprocessingtasks
thanalesspowerfulmachineintheGridDSClient.

If the Main Node Fails


IftheMainNodeofaGridDSClientfails,alltheactivitiesthatarerunningontheMain
Nodewillstop.TherestoftheactivitiesrunningontheleafnodeDSClientswill
continue,andanewMainNodewillbeelectedfromamongtherunningnodes.

If a Node (other than Main Node) Fails


AllotherDSClientnodesthantheMainNodearereferredtoasLeafNodes.
Ifaleafnodefails,alltheactivitiesthatarerunningonthatDSClientnodewillstop.The
restoftheactivitiesrunningontheotherleafnodes(andontheMainNode)willnotbe
affected.

Redundancy Requirements (Grid DS-Client)


AGridDSClientcankeeprunningaslongasonenodefromtheGridisrunning.

Hardware Scalability (Grid DS-Client)


TheGridDSClientallowsDSClientprocessingpowertobeaddedasneeded.Agridcan
startwithasinglenode.Toaddanewnode,youmustinstalltheDSClientsoftware
pointingtothesameDSClientdatabase,usingthesameregistrationinfo(Account
numberandDSClientnumber,etc.),andsameencryptionkeyconfiguration.Afterthat,
youmuststopallnodesintheGridDSClientandreconfiguretheGridDSClientusing
DSConfig.exe(DSClientSetup).Thenyoumuststartthenodesandreregisterwiththe
DSSystem.

Grid DS-Client Monitoring


AsingleDSUser,connectedtotheMainNode,providesmonitoringfunctionsforall
nodesintheGridDSClient.AnychangesmadeusingDSUserapplytoallnodesinthe
grid.TheDSUserGUIoffersspecificfunctionsforGridDSClient,includingaspecific
statusdisplayandEventLog(showingeventssuchasGridDSClientformationor
disconnection).

Grid DS-Client 95
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Client Virtualization

Overview - Virtualization and Asigra Agentless DS-Client


Serverconsolidationisdrivingdeploymentofvirtualizationacrossenterprisesofall
sizes.However,tofullyrealizethebenefitsofvirtualization,organizationsmustconsider
theirinformationrecoverymanagementstrategy.
Traditionalbackupandrecoverystrategiesarenotadequatetodeliverthegranular
recoverydemandedbythebusinessenvironment.Moreimportantly,thecostassociated
withtraditionaloragentbasedtechnologiesessentiallynegatesmanyofthecost
advantagesofvirtualization.AsigraSoftwaredeliversasimple,elegantandcosteffective
agentlesssolutionthatenablestheenterprisetomaximizetheirvirtualizationstrategy
whileachievingsuperiorinformationprotectionandrecoverymanagementwithout
performancedegradation.
Traditionalagentbasedbackupandrecoveryforcestheenterpriseintoaseriesof
unattractivechoices.Agentbasedtechnologiespollutethevirtualenvironment.Agents,
bytheirnature,lackcohesion.
Theneedtophysicallyinstallandmanageagentsoneachapplicationwithinthe
virtualserverandeachmachineontheLANistimeandlaborintensive.
Asingleagentaddsasmuchas16%serveroverheadtoeachapplication.Addtothat
thesecurityriskandcostofeachagentanditbecomesquiteclear,agentbasedbackup
andrecoverydramaticallyimpactstheTCOandperformanceofthevirtual
environment.
AnagentlessDSClientcanbeinstalledononeVirtualMachine(VM)toprovidebackup
andrestoreservicesforalltherestoftheVMsinacustomersenvironmentandfortheir
entireLAN.TheagentlessDSClientcanperformbackupandrestoreofVMsorVM
ServersasgranularasforaspecificfileonaparticularVMupthroughtofullbackupand
restoreofentireVMServers.
WindowsDSClientsupportsbackupofVMwareserversusingVCB(VMWare
ConsolidatedBackup)andvSphereAPIsandbackupofHyperVservers.LinuxDS
ClientsupportsbackupofVMware(viavSphereAPIs)andXenServerserversusingAPIs
providedbythevendorswhentheVMServerisrunningonanytypeofstorage.
AgentlessDSClientmayalsorunonaphysicalmachineandprovidebackupandrestore
servicesforawholeLANthatincludesVMServersrunningonthatLAN.

Client Virtualization 96
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
VMware VADP backup set highlights
Machinelevelanddisklevelbackupandrecovery.
CBT(ChangedBlockTracking)withLinuxDSClientforVMwareVADPbackupsets.
IncrementalrestorewithLinuxDSClientforVMwareVADPbackupsets.
ApplicationawareVMwareVADPbackupbasedonVMwareToolssupport.
VMlockingduringbackup.
VMmemorybackupandrecovery.
VMwaretransportlibrarysupport(SANandHotAddtransportmodes).

Client Virtualization 97
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Setting up and Managing Backups

Introduction
Thissectionexplainsthedetailsofthebackupprocessandoptionsavailable.Foran
overviewofthebackupprocess,seeHowAsigraCloudBackupHandlesBackupson
page21.AsigraCloudBackupoffersaContinuousDataProtectionfunctionaswell:for
details,seeContinuousDataProtection(CDP)onpage132.

What Can Be Backed Up


Customerscanchoosetobackup:
filesystems
filesystemsusingMicrosoftVSS(WindowsDSClient)
NASviasnapshots(Windows&LinuxDSClients)
MSSQLserverdatabases(WindowsDSClient)
MSSQLserverdatabasesusingMicrosoftVSSwriters(WindowsDSClient)
MSExchangeserver(WindowsDSClient)
MSExchangeserverdatabasesusingMicrosoftVSSwriters(WindowsDSClient)
permissionsonly
EMailmessages:Outlook,Exchange,LotusNotes,GroupWiseonWindowsorNovell
(WindowsDSClient)
MSSharePointandMSSharePointFarms(WindowsDSClient)
MSSharePointandMSSharePointFarmsusingMicrosoftVSSwriters(WindowsDS
Client)
HyperV&ClusterHyperVVirtualMachinesusingMicrosoftVSSwriters(Windows
DSClient)
LotusDominoatdatabaselevel
Salesforce.comatdatabaseandtablelevel
GoogleAppsatadministratorlevel(multipleaccounts),andatregularuseraccount
level(WindowsDSClient)
Oracledatabases(LinuxDSClients)
OracledatabasesviaSBT(LinuxDSClients)
MySQLdatabases

Setting up and Managing Backups 98


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Systemi(formerlyAS/400)
DB2databases(LinuxDSClient)
PostgreSQLdatabases(LinuxDSClient)
VMware(WindowsandLinuxDSClient)
VMwareVADP(LinuxandWindowsDSClient)
LocalDSVDRVirtualMachinecloningusingLocalDSVDRTool(Windowsand
LinuxDSClient)
PhysicaltoVirtualconversionusingLocalDSVDRToolandVMwarevCenter
Converter(WindowsandLinuxDSClient)
XenServer(LinuxDSClient)
SAP(LinuxDSClient)
Sybase(LinuxDSClient)

Creating Backup Sets

Introduction
Backupsetsidentifywhatistobebackedup(directories,files,applications),aswellas
detailssuchasbackupoptions,connectionstoshares/databases,andauthentication
information.

How Backup Sets are Created


AbackupsetisnormallycreatedthroughDSUsersBackupSetwizard.
Alternatively,theAutoconfigurationfunctionhelpscreatespecifictypesofbackupsets
aswellassetupgeneralDSClientconfigurationusingXMLfiles.(See:DSClientMass
Deploymentonpage207)

Considerations for Source Computer


Whencreatingbackupsets,DSClientcollectsinformationabouttheoperatingsystem
andfilesystemofthesourcecomputers.DSClientusesthisinformationtodisplay
suitablebackupoptionsfortheselectedcomputer.Forexample,anNTsystemwillshow
theregistryoption,whileaWindows2000(andhigher)systemwillshowthesystem
stateoption.

Backup Set Schedules


Abackupsetsschedulecanspecifytodobackupsmanytimesanhouroronceayear,or
anywhereinbetween.Schedulescanalsoruncalendarspecificbackups,forexamplea
backuponthelastworkingdayofthemonth,orasingleonetimebackuponaparticular
date.Schedulescanbeusedtosetthetimesduringwhichbackupscantakeplace:for
example,ifthebackupwindowis6p.m.to8a.m.,at8:00a.m.allbackupswillbe
interruptedandnonewbackupswillbeginagainuntil6:00p.m.Schedulescancontain
severaldetails,forexample,thesameschedulecanspecifytodothebackupweekly,ona
Tuesday,andtodoitonthelastdayofthemonth.

Setting up and Managing Backups 99


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Backup Set Options
Abackupsetcanbeveryspecific(backingupafewfilesordatabases)orverygeneral
(backingupentireservers,directoriesorshares).
Forfilesystembackupsets,customerscanchoosetoexcludeoldfiles,wherefilesare
determinedtobeoldbasedonthecurrentdate(e.g.filesthatareoneweekolderthan
today)ortheageofthefile(e.g.filesthatare14daysold).Thisfunctiondoesnotapplyto
specialitemsinWindowssuchastheWindowsSystemState,registry,orServices
Database;nordoesitapplytoNDSforNovell.
Someofthecommonoptionsavailableforbackupsetsinclude:
useDSClientbuffer
recorddetailsfortheDetailedLog(foundintheActivityLog)
forcebackupevenifthemodifiedtimeandsizedidnotchange
backuphardlinks
performaPreScanofthebackupdata
choosecompressionmethod
archiveexpiringgenerationstoBLM(infinitegenerations)
handlePOSIX(posixnameoptions)
stopaftercertainnumberoferrors
donotconsidercommonfiles
savetoLocalStoragepathand/ortoLocalStorageCacheifDSSystemisnot
available
handleopenfiles
useWindows2000specificoptions,suchasfollowjunctionpoint(Windows2000
andhigher),whichspecifieswhethertobackupjunctionpointsasanemptydirectory
orincludetheircontents
backupthroughVolumeShadowCopies(Windows2003andhigher)
forWindowsDSClientFileSystembackups,backupallsharedatawithoutany
filteringfromtheDSClientorMicrosoftconfigurations
sendspecificDSClientnotifications
specifyaschedule(seeBackupSetSchedulesonpage 99formoreonschedules)
networkcredentialstousewhenloggingintothesourcecomputers
Specifictypesofbackupsetshaveadditionaloptions,suchas:
backuppermissions(filesystem)
backupstreams(filesystem)
runDBCCbeforebackup(MSSQLServerdatabase)
forWindowsDSClientdatabasebackups,databasedumpmethod(MSSQLServer
database,MSExchangeserver)
forLinuxDSClientdatabasebackups,protocolfordumpingdatabaseanddump
devicepath(Oracledatabase,DB2,etc.)
EMailservertype(EMailmessage)
shareandpathfordatadump(Systemi)
full,incrementalanddifferentialbackup

Setting up and Managing Backups 100


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Automating the discovery of servers and configuration of backup sets
WindowsDSClientsallowschedulingofaserverdiscoveryprocess.Ifmachinesare
foundonthenetworkwithoutabackupsetconfigured,anotificationwillbesent.DS
Clientalsoallowsautomatingthecreationofbackupsetsforsuchdiscoveredmachines.

Special Backup Types

Self-Contained Backup Sets


AselfcontainedbackupsetrequiresnoconnectiontoDSSystem.Only5backupsetsup
toamaximumof10GBofdata(protectedsize)canbebackedup;onlythelatestonline
generationisprotected.SynchronizationwithDSSystemOnlineStorageisnotdone,and
deltaprocessingdoesnotapply.

Local-Only Backup Sets


ALocalOnlybackupsetbacksupdatatotheDSClientLANwithoutsendinganydata
totheDSSystem.ThetotalamountofbackupdatayoucanprotectisenabledbytheDS
SystemAdministratorforeachDSClient(basedonNative,Protected,orStoredsize).On
theDSSystemside,thetotalamountthatcanbeallocatedtoDSClientsislimitedbythe
DSSystemLocalOnlyLicensedCapacity.
LocalOnlybackupsetswillholdasmanygenerationsasconfiguredforthebackupset.
EachgenerationbackedupforaLocalOnlybackupsetisindependentlyrestorableand
doesnotdependonothergenerationsofthesamefile.
LocalOnlybackupsetscanbeeasilymigratedtoregularbackupsets.

Limiting Backups

Customers
FromDSUser,acustomercanschedulebackupsatdifferenttimes.Acustomercanalso
setamaximumonlinestoragelimitforspecificgroupsorusers.Oncethatlimitis
reached,backupstops.

Enterprise/Service Provider
FromDSOperator,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscansetstoragequotasforspecificDS
Clientsthatwillstopbackupswhenthequotaisreached.
FromDSOperator,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscansetabandwidththrottlethatcan
limitnetworkusagebyDSClients.ForeachindividualDSClientamaximum
throughput(inKBpersecond)toorfromDSSystemcanbeset.

Setting up and Managing Backups 101


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Handling Locked/Open Files

Backing up Files that Applications Have Open


Anyopenfileotherthanatemporary/systemonlyfileoraspecialfiletypeisconsidered
aregularfileandDSClientattemptstobackitup.Duringbackup,severalfilehandling
modescanbeused.DSClientcanusuallybackupafileifithaspermissiontoreadthe
file.Onreadfailure,DSClientcanbeinstructedtoretryupto10times.Also,ifthefileis
inusebyaspecificservice,DSClientcanbeconfiguredtostopthatservicewhenbackup
startsandrestarttheservicewhenbackupends(usingpre/postbackupoptions).
WindowsDSClientcanalsoperformbackupofopenfilesusingMicrosoftVolume
ShadowCopy(VSS)ifthesourceOperatingSystemsupportsit(Windows2003or
higher).

Note:Morecomplexenvironmentssuchasdatabasesthatdonothavetheir
ownnamedbackupsettypeinDSClient,canusuallybeconfiguredto
dumptheirdataintoaregularfilewhichwillbeprocessednormally.

Backing up Running Databases


DSClientperformsonlinebackupsofsupporteddatabases(seethePDFInstallationand
Backup/RestoreSupportMatrix).
Ingeneral,anattempttobackuparunningdatabasecanhaveseveraloutcomes:
maybebackedupsuccessfully
mayfailtobebackedup
maybebackedupwithpossibleintegrityproblems.

Backing up Completely Locked Files


Iffilesareopenwithdeny read/write(aWindowsoption)seton,DSClientwillusually
failtobackthemup.Eveniftheyarebackedup,theymighthaveintegrityproblems.If
suchfilesneedtobebackedup,DSClientcanworkinconjunctionwithMicrosoftVSS.

Backing up Temporary or System-only Files


Systemonlyfiles(likebackout.ttsonNetWareserversorpagefile.sysonNTservers)
andtemporaryfilescreatedbyvariousapplicationsarenotneededforBareMetal
RestoreprocessesusingDSClient,andshouldbeexcludedfrombackups.
DSClientcanbeconfiguredwithalistoffilestoignoreduringthebackupprocess,
therebyeliminatingunnecessaryerrors.TheDSClientinstallationincludesadefaultlist
ofsystemonlyfilesforWindowsandNetWarecomputers.Thislistcanbeexpandedto
excludeadditionalfilesthatdonotneedtobebackedup.

Setting up and Managing Backups 102


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Handling Special File Types
Specialfiletypesarenormallylockedandcannotbebackeduplikeregularfiles.These
filetypesincludedatabases,systemstatefilesonWindows2000(andhigher),registry
filesonWindowsNT,orbindery/NDSfilesonNetWareservers.
DSClientallowscustomerstocreatespecialbackupitemsforthesefiletypes.DSClient
automaticallyexcludesknownspecialfilesduringfilesystembackups,inorderto
eliminateunnecessaryerrorsandduplicationbetweenthesystemstate/services
databasesandthecontentsofC:andD:drives.Thesefilesarenotnormallyrequiredfor
BareMetalRestoreprocessesusingDSClient.

Image-Type Backups
Theremaybescenarioswhenanimagetypebackupisrequiredtobeperformedfora
server,whereallfilesmustbeincludedinthebackup(includingregistryfiles,system
onlyfiles,andtemporaryfiles).Filesystembackupsetscanbeconfiguredtoignorethe
DSClientsandMicrosoftslistsoffilesthatareautomaticallyexcludedfrombackup.

Managing Backups and Backup Sets

Stopping Backup
Whenacustomerstopsabackup,DSClientwillnotstopitimmediately.Ifthebackup
wasbackingupdataatthetimeofthestoprequest,DSClientwillwaitforthe
confirmationfromDSSystemrelatedtothelastfilesthatwerebackedup.IfDSClient
hasnotreceivedallconfirmationsfromDSSystemwhenthetimeoutisreached,DS
ClientdisconnectsfromDSSystemandmarksthebackupsetoutofsync.Thenext
synchronizationwillcorrecttheproblemcausedbydisconnection.
Underothercircumstances,suchaswhenadatadumporscanisinprocess,orifMLRis
buildinganEMaillist,thebackupwillbestoppedonlywhenthecurrentoperationis
completed.

Verify Signature for Unchanged Files


IntheBackupNowwizard,ausercanselecttheoptionVerifysignatureforunchanged
files.ThisoptioninvolvesanadditionalstepperformedbytheDSClientduringthe
backupactivity:
DSClientwillreadallthefilesfromthesourcemachine,includingthefilesthatdid
notchange(unchangedfiles),anditwillcreateasignatureforthefilesthatdidnot
change.
DSClientwillcomparethesignaturewiththesignaturestoredontheDSSystemside,
andwillreporterrorsandbackupthefileagainifthesignaturedoesnotmatch.
DSClientcanbeconfiguredthroughitsAdvancedParameterstoenablethisoptionfor
allscheduledbackupsetsbydefault.

Setting up and Managing Backups 103


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:Enablingthisoptionmayhaveanextremelynegativeeffectonthe
backupperformance,sinceallfilesdatawillhavetobeprocessed.

Removing Backup Sets


RemovingabackupsetfromDSUserdeletesalldataforthebackupsetfromtheDS
ClientdatabaseandDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Deleting Data from Backup Sets


AnumberofmethodsareavailablefordeletingonlysomebackupsetdatafromDS
SystemOnlineStorage:seeDeletingviaDSClientonpage54.Also,seeILM/HSM
Integrationonpage130.

Modifying Backup Set Items


Backupsetitems,andallotheroptions,canbemodified.

Note:Customerswhohavepreviouslybackedupdataandnowwantto
excludethatdatafrombeingbackeduphavetwochoices.Theycan
eithermodifythebackupsettoexcludethedata,orremovethe
backupitemandaddanewonecontainingallbutthedatatobe
excluded.Ineithercase,thedatathatwasalreadybackedupremains
onDSSystemOnlineStorageuntilitisselectivelydeleted(see
SelectiveDeleteonpage55).

Dealing with Orphaned Backup Sets


Abackupsetcanbecomeorphaned,meaningitexistsonDSSystemwithnomentionin
theDSClientdatabase.ThiscanoccuriftheDSClientdatabaseisdeleted,damaged,or
overwrittenbyanolderversion.
AnorphanedsettriggersthismessageintheEventLog:Backup Set not found in Backup
Log.ThesebackupsetscanberepairedusingDSUser.Customersmustrecoverthe
backupset,usethemigrationfunctiononit,andrespecifyallofitsdetailssothatfurther
backupscancontinue.

Monitoring Errors During Backup


Avarietyoftoolsareavailabletohelpmonitoringbackups.

Monitoring Backup Errors on DS-Client


ABackupMonitorshowstheerrorsforcurrentbackupactivities,whiletheDSClient
EventLogandActivityLogprovidedetailsaboutallpreviousactivities.
TheDSNOCcanmonitorbackupeventsonseveralDSClients.Ithascustomizableerror
filtering:thecustomercancategorizeanyerroreventtotriggeranotification.

Setting up and Managing Backups 104


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DSClientcanbeconfiguredtosendnotificationsofbackuperrors,failures,and
successes.Messagescanbesentbyemail,pager,event,broadcastmessage,orSNMP
trap.

Monitoring Backup Errors on DS-System


TheEventLogandActivityLogaccessiblefromDSOperatorprovideinformationon
backupandotheractivities.
DSSystemcansendEMailswhencertaineventsoccur,anditcanalsogenerateSNMP
traps.
BackuperrorsarealsomonitoredbytheDSNOC.

Setting up and Managing Backups 105


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Restoring Backed-up Data

About this Section


ThissectiondescribeshowAsigraCloudBackuphandlesdatarestores.Foran
overviewoftherestoreprocess,seeHowAsigraCloudBackupHandlesRestoreson
page23.

About Restoring Data


AsigraCloudBackupallowscompleteflexibilitywhenrestoringdata:datacanbe
restoredattheonlinegenerationlevel,thefilelevel,orthedatabaselevel(when
applicable)andincrementally(forVMwareVADPvirtualmachines).Datacanbe
restoredtotheoriginallocation,ortoanalternatelocation,withavarietyofoptions.

Ensuring Restored Data is Valid


Duringarestore,theDSClientrecreatesthedigitalsignaturesofthefilesonthetarget
computersandcomparesthemtothedigitalsignaturesattachedtothefilesbackedupto
DSSystemOnlineStorage.Thisverifiesthatthefilecontentisexactlythesameaswhat
wasbackedup.Thisisespeciallyimportantwhenrestoringdatabases,registry,NDS
(domainservice),orothertypesofdatawherethesmallestchangecanmakethedata
uselessorevenharmful.
Thedigitalsignatureisgeneratedfromthefilecontentduringbackup.Adigitalsignature
isa128bitcodethatidentifiesdatainthefile.Itensurestheintegrityofthedatathatthe
DSClientbacksupandrestores.TheDSClientcreatesadigitalsignatureforeverynon
emptyfilethatittransferstotheDSSystem.Thesignatureisattachedtothefileandgoes
withit.Evenonebitchangedinthefilewillproduceadifferentdigitalsignature.

Note:Torunatestrecoverytoconfirmrestorability,usetheRestorability
Validationfunction.

Note:EMailmessagescanberestoredonlybyDSClientswithaccesstothe
MessageLevelRestore(DSRecoveryToolsmodule).

Restoring Backed-up Data 106


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Speed of Restores
Restorespeedisaffectedbymanyfactors,likenetworkspeed,CPUspeed,RAM,andfile
systemspeed.
Dataissentoverthenetworkincompressedformat,sonetworkusageisnormally
low.
TheDSClientalsohastheoptionofbackinguptoaLocalStoragepathwhichallows
fastretrievalofbackedupdata.
Therestoreprocessismultithreaded(onWindowsDSClients),meaningthatvery
fastrestoresarepossible,restoringmanyfilesatoncefrommanydirectories.
Restoringmanysmallfileswillalwaysbeslowerthanrestoringbigfiles.
CPUusageduringrestoreislowerthanduringbackupandisusuallynotabottleneck
fortherestoreprocess.

Special Types of Restores

Restoring to Different Platform


DSClientsupportsrestoreoffilesystembackupsets(otherthanthoseusingbackup
streamsoptions)acrossdifferentoperatingsystems.Thismeansthatanydatabackedup
fromoneservercanbesafelyrestoredtoanotherserver,regardlessoftheservertype.
Permissionsshouldbeskipped(seeRestoringPermissionsonpage 107).
Thedifferencebetweenrestoringtoanoriginalserverandrestoringtoanotheroperating
systemliesmainlyinthedifferentfileattributes.Forexample,theWindowsACLisnot
compatiblewithUNIXpermissionsandextendedattributesforfilesstoredonNetWare
serverscanberestoredonlyonNetWareservers.
Somefilesystemtypesmayhavedifferentpropertiesevenonthesameoperatingsystem
(likeNTFSandFAT).Investigatethecompatibilitiesbeforerestoringdatafromsuchfile
systemtypestoothertypesoffilesystems.
Restoringspecialitems(registryandsystemstate)fromfilesystembackupsetstoan
incompatiblecomputermayleadtoanunusablesystem.

Restoring Special Backup Set Types


TheDSClientKnowledgeBasecontainsarticlesthatexplainrestorestepsforspecific
backupsettypes.

Restoring Permissions
Optionsforrestoringpermissionsinclude:
restorethepermissionsofallrestoredfiles
restorethepermissionsofonlythoserestoredfilesthatalreadyexistonthedestination
location
donotrestorepermissionsbutusethoseoftheparentdirectoryintowhichfilesare
beingrestored.

Restoring Backed-up Data 107


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Restoring Locked Files
Optionsforrestoringlockedfilesinclude:
renameexistinglockedfileswhilestillinuse;deletethemafterreboot
restorelockedfilesastemporaryfiles;replacethemafterreboot
donotrestorelockedfiles
replacejunctionpoints(Windowsonly)ofthesamenameasthelockedfile

Bare Metal Restore (Windows)


Anydisasterthatdestroysacomputerrequiresabaremetalrestoretoreplacethe
damagedcomputerwithanewmachine.Anewcomputermustbeconfiguredwitha
freshoperatingsysteminstallation.Thisinstallationmustbeofthesameversionasthe
originalcomputer,and(preferably)thesameservicepackaghostimageofthe
operatingsystemcanbeapplied.Afterthis,DSClientcanbeusedtorestorethecomplete
system(data,profiles,registry/systemstate,servicepackfiles,etc.).
Best Practice: For Windows, it is useful to have a standard desktop definition that is
rolled out to any new or replacement machine.
Detailsofthebaremetalrestoreprocessandtheplatformsitissupportedforcanbe
foundintheDSClientKnowledgeBase.
DSMobileClientdoesnotsupportBMRforlocalorremotemachines.

Disaster Restore using DS-System


Ifnetworkspeedisanissue,aDSSystemcanbeusedtoperformrestoresatLANspeed
(usuallyjustfordisasterrestore).
1 AcustomercontactstheEnterprise/ServiceProvider,requestingtoinitiateadisaster
restoreprocess.
2 Enterprise/ServiceProviderhastwooptionsforpreparingtheDSSystem:
replicatetheDSSystemOnlineStorageandtheDSSystemdatabase,theninstalla
newDSSystemusingthereplicatedstorageanddatabase.ThatDSSystemmust
berunningwithanEmergencylicenseoraReplicationDSSystemlicense.
useaReplicationDSSystem.Thiscanbeeitheranexistingone(whichwillbe
immediatelyavailable),oranewone(whichwillrequiretimetoreplicatetheDS
SystemOnlineStorage).ThatDSSystemmustberunningwithaReplication
license.
3 TheDSSystemissenttothecustomerslocation.
4 TheDSClientsetupischangedtomatchtheDSSystemsIPaddress;backup/restore
schedulesshouldbedisabled(ifusinganEmergencyLicense).
5 Dataisrestored.
6 TheDSClientsetupischangedbacktotheoriginalIPaddresstoresumenormal
operations.

Restoring Backed-up Data 108


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:ForDisasterRestore,theDSSystemrunningwithaReplication
licenseislimitedtoallowingDSClientstoperformrestores.

Note:IfusingaReplicationDSSystem,itmustbeshippedbacktothe
Enterprise/ServiceProviderifitistocontinueactinginthatcapacity.It
mustbereconnectedtothereplicationgroupinordertogetitsDS
SystemOnlineStoragebackuptodate.

Restoring from BLM


SeeRestoringDataonpage249

Other Data Recovery Issues

Recovering Failed Source Computer


Ifoneofthesourcecomputersfails,itsdatacanberecoveredfromDSSystem.Ifthe
LocalStoragemoduleisbeingused,recoverycanbedoneinwholeorinpartfromlocal
storageinstead.

Emergency Snapshot
CustomerscanusetheDisc/Tapemoduletorequestasnapshotofthelatestonline
generationofabackupsetonremovablemedia.

Restore Methods

Save Method
Inthismethod,filesarerestoredfirsttoatemporarylocation.Oncethefileisrestored
successfullyinthetemporarylocation,theoriginalfileisthenoverwrittenwiththe
temporaryfile.Thispreventspartiallyrestoredfilesfromoverwritinganexistingfile.

Fast Method
Inthismethod,allfilesarerestoredonawritedataasreceivedbasis,withexistingfiles
overwrittenoncethefirstbyteofdataisreceived.

Use Buffer Method


Inthismethod,ifthecustomerhaschosentosetupabufferforbackup/restore,allfiles
arerestoredtothebufferfirstattheDSSystemconnectionspeed,thentheyarecopiedto
thetargetatLANspeed.

Restoring Backed-up Data 109


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Alternative Restore Methods
TheLocalStoragemodulecanbeusedtobackupdatalocallyonthecustomersLAN(as
wellastoDSSystem).ThismeansyoucanrestoredataatLANspeed,sinceDSClient
onlyneedstoconnecttoDSSystemtoobtaindatathatismissingfromtheLocalStorage
buffer.
TheDisc/Tapemodulecanbeusedtoobtainamediabased(CD,DVD,tape,disk,etc.)
copyofbackedupdatatoberestored.
Ifthedatawasarchived,RestorableImagescanbeusedtoretrievethedatafromBLM
ArchiverandrestoreatLANspeed.

Restoring Backed-up Data 110


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Buffer

About the Buffer


TheDSClientbufferisdiskspaceontheDSClientmachinethatisusedastemporary
storageduringselectedbackupsandrestores.ItisalsothedefaultlocationwhereDS
ClientAdminstoresDSClientdatabasedumps.
ADSClientbufferismostusefuliftheIPWANconnectionfromDSClienttoDSSystem
isslowerthanwithintheLAN.

Setting up the Buffer


CustomersuseDSUsertosetupabufferontheDSClientmachineforbackupsand
restores.
Thebuffershouldbebigenoughtoholdthetotalamountofdata(beforedeltaprocessing
andcompression)fromalltheDSClientbackupsetsthatareconfiguredtousethebuffer.
ItalsoneedstobebigenoughtoholdtheDSClientdatabasedumps.

Note:Bydefault,DSClientsetsupthebufferinatemporarylocationonthe
OperatingSystemvolume.Thislocationshouldbechangedtoamore
appropriateone.

DS-Client Buffer 111


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Buffers Effect on Backup Processing
WithaDSClientbuffer:
BackupfilesaretransferredfirsttothebufferatLANspeed,thenthedataisprocessed
andsenttoDSSystemattheDSSystemconnectionspeed.
DSClientdeletesallfilesfromthebufferaftereachactivity,whetherornotthe
operationwassuccessful.

Caution:Remindcustomersnottouseabufferforbackupsetsthathave
dataontheDSClientcomputeritself,sincethesecancausealoop
(asthesystemtriestostoredatainthebufferwhileatthesame
timetryingtobackupthebuffer).

DS-Client Buffer 112


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Local Storage Cache

About the Local Storage Cache


TheLocalStorageCacheisadisklocationonthesameLANastheDSClientmachine
thatisusedtotemporarilystorethebackupdataifaconnectionbetweentheDSClient
andtheDSSystemislostwhileabackupisinprogress.ThebackupdatafromtheLocal
StorageCachewillbesenttotheDSSystemassoonasaconnectiontotheDSSystemis
reestablished.

Setting up the Local Storage Cache


CustomersuseDSUsertosetuptheLocalStorageCacheoptionforbackupactivitiesat
backupsetlevel.TheLocalStorageCachedisksshouldbelargeenoughinorderto
accommodatethetotalamountofdatathatneedstobebackedup(compressed,
encryptedandMasterprocessed).

Note:TheLocalStorageCachelocationisthesameastheLocalStoragepath
location.TheLocalStoragedisksmusthavesufficientstoragecapacity
inordertoaccommodatedatafromallthebackupsetsconfigured
eitherwithLocalStoragemoduleorwithLocalStorageCache.

Local Storage Caches Effect on Backup Processing


WithaLocalStorageCache:
IftheconnectionfromDSClienttotheDSSystemismaintainedduringabackup
activity,thebackupactivitywillprocessalltherequireddataandsendittotheDS
Systeminthecorrespondingformat.
IftheconnectionfromDSClienttotheDSSystemislostduringabackupactivity(and
anyconfiguredretriesdonotsucceed):
DSClientwillprocessthedatafromthesourceandsaveitinthecorresponding
format(fullbackup,compressedandencrypted)ontheLocalStorageCache.
WhentheconnectionbetweentheDSClienttotheDSSystemisreestablished,
DSClientwillsendthedatafromtheLocalStorageCachetotheDSSystem.

DS-Client Local Storage Cache 113


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Caution:WindowsDSClientsandLinux/MACDSClientshaveslightly
differentbehaviorwhendealingwithinterruptionsduringa
backupactivityandLocalStorageCache.

FormoredetailsandspecificsoneachDSClientbehavior,seetheDSClientUserGuide
document.

DS-Client Local Storage Cache 114


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Compression Methods

Why Data is Compressed


CompressionreducestheamountofdatatransmittedtoDSSystem,makingbackups
faster,aswellasreducingstoragespace.Compressionisparticularlyusefulforslow
communicationlinksand/orverylargefiles.

Choosing Whether or Not Compression is Done


Undermostcircumstances,datatobebackedupiscompressed,byDSClient,beforeitis
senttoDSSystem.Compressionisperformedafterdeltaprocessing,thenitisfollowed
byencryption.
Forfilesthatarealreadyincompressedformat,suchasZIPfiles,bydefaultDSClient
willskipcompression.
ThisoptionisconfiguredusingtheDSClientAdvancedConfigurations(DSUser>Setup
menu>Configuration:AdvancedTab).WindowsDSClientsusethe
SkipCompressionOnCompressedFilesparameter;Linux/MacDSClientsusetheSkip
Compressparameter.RefertotheDSClientKnowledgeBasearticleDSClient
AdvancedConfigurationsformoreinformation.

Compression Algorithms

About the Algorithms


DSClientcompressesdatausingeithertheLZOPalgorithm(defaultmethod)ortheZLIB
algorithm.Thecompressionalgorithmcanbesetatthebackupsetlevel.Thedefault
compressiontypeissetintheDSClientConfigurationDefaultsTab(DSUser>Setup
menu>Configuration:DefaultsTab).
Compressioncanalsobedisabledatthebackupsetlevel.LZOPoperatesmorequickly,
whileZLIBusesabettercompressionratio.
Ifmorethanonecompressionalgorithmisused(seeSwitchingAlgorithmson
page 116),DSClientknowswhichalgorithmtousewhenrestoringdata.Enterprise/
ServiceProviderscanuseDSOperatortoseeifaonlinegenerationiscompressedand,if
so,whatalgorithmwasused.

Compression Methods 115


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Switching Algorithms
Thecompressionalgorithm(ZLIBorLZOP)canbeconfiguredatbackupsetlevelinthe
NewBackupSetWizardorintheBackupSetProperties.Thecompressionalgorithmcan
bechangedwheneverrequired.Whenrestoring,DSClientautomaticallydetectswhich
algorithmwasusedforeachgeneration.

Note:Customerswithlargefilesoraslowcommunicationlinkmaywantto
chooseZLIBbecauseofitsbettercompressionratio.

Compression for Common File Libraries


AllaccountlibraryandpubliclibraryfilesusetheZLIBcompressionmethod,because
someDSClientsinthesamecustomeraccountcoulduseZLIBwhileothersmayuse
LZOP.ForbackwardscompatibilitywithpreviousDSSystemversions,DSClient
alwaysusesZLIBcompressionforsuchlibraryfiles.
IfusingDSOperatortoviewthecompressionmethodofafilethathasbeenreplacedby
alinktoalibrary,thecompressionmethodshownisthatoftheoriginalfile.Thisisthe
filewhosedatawasbackedupandthendiscardedbythecommonfileselimination
process.Theactualcompressioniswhatisusedinthelibraryfile(ZLIB).

Compression Methods 116


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Encryption Methods

Why Encryption is Done by DS-Client


DSClient(notDSSystem)encryptsanddecryptsfiles.Thisensuressecurity,because:
DatacanberestoredonlybytheDSClientthatbackeditup,orbyanotherDSClient
thatwasinstalledusingthesameencryptiontypesandkeysastheDSClientthat
backedupthedata.
SomeonemonitoringdatatransmittedbetweenDSClientandDSSystemwould
interceptonlyencrypteddatablocks.Accesstoconfidentialfilecontentisnotpossible.
SomeonewhogainedfullaccesstoDSSystemOnlineStoragewouldnotbeableto
readthecontentsofbackedupfiles,sincethedataisstoredinencryptedformat.

Encryption Types
EncryptioncanbeeitherAES(128,192,256)orDES(56):
DES56bitupto8characterkey
AES128bitupto16characterkey
AES192bitupto24characterkey
AES256bitupto32characterkey

Note:TheDESisslowanditisweakerthanAES.Itisstrongly
recommendedthatyouchooseAESencryption.

Encryption Certifications
Thefollowingfunctionalityhasbeencertified:
AESencryptioncertificate#968(seehttp://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/
documents/aes/aesval.html)
Randomnumbergeneratorcertificate#546(seehttp://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/
cavp/documents/rng/rngval.html)
Digitalsignaturecertificate#938(seehttp://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/
documents/shs/shaval.html)

Encryption Methods 117


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
HMACcertificate#541(seehttp://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/documents/mac/
hmacval.html)
ThecurrentstatusoftheFIPS1402certificationcanbeviewedathttp://csrc.nist.gov/
groups/STM/cmvp/documents/1401/1401val2010.htm

Encryption Key
AsigraCloudBackupusestwoencryptionkeys:
theprivatekeyisprovidedbythecustomeratDSClientinstallationandusedto
encryptallfilesexceptcommonfilesattheaccountorpubliclevel
theaccountkeyisprovidedbythecustomeratDSClientinstallationandusedto
handlecommonfilesattheaccountlevel.

Note:CustomerswithmultipleDSClientsunderthesamecustomeraccount
MUSThaveanaccountkey,andallDSClientsforacustomeraccount
mustbeconfiguredwiththatsamekeytobeabletoconnecttoDS
System.TosetuptheaccountkeyafterDSClienthasbeeninstalled,
WindowscustomerscanusetheDSClientSetupapplication,aspecial
reconfigurationfunctioninstalledalongwithDSClientortheauto
configurationfeature(configupdate.xml).LinuxandMACuserscan
modifytheaccountkeyfromtheDSUser(Setupmenu>
Configuration),orusetheautoconfigurationfeature(config
update.xml).

Encryptionkeyscannotbechangedafterbackingupdata.Ifattemptingtochangethe
encryptionkeysforaDSClientthathasalreadyconnectedtoaDSSystem,the
connectionoftheDSClienttotheDSSystemwillberejected.
IfiOSDSClientsand/orAndroidDSClientsneedtobeinstalledunderthesameaccount
withPCDSClients,thentheaccountkeyselectedmustbetypeAES128,sinceitis
supportedbyallthosetypesofDSClients:Android,iOSandPCDSClients.Ifanother
accountencryptionkeyisselected,thentheDSClientsmayneedtobeconfiguredunder
differentaccountsonDSSystem.

Encryption Key Validation


ToensurethatDSClientcontinuestousethesameprivatekeyandaccountkeyatall
times,DSSystemverifieskeyintegrityoneveryconnection(usingaonewayhashto
validatethekeys).

Encryption Security
DSClientstorespasswordsthatgiveaccesstothesourcecomputersinencryptedformat
initsdatabase.TheDSClientencryptionkeysarealsostoredinencryptedformatinthe
DSClientdatabase.Asaresult:
Evenapersonwithlegitimateaccesstothesystem(suchastheadministrator)cannot
discoverthevaluesoftheencryptionkeys.

Encryption Methods 118


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
IftheDSClientmachineiscompromised(ahackergainsaccesstothismachine),the
passwordsthatDSClientusestoaccessthesourcecomputers,andtheDSClient
encryptionkeys,arenotcompromised.

Helping Customers Manage Encryption Keys


Sinceonlythecustomerknowstheiruniqueencryptionkeys,iftheyarelost,the
customercannotdecrypttheirstoreddata.Customersmustmaketheirown
arrangementstoretainacopyoftheirencryptionkeys.

Encryption Key Safeguarding at DS-System


EncryptionKeySafeguardingisanadditionalsecurityprovisionthatcanbeenabled
fromtheDSSystem.ForwardingtheDSClientkey(s)willsendanencryptedcopyofthe
key(s)forstorageintheDSSystemsdatabase.
Enterprise/ServiceProviderswillnotbeabletoreadcustomerEncryptionKey(s),butwill
beabletocreateaCustomerRegistrationInformation(.CRIfile)withthemembeddedfor
distribution.Thismeansanyonewhohasthe.CRIfilecanrecreateafunctioningDS
Clientthatwillbeabletoperformbackupsandrestorestothecorrespondingaccounton
theDSSystem.
Therefore,customersshoulddeterminetheirownpolicyonEncryptionKey
Safeguarding,andconsulttheEnterprise/ServiceProvider.IfEnterprise/ServiceProvider
enforcesmandatorysafeguarding,theDSClientwillnotbeabletoconnecttoDSSystem
untilyouenabletheoption.

Encryption Methods 119


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Administration

Types of DS-Client Admin Processes


ThethreetypesofDSClientAdminprocessesaredescribedbelow.
Process Description

Local DoesanyactivitythatdoesnotrequireaconnectiontoDSSystem(suchas
preparingdatabasedump,cleaningthedatabase,andupdatingstatisticaldata).
ThistypeofadministrativeprocessisperformedonlyifnoDailyorWeeklyAdmin
processisconfigured,andcannotbedisabled.IfnoDailyorWeeklyAdmin
processesareconfigured,aLocalAdminprocessrunseverytimetheDSClient
starts,oronceevery12hourssincethepreviousAdminprocess,orevery24hours,
whichevercomesfirst.

Daily DoesallLocalactivitiesdescribedabove,butalsoverifiesbackupsetsand,
optionally,transfersthedumpsoftheDSClientdatabasestoDSSystem.ADaily
Adminprocesscanbedisabled,orcanbeconfiguredtorunataspecifictime,
throughDSUser.Bydefault,itrunsat6:00a.m.

Weekly DoesallDailyactivitiesdescribedabovebutalsodoessynchronizationofbackup
sets(ifconfiguredoriftheDSClientdeterminesabackupsetneeds
synchronization).CustomerscanuseDSUsertodisableaWeeklyAdminprocess
(thisisnotrecommended)orconfigureittorunonaspecificweekdayandtime.
Optionally,customerscanconfigureWeeklyAdmintoalwaysrunthe
synchronizationonallbackupsets(usinganAdvancedConfigurationParameter
SkipWeeklyAdminSyncforLinux/MacDSClientorAdminSkipSyncfor
WindowsDSClient).Bydefault,WeeklyAdminwillonlysynchronizebackupsets
thataremarkedasoutofsync.

CustomerscanscheduleanautomatedsystemrebootaftereachDSClientAdmin
process.ThisoptioncanbeenabledthroughDSUser.

DS-Client Administration 120


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Admin Process Tasks

Overview of Tasks
Task Local Daily Weekly Task
Admin Admin Admin Requires
Connection
to DS-System

TriggerLocalDSVDRSynchronization x x x no
activity

Preparedatabasedump x x x no

Cleandatabase x x x no

Updatestatisticaldata x x x no

Expanddatabase(ifnecessary) x x x no

Verifybackupsets x x yes

Transferdatabasedump x x yes

Performnormalsynchronizationor,for x yes
DisasterRecoverymode,performfull
synchronization

SendDaily/WeeklyAdminEMail x x x no
notifications

Trigger Local DS-VDR Synchronization activity Task


ThisactivityislaunchedforDSClientsconfiguredwithaLocalDSVDRToolandIP
Address.DSClientcomparesitsLocalDSVDRbackupsetrecordswiththerecordsthat
existintheLocalDSVDRdatabase:
IfLocalDSVDRbackupsetsexistinDSClientdatabasebutaremissingintheLocal
DSVDRTool,theywillbecreatedintheToolsdatabase.
IfLocalDSVDRToolhasmorebackupsetsthanexistintheDSClientdatabase,the
extraoneswillberemovedfromtheToolsdatabasetobringthetwodatabasesback
tothesamelevel.

Prepare Database Dump Task


ForMSSQLServer,thisactivitydependsontheselectionforKeepDSClient
databasedumpfile(SetupMenu>Configuration>Parameters):
a)[Donotdelete]Savethepreviousdump(renameittoatemporaryfile),dumpthe
DSClientdatabaseanddsdeltadatabase,rundatabaseconsistencychecks(DBCC).If

DS-Client Administration 121


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
afatalerroroccurs,restorethepreviousdump,otherwisethepreviousdumpwillbe
deletedandonlythecurrentdumpwillremainintheDSClientbuffer.
b)[Deleteaftersuccessfulbackup]Savethepreviousdump(ifitexists).DumptheDS
Clientdatabaseanddsdeltadatabase,rundatabaseconsistencychecks(DBCC).Ifno
errorsoccur,removethepreviousdatabasedump(ifitexists)fromtheDSClient
bufferbeforeconnectingtotheDSSystem.IfstepTransferDatabaseDumpTaskis
successful,thenremovethecurrentDSClientdatabasedumpfromtheDSClient
buffer.
c)[Alwaysdelete]DumptheDSClientdatabaseanddsdeltadatabase,rundatabase
consistencychecks(DBCC).AftertheDaily/WeeklyAdminprocessisfinished,delete
thedatabasedump.
ForPostgreSQL,thisstepisnotperformed.

Clean the Database Task


Deletesoldhistorylogs(activities,events,statistics,etc.).
Dropsunusedtables.
Deletesunusedrecords.

Update Statistical Data Task


Updatesstatisticalinformationabouteachbackupset(numberoffilesandonline
amount).
UpdatesstatisticalinformationforthestoragesummaryshowninDSUser.
ThistaskcanbetriggeredmanuallyfromtheDSUserGUI.

Expand Database Task


AppliestoMicrosoftSQLServer(2005/2008/2008R2/2012)Expressdatabasesonly,
intheeventtheyarenearingthemaximumdatabasesizelimit.
IfDSClientdatabaseisaboveitsDBHighWaterMarkparameter(DSUser:Setup
Menu>DSClientConfiguration>AdvancedTab),expandthedatabasebycreatinga
new,sequentialexpand<nnnn>database.
Movebackupset(s)fromthedatabasethatisoveritshighwatermarkintothenew
expandeddatabase.Thisisdonesequentially,startingwiththelargestbackupset,
untilthedatabasefallsbelowthehighwatermark.

Verify Backup Sets Task


SendslistofallbackupsetstoDSSystem.DSSystemsendsbackalistofbackupsets
thatfallintooneofthesecategories:
(a)donotexistinDSSystemOnlineStorage(notconsideredaproblem)
(b)existinDSSystemOnlineStoragebutwerenotintheDSClientslist(updatesDS
Clientdatabaseaccordingly):theseareorphanedbackupsets
ComparescontentsofDSClientdatabasewithcontentsofLocalStoragemodule,if
used.Updatesdatabase,ifnecessary,withanycontentsinlocalstoragethatarenotin
thedatabase.

DS-Client Administration 122


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Transfer Database Dump Task
Ifdatabasedumpwassuccessful,transfersittoDSSystem.
ForPostgreSQL,insteadoftransferringadump,thedatabaseisbackedupviaPipeto
theDSSystem.
ForMSSQLServer,afterthetransfer,thedatabasedumpfileishandledasconfigured:
a)[Donotdelete]ThefileremainsintheDSClientBufferuntilitisoverwritten.
b)[Deleteaftersuccessfulbackup]IfthetransfertoDSSystemwassuccessful,the
dumpfileisdeleted.
c)[Alwaysdelete]Thedumpfileisalwaysdeleted.

Synchronization Task
PerformedbyWeeklyAdmin(orbyDailyAdmininparticularsituations).Bydefault,it
willrunforallbackupsetsmarkedoutofsync(butitcanbespecificallyconfiguredto
runforallbackupsets).
Bydefault,DSClientisconfiguredtoskipthesynchronizationdoneduringWeekly
Admin.However,foranybackupsetsthatshowinconsistenciesbetweentheirtables(for
example,onetableindicatesfileinformationbuttherearenoonlinegenerationslistedin
therelatedtable,oratableincludesdirectoryinformationbuttherearenofileslistedin
therelatedtable),synchronizationwillstillbeattemptedwithouttakingtheWeekly
Adminconfigurationintoconsideration.
EachsetthathasbeencompletelysynchronizedbyWeeklyAdmincanbeusedfor
operations(restore,backup,delete).ScheduledactivitiesarenotallowedwhileWeekly
AdminisrunningifitconflictswiththetasktheWeeklyAdminiscurrentlyperforming.
Underextremeconditions,whenDSSystemisconfiguredinDisasterRecoverymode,
onlySystembasedsynchronizationsareallowed,andanysynchronizationprocessthatis
startedturnsintoaDSSystembasedsynchronization.

Send Daily E-Mail Notification Task


IftheDSClientisconfiguredforDaily/WeeklyEMailDSClientnotifications,the
administratorwillbesentasummaryofwhatoccurredsincethelastDSClientAdmin
processandwhateverbackupdetailwasconfiguredtobereported.Thissummary
includesinformationaboutthedeleteactivitiesthathaveoccurred.

Restrictions Imposed on DS-Client Admin


DuringmostDSClientAdminprocesses,suchaspreparingthedatabasedumpand
cleaningthedatabase,othersimultaneousactivities(backup,restore,etc.)areallowed.
DSClientAdminphasesthatdonotallowtriggeringactivitiesonabackupsetarethe
ExpandDatabasePhaseandtheSynchronizationPhaseperformedbytheWeeklyAdmin
activity,basedonDSClientconfiguration.
Best Practice: Regularly scheduled Daily and Weekly Admin processes are
recommended. If this cannot be done, these processes should be occasionally
executed manually. Scheduling and manual execution is done through DS-User.

DS-Client Administration 123


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Migrating Customer Accounts and DS-Clients
ExistingDSClientscanbemigrated,customerbycustomerorDSClientbyDSClient,
fromoneDSSystemtoanother(includingcrossplatformmigrations),throughDS
Operator.Thisprocesscantakeconsiderabletimedependingonthenumberoffilesand
quantityofdatathatisbeingmigrated.Themigrationprocesshas2phases:Export
customer/DSClientandimportcustomer/DSClient.Theexportcustomer/DSClient
phaseismultithreaded.Duringthemigrationprocess,becauseofitslength,makesure
DSSystemdoesnotautomaticallyreboot.
ThebandwidththrottleforaspecificDSClientisnotmigrated,butcaneasilybesetonce
themigrationiscomplete.

DS-Client Administration 124


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Activities

ThefollowingactivitiesappearintheDSClientActivityLog

Activity Meaning For more information...

ApplicationAuto autoupgradeprocessisrunning UpgradingDSClientonpage


Upgrade 129
UpgradingDSRecoveryTools:
DSMLR/MSSharePoint
Agentonpage230
Backup backupprocessisrunning SettingupandManaging
Backupsonpage98
BLMRestore ArestoreprocessfromaBLM BackupLifecycleManagement
RestorableImage(orBLM (BLM)Topicsonpage236
consolidatedpackage)

BLMRequest ABLMRequestwasmadefor BackupLifecycleManagement


datatobesentfromDSSystemto (BLM)Topicsonpage236
BLMArchiver

CancelConvert AconversionprocessfromLocal
OnlyBackupsettoregular
backupsethasbeeninterrupted

Cleanlocalonly AlldeletedfilesfromLocalOnly
trash backupsetsaremovedtoa
recycledirectoryinthe
correspondingLocalStoragepath.
Customerscancleanthesefiles
oncetheyaresurethedataisno
longerneeded.

CloudDatabase Anuploadofdatafroman
Upload existingsalesforcedatabasein
beingstarted

DS-Client Activities 125


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Connection DSClientisestablishinga
connectiontoDSSystemand
verifyingconnectionparameters

Convert AconversionprocessfromLocal
OnlyBackupsettoregular
backupsethasbeenstarted

DailyAdmin DailyAdminprocessisrunning DSClientAdministrationon


page120
Delete filesarebeingdeletedfrom DeletingviaDSClienton
DSSystemOnlineStorage page54
DeleteSnaphot DSClientistriggeringadeletion
Transfer ofanexistingNetAppsnapshot
createdviatheDSClient
SnapshotTransferManagerGUI

Disc/TapeRequest disc/tapemodulerequestisin Disc/TapeModuleonpage


progress 221
Disc/TapeRestore Restorefromdisc/tapemediaisin Disc/TapeModuleonpage
progress 221
LANAnalyze LANDiscoverymodulescanis LANDiscoveryonpage225
underway

LANResource DSClientisdiscoveringservers,
Discovery desktopsandlaptopsonthesame
LANastheDSClient,whichare
notprotectedbyanyexisting
backupsets

LocalCacheCopy Thisactivityistriggeredtomove
anydatatotheDSSystemfrom
thecachethatwasbackedupby
DSClientduringtheperiodwhen
aconnectiontotheDSSystem
wasnotavailable.

LocalCache Thismonitoringprocess
Monitor continuouslyrunsforbackupsets
configuredwiththeLocalStorage
Cacheoption.Itdetectswhen
connectivitytoDSSystem
becomesavailable.

OnLineFile OnlineFileSummaryprocessis OnlineFileSummaryModule


Summary running onpage231
Recovery DSClientisrunningrecoveryon RecoveringfromFailedor
itsowndatabases CorruptedDSClient
Databasesonpage128

DS-Client Activities 126


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Registration DSClientisregisteringwithDS RegistrationLayerProtection
System onpage157
Restore restoreprocessisrunning RestoringBackedupDataon
page106
Retention Adeleteprocessisrunningbased Retentiononpage54
onrulesconfiguredbycustomers

SnapshotTransfer DSClientistriggeringsnapshots
anddatamovementbetweena
sourceNetAppNASanda
destinationNetAppNASvia
SnapshotTransferprocess
(requiresalicensefromNetApp)

Synchronization synchronization(anykind)is SynchronizingDSClientwith


running DSSystemonpage165
TapeConversion DSClientisconvertingdatafrom TapeConverter(ImportData
atapetoaformatthatcanbe toBLMArchiver)onpage254
importedtoBLM

Validation DSClientrestorevalidation RestorabilityValidationon


processisunderway page171
WeeklyAdmin WeeklyAdminprocessisrunning DSClientAdministrationon
page120

DS-Client Activities 127


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Maintenance

Recovering Failed DS-Client Machine

DS-Client on Dedicated Machine


IftheDSClientisrunningonadedicatedserver,failuresarelesslikelytohappen,since
theDSClientsoftware(andmaybetheMSSQLdatabaseserver)istheonlysoftware
runningonthatsystem.
Inthecaseofsoftwarefailure,theOScanbesimplyreinstalled(sinceonlytheOSand
DSClientarerunningonthemachine,areinstallationiseasy)oraghostimagecanbe
madeonaCD/DVDforanevenfasterrestore.
Incaseofhardwarefailure,thefaultyhardwareneedstobereplaced.Onthereplacement
hardware,DSClientshouldbeinstalledwiththesameencryptionkeys,accountnumber,
andDSClientnumberaswereusedpreviously.Also,theDSClientdatabasesshouldbe
recovered,asexplainedinRecoveringfromFailedorCorruptedDSClientDatabases
onpage128.DSClientreregistrationwithDSSystemmayberequired.

DS-Client on Shared Machine


IfDSClientisrunningonanondedicatedmachine(usuallythemachinethatactsasan
InternetgatewayfortheLAN),failuresshouldbehandledastheywouldforsucha
machinewhennoDSClientisinstalled.Thismayincludereinstallingsoftware,replacing
hardwareorreplacingtheentiresystem.
OnceDSClientisreinstalledwiththeappropriateencryptionkeys,itcanrecoverits
databases(seeRecoveringfromFailedorCorruptedDSClientDatabasesonpage128)
andcontinuebackups/restoresimmediately.Generally,reinstallingandconfiguringthe
computertoactasaninternetgatewaytakeslongerthanreconfiguringDSClient.

Recovering from Failed or Corrupted DS-Client Databases


Bydefault,theDSClientdatabaseisbackeduponceadaybytheDailyAdmin/Weekly
Adminprocess,soitcanberecoveredfromDSSystemOnlineStorageusingthe
RecoverDSClientwithdeltadatabasesoption.TheDailyAdminandWeeklyAdmin
scheduledstarttimesarerandomlyselectedafterDSClientinstallation.Allbackupset
definitions,EventLogs,ActivityLogsandaudittrailsarerecovered.However,changes

DS-Client Maintenance 128


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
madesincethelastbackuparenotrecovered,norareorphanedbackupsets.
IfforsomereasontheDaily/WeeklyAdminprocessdidnotfinishsuccessfullybeforethe
databasefailedorwascorrupted,alocalcopyofthedatabasedumpsisstoredintheDS
Clientbuffer.ForMSSQLorPostgreSQLdatabases,restorethedatabasefromthebuffer.

Upgrading DS-Client
DSClientupgradesarehandledwithanautoupgradeprocess.(DSClientupgradescan
alsobeperformedmanually.)EachtimeDSClientconnectstoDSSystem,the
compatibilityofthetwocomponentsischecked.Formoreoncompatibility,seeService
Packsonpage211andHotFixesonpage213.IftheDSClientupgradepackageexists
ontheDSSystem,theDSClientwillupgradeitself.DSSystemwillsendtheauto
upgradepackagetotheDSClientautomaticallyandDSClientswillapplythepackage
withouttheneedformanualintervention(unlesstheautoupgradeprocesswasdisabled
bytheDSClientadministrator,inwhichcasetheupgradefailsandDSClientcanonly
connecttotheDSSystemifthetwosoftwareversionsarecompatible).Upgradesare
reportedinEventLog.

Upgrading DS-User Interfaces


WhenDSUserisinstalledwiththesameinstallationasDSClient,theautoupgrade
packagethatisdownloadedwillupdateallcomponentsincludedinthedownloaded
package.IftheDSUserinterface(GUI)isinstalledseparatelyfromtheDSClientService
(e.g.forremotemonitoring),theGUIcanbeupgradedeithermanuallyorauto
upgraded.
Manualupgradescanbeperformedbyrunningtheinstallation/servicepack/hotfix
packagedirectlyonthemachinewheretheDSUserGUIisinstalled.AutoUpgradeis
performediftheDSUserGUIconnectstoaDSClientthathasavailableDSUserauto
upgradepackagesinitsupgradelibrary(DSUserAutoUpgradeadvancedparameter
mustbesettoCrossPlatform...orCompatiblePlatform...value).Thesepackagesare
normallydownloadedbyDSClientsiftheyareavailablefromtheDSSystem(inits
Upgradefolder).

DS-Client Maintenance 129


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ILM/HSM Integration

Overview
DSClientcanworkwiththirdpartyInformationLifecycleManagement(ILM)or
HierarchicalStorageManagement(HSM)products.Customerswiththeseproductscan
usethemtoreducethecostofprotectingtheirdatawithDSSystem.Theycanalsoavoid
dataduplicationbetweenDSSystemandILM/HSM.

How ILM/HSM Works


ILM/HSMproductsmovedatathathasremainedstaticforaspecific,configurableperiod
oftimefromhighcosthighperformanceonlinedisktolowercost,lowerperformance
storagesuchastapes.Typically,theseproductsreplacefilesonthesourcecomputers
withaplaceholderthathasthesamename,size,andtimestampasthemovedfile.
DSClientcanrecognizetheseplaceholdersandbackthemup(becauseplaceholdersare
small,theydonotinvolvedeltaprocessing).Ifnecessary,theplaceholderscanbe
restored(theactualdataremainsonthelowercoststorage).Ifatsomepointthesource
fileismodified(afterbeingmovedbacktodiskbyILM/HSM),themodifiedfileisalso
backedupasanonlinegeneration.
Customersareresponsibleforensuringthatdatafilescorrespondingtoplaceholdersare
safelyandproperlystored:DSSystemOnlineStoragecontainsonlytheplaceholders,
plusanypreviousonlinegenerationsbackedupbeforeILM/HSMmovedthefile.

Deleting Files Moved by ILM/HSM


AllthreemethodsfordeletingfromDSSystemOnlineStorageofferanoptiontochoose
howtohandlefilesthatnowhaveaplaceholderonthesourcecomputers.Acustomer
canchoosetokeeponlythelastplaceholderorkeepallplaceholders.

ILM/HSM Integration 130


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Inbothcases,allsubsequentonlinegenerationsofthefile(nottheplaceholder)arealso
kept.

Note:DeletingILM/HSMplaceholdersfromDSSystemOnlineStorage
requiresWindowsXP/2000/2003.

Considerthefollowingexample:

Generation Location

1 DSSystemOnlineStorage(initialbackup)

2 offline(movedbyILM/HSM)

3 DSSystemOnlineStorage(movedbacktodiskandmodified)

4 offline(movedbyILM/HSM)

5 DSSystemOnlineStorage(movedbacktodiskandmodified)

Ifthecustomerchoosestokeeponlythelastplaceholder,generations1,2and3willbe
deleted.Generation4,whichisanofflinegeneration,andgeneration5,anonline
generation,willbekept.
Ifthecustomerchoosestokeepallplaceholders,onlygenerations1and3,bothofwhich
areonlinegenerations,willbedeleted.Theyarealreadyprotectedbygenerations2and
4,intheirofflineversions.
Forscheduleddelete,anadditionaloptionisusedtodeletefiles/directoriesthathave
beendeletedfromthesourceitself.Thiscanbeusedincombinationwiththeplaceholder
optionif,forexample,theplaceholderisdeletedfromthesource.Considertheabove
example,withtheadditionalinformationthatafterthefifthgenerationthefilewasagain
takenofflineandthentheplaceholderwasdeleted.Ifthecustomerchoosestokeepall
placeholdersANDtodeletefiles/directoriesdeletedonthesource,thesecondoptionwill
takepriority,soonlythelastgeneration(theplaceholder)willberetained.Similarly,if
thecustomerchoosestokeepthelastplaceholderonlyandtodeletefiles/directories
deletedonthesource,allgenerationswillbedeleted(sincethelastplaceholderhasbeen
deleted).

Restoring Placeholders / Stubs


Whenrunningarestoreprocess,DSClientwillrestore(bydefault),boththedataandthe
placeholders/stubsthatwerepreviouslybackedup.
Therestorewizardalsoprovidesyouwithanoptiontoskiptheplaceholders/stubsand
restoreonlydata.

ILM/HSM Integration 131


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Continuous Data Protection (CDP)

About CDP
ContinuousDataProtectionbackupsetsrequireapermanentconnectiontotheDS
Systemandtothetargetmachinesbeingbackedup.TheDSClientisnotifiedeverytime
afilechangesonthetargetmachinesoreverytimeanEMailismodifiedonthe
ExchangeServerbeingbackedupwithDSMLR.
WithCDP,dataisbackedupwhentheprotectedfileissavedtodisk,offeringconstant
protection.FilesprotectedbyCDParecontinuouslymonitored,byDSClient,forchanges
tothemonsourcecomputers.Backupsaretriggeredbychangestoprotectedfiles.
Otherwise,backupproceedsasnormal:theusualprocessing(deltaprocessing,
compression,encryptionandeliminationofcommonfiles)isdone.IftheLocalStorage
moduleisbeingused,ittoooperatesasnormal.

What CDP Applies To


CDPisimplementedasabackupoptionthatappliesto:
purefilesystembackupsets(thosethatdonotincludeSystemStatesorService
Databases)
EMailbackupsetsofMSExchangeEMails(WindowsDSClientwithDSMLR)
Customerscanrestrictthebackupset,andthereforetheCDP,toonlyspecificpartsof
sourcecomputers,atthesharelevel,directorylevel,orfilelevel.ExtendedRegular
Expressionscanbeusedtodefinecomplicatedselections.

Continuous Data Protection (CDP) 132


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Trigger Policies for CDP
CustomerscanchoosetohaveCDPtriggeredinoneoftheseways:
whenaconfigurableintervalhaselapsedafterachangeisdetected
whenaconfigurableintervalhaselapsedwithnomorechangesdetected,following
thedetectionofachange
ConsideraCDPprotectedfilewheretheapplicationautomaticallysavesthefileevery10
minutes,buttheuseralsosavesthefileatintervals,dependingonthechangestheuseris
making:
Fileopenedat9:05
Filesavedat9:08(usersaved)
Filesavedat9:12(usersaved)
Filesavedat9:15(applicationsaved)
Filesavedat9:25(applicationsaved)
Filesavedat9:32(usersaved)
Filesavedat9:34(usersaved)
Filesavedat9:45(applicationsaved)
Filesavedandclosedat9:47(usersaved)
IfthepolicytotriggerCDPafteranintervalhaselapsedischosen,andtheinterval
chosenis5minutes,then5ofthesavedversionsarebackedup:9:08,9:15,9:25,9:34,and
9:47.The9:05and9:12versionstriggerthebackup,butafter5minutestheexisting
versionsare9:08and9:15.
IfthepolicytotriggerCDPafteranintervalhaselapsedwithnomorechangesdetectedis
chosen,andtheintervalchosenis15minutes,thenonlythelastversionwillbebackedup
intheexampleperiod,sincethereisno15minuteperiodduringwhichthefilewasnot
changed.Iftheintervalchosenis5minutes,then4ofthesavedversionsarebackedup:
9:15,9:25,9:34and9:47.
Tosaveasmanyversionsaspossible,configurethefirstpolicywithashortinterval.Ifan
intervalof1secondischosen,eachofthe8savedversionsisbackedup.Ifthenumberof
generationsforthisfilesbackupsetis8orless,generationswillbeoverwrittenwithin
this45minuteperiod,soalargernumberofgenerationsmayneedtobeconfiguredfor
thisbackupset.
Best Practice: CDP works with the generation limits specified for a backup set. A file that
changes frequently, and that is backed up in a short interval, will quickly fill a large number of
generations. Settings that were adequate for a normal backup are unlikely to be sufficient for
CDP. Choose the number of generations in proportion to what is reasonably required for data
storage of CDP-protected data.
Best Practice: Retention rules can help manage CDP backup sets with files that change
frequently. See: AboutRetentiononpage 55.

Interrupted CDP
IfCDPisinterruptedforanyreason,atthenextbackupDSClientwillreinitializeanddo
afullscanofthesourcecomputerforthespecificbackupsetwhenthatCDPstartsagain.

Continuous Data Protection (CDP) 133


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Restoring Files Backed up with CDP
AlltheusualrestorefunctionsforrestoringfromDSSystemOnlineStorageapplytofiles
backedupusingCDP.

Deleting Files Backed up with CDP


AlltheusualdeletefunctionsfordeletingfromDSSystemOnlineStorageapplytofiles
backedupusingCDP.

Continuous Data Protection (CDP) 134


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
File Level Restore

About File Level Restore


DSClientsupportsfilelevelrestoreforvirtualmachinesorvirtualdisksbackedupusing
VMwareVADPbackupsets.ThisfeatureisavailableforfullorCBTbackup,bothatthe
VirtualMachineleveloratthedisklevelforVMwareVirtualMachines.Filelevelrestore
isavailableintherestorewizardtogetherwithVMlevelrestoreandVMdisklevel
restore.Thisoptionallowstheusertobrowseforthefileordirectoryrequiredforrestore
andtodownloadonlytherelevantblocksofdatafromDSSystem,withoutdownloading
theentireVMdiskdataormountingtheVMimage.Filelevelrestoreissupportedfor
backupsetswithmultiplevirtualmachines,virtualmachineswithmultipledisks,and
diskswithmultiplevolumes.

File Level Restore 135


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Virtual Machine Replication

About Virtual Machine Replication


ReplicatingVMwarevirtualmachinesbetweentwoVCentersisavailableinv13asanew
backupsettype.ReplicationrequiresVMReplicationLicensecapacitywhichisonly
availableunderRecoveryLicenseModel(RLM).
TheReplicationbackupsetisonlyavailableinClassicDSUser,andonlyinDSClientfor
Windows.TheReplicationbackupsetwillreplicatevirtualmachineswithWindowsand
Linuxguestoperatingsystems.
TosetupReplication:
UseDSOperatortoassignVMreplicationQuota
UseDSOperatortocreateDSClientreplicationgroups
UseDSUsertocreateareplicationsetVMReplication
EntersourcevCenter/ESX
EntertheDestinationDSClient
ReplicationrequiresaminimumoftwoDSClients,oneconnectedtoasourcevCenter
andconnectedtoatargetvCenterthatwillhostthereplica.Asinglereplicationbackup
setcanbereplicatedbetweentwoDSClients,anddifferentreplicationbackupsetscanbe
setuptoreplicatetodifferentDSClients,aslongasallDSClientsarepartofthesame
replicationgroup.
Eachreplicationbackupsetcancontainmultipleitems.Theseitemsmaybeeither
individualVirtualMachinesorVirtualMachineFolders.Whenafolderisaddedtothe
backupset,allsubfoldersandVMswithinthesesubfoldersatthetimeofreplicationare
replicated.TheVirtualMachinesandFoldersareassumedtoexistontheinfrastructureat
thetimeofbackupsetcreation,andareverifiedtoexistduringabackupsession(i.e.
movingaVMafterbackupsetcreationwillcauseanerrorduringabackupsession).For
folders,thefolderscontentswillbescannedduringabackupsessionandanyVMsthat
wereaddedafterbackupsetcreationwillbereplicatedaswell.
AVMorFolderisidentifiedbythedatacenterspath(i.e.<ESXIP>/<datacentername>/
<foldername>//<VMname>).Therefore,multipleVMswiththesamenamemayexist
inthesamebackupset,aslongastheseVMsresideindifferentfolders.
TheReplicationbackupsetsupportsinitialofflineseeding,dataisreplicatedtoalocal
portablemediawhichisthenphysicallyshippedtothedestinationwhereitisreadbythe

Virtual Machine Replication 136


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
targetDSClientandtransferredtothetargetvCenter.TheReplicationbackupsetwill
remainlockedwhilethedataisintransit,andwillbeunlockedoncethedatais
transferredtothedestination.Afterafullreplication,allotherreplicationswillbe
incremental.ThisincrementwillbesavedasasnapshotonthetargetvCenter.
Replicationsupportsencryptionandcompressionoftransmitteddatabothoverthe
networkandbyinitialreplication.FordataencryptionAES128bitkeyisrecommended
tobeused.
TheDSClientwilltrackifitisthesourceorthetargetofthereplicationbackupset.
Replicationwillbedonefromthesourcetothetarget.Replicationsupportsfailoverand
failback.Aspecificgenerationcanbeselectedforfailbackallsnapshotswillbe
consolidatedtothatgenerationonthetargetVMbeforefailback.Oncethefailbackis
triggered,nofurtherfailoverswillbepossible.

Virtual Machine Replication 137


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Asigra Software Topics

ThissectioncontainstopicsrelatedtobothDSClientandDSSystem.

138
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
How Backed-up Data is Handled

About this Section


ThissectionexplainshowAsigraCloudBackupusesavarietyoftechniquestosave
backuptime,processingpower,storagespace,andnetworkbandwidth.

Introduction
Forfilesofallsizesandtypes,onlynewandchangedfilesareidentifiedbyconsecutive
backups(unlessthebackupsetisconfiguredtoforcebackupofunchangedfiles).
Forlargerfiles,thefollowingadditionaltechniquesareused:
deltaprocessing(seeAboutDeltaProcessingonpage 140)ensuresthatonlyblock
levelchangesaresent:notchangedFILES,butchangesWITHINfiles
backupsareincrementalforever:themasterissentonlyonce
commonfilesareidentifiedandeliminated(seeCommonFileEliminationonpage
153).
Forsmallerfiles,thefollowingtechniqueisused:
filesarestoredontheDSSystemOnlineStorageinonelargerfileunderthesame
parentdirectory

About Online Generations

Overview
AllfilesbackedupusingAsigraCloudBackuphaveaspecificnumberofonline
generationsstoredinDSSystemOnlineStorage.Thedefaultnumberofgenerationsis30.
Customerscanconfigurethisdefaultnumberafterinstallation(DSUser:Configuration
Menu>DefaultsTab).Eachindividualbackupitemcanhaveitsownnumberof
generations.Forexample,acriticalbackupiteminabackupsetmighthave30
generations,whilethedefaultvalueforallotheritemsisthreegenerations.
Generationsfallintothreecategories:
regulargenerations
mastergenerations

How Backed-up Data is Handled 139


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
deltagenerations
TheDSDeltaalgorithmdoesblocklevelprocessingofthosefilesthatqualifyfordeltaor
masteronlinegenerations.

Regular Generations
Regulargenerationscontaintheentirecontentsofthefileataspecificpointintime.This
kindofgenerationiscreatedeachtimebackupisdone,ifanyoneofthefollowing
(configurable)conditionsismet:
filesaresmall(under32K)orextremelylarge(over100TB)[32bitDSClients]or
filesaresmall(under32K)orextremelylarge(over1PB)[64bitDSClients]or
backupitemhasnumberofgenerationssettofewerthanthree(configurableto2)or
filesareexecutables,DLLs,ordriverfilesbeingbackedupwithoutstreams(thisisa
backupsetoption).

Master Generations
Mastergenerationscontaintheentirecontentsofthefileataspecificpointintime.This
kindofgenerationiscreatedduringinitialbackupoffilesthatqualifyfordelta
processing:seeAboutDeltaProcessingonpage 140.
Theonlytimetheentirecontentsofthefilearesentagain,makinganewmaster
generation,isifsomethinghappenstotheDSClientdatabase,ifthelatestonline
generation(masterordelta)isdeletedbythecustomer,ifthelatestonlinegenerationis
corruptedandasaresultdeletedbyDSSystemactivities,oriftheDSClientis
configuredtoforcesendingafullmaster.Amastermayalsobesentifasignificantsize
changeoccurstothefile.

Delta Generations
Deltagenerationscontainonlychangessincethepreviousbackup.Thiskindof
generationneedstobecombinedwithpreviousdeltas,andthefilesmastergeneration,
torecreatethefiletoberestored.Asaresult,eachdeltagenerationhaspointerstothe
previousand,ifapplicable,nextdeltageneration.

About Delta Processing


TheDSDeltaalgorithmanalyzesfilesattheblocklevel.Theprocessingisgeneric:itwill
workonanybinaryfile,regardlessofitsfiletypeorcontent.Thealgorithmdividesall
backedupfilesintodatablockstoreducestoragerequirementsandincreasebackup
speed.
Deltaprocessingisperformedifallofthefollowingconditionsaremet:
filesarebetween32Kand100TB(32bitDSClientsdefault,configurable)or
between32Kand1PB(64bitDSClientsdefault,configurable),and
backupitemhasnumberofgenerationssettothree(configurableto2)ormore,and
filesarenotexecutables,DLLs,ordriverfilesbeingbackedupwithoutstreams(thisis
abackupsetoption).

How Backed-up Data is Handled 140


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Ifafilequalifiesfordeltaprocessing,theDSDeltaalgorithmwillidentifyifthisnew
onlinegenerationwillbeconsideredamaster(seefirstpicturebelow)oradelta(see
secondpicturebelow),basedonwhetherornotothergenerationsofthesamefileexist.
Whenamastergenerationiscreated,thedatablocksareexaminedtoidentifyredundant
data(twinblocks)thatcanbereplacedbyreferencestotheblocktheyduplicate.This
reducesstoragerequirementsandincreasesbackupspeedevenmore.

file split into redundancies file reassembled


original file
blocks identified and (master
removed generation)

Whenadeltagenerationiscreated,thisblocklevelprocessingisusedtodetermine
wherechanges(additions,insertions,deletionsormodifications)haveoccurred,and
thereforewhichblocksneedtobeinthedeltageneration.

deleted data

modified data

inserted data

inserted data

modified file
changes changes delta
(split into
detected isolated created
blocks)

How Backed-up Data is Handled 141


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Online Generations Explained

Sequence of Generation Creation


Considerasituationoffivefilestobebackeduptogetherinthesamebackupsession,
overfourtimeintervals.Thefirstfourfilesqualifyfordeltaprocessing,thefifthdoesnot.

T1 T2 T3 T4

MyFile Master Delta Delta

YourFile Master Delta Delta

HisFile Master Delta Delta

HerFile Master Delta Delta

OtherFile Regular Regular

ThreeofthefilesexistattheT1time,sothatiswhenthemastergenerationofthose
filesiscreated.ThefourthandfifthfilesdidnotexistuntilT2,sothatiswhentheir
generationiscreated:amastergenerationforthefilethatqualifiesfordeltaprocessing,a
regulargenerationforthefilethatdoesnot.Adeltagenerationiscreated,forqualified
files,wheneverchangestothefilearedetectedbyabackup(noteveryfilewillchange
beforethebackupruns).
ArequesttorestoreYourFileatT3willrequireDSSystemtoassemblethefilefromT1
(themastergeneration),plusthosefromT2andT3(thedeltagenerations).Arequestto
restoreHisFileatT1willsimplyretrievethedatafromthemastergeneration.A
requesttorestoreOtherFileatT2willsimplyretrievethedatafromtheregular
generationavailableinthe_file_storefileontheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Generation Numbering
Eachgenerationisstoredusingauniquenumber(whencalculated,itisthenumberof
secondssince01January1970).Filesbackedupinthesamebackupsessionhavethesame
generationnumber.
Forexample,consideracasewhenfilessmallerthan32KBarebackedupfromthesame
parentdirectory.TheDSSystemOnlineStoragewillstoreallthefilesinthe_file_store
file.Insidethe_file_storefile,thedatalookslikethefollowing,consideringthatfour
generationsarebeingkeptontheDSSystemOnlineStorage.Attheendofthefourth
backup,the_file_storefilecontains:
1.1145945968
1.1145935954
1.1145925900
1.1145915869
Atthefifthgeneration,1.1145915869(theoldestgeneration)isoverwrittenandanew
generationiscreated.Nowthe_file_storefilecontains:
1.1145956000
1.1145945968

How Backed-up Data is Handled 142


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
1.1145935954
1.1145925900
Afterthenextgeneration,the_file_storefilewillcontainthefollowing:
1.1145968060
1.1145956000
1.1145945968
1.1145935954
and so on.

Note:Forsimplicitysake,theexamplesshowninthissectionassumethatall
fileschangedateachbackupintervalandDONOTmeetthecriteria
fordeltaprocessing.

Re-Building Masters and Recycling Generations


About Re-Building Masters (Master Reconstruction)
Keepingasinglemastergenerationandaninfinitenumberofdeltagenerationswould
slowdowntherestoreprocess.Anewmastergenerationneedstoberebuiltatintervals,
tomaketherestoreprocessfasterandmoreefficient.Thisalsominimizesthepotential
datalossifagenerationiscorrupted.
Oncethemaximumnumberofonlinegenerationsthecustomerwantstoprotectis
reached,DSSystemneedstooverwritetheoldestgenerationandcarryon.Theoldest
generationisamaster,though,andsincethesystemcannotassembleameaningfulfile
fromdeltasalone,itcannotsimplydiscardthemaster.Instead,itmustreconstructanew
one.However,doingthiseachtimeanewgenerationisbackedup(oncethegeneration
limithasbeenreached)takestimeandvaluableresources.Toavoidthis,atechnique
calledGenerationRecyclingisusedwheretheoldestgenerationisactuallyrecycled,
andthereconstructionisdelayed.Theresultisthatreconstructionisperformedonly
occasionally,ratherthanroutinely.
Generationrecyclingcanbeturnedon(default)oroffwiththeDSSystemAdvanced
ConfigurationparameterRecycleSwitch.

Note:IfGenerationRecyclingisturnedoff,anybackupthatcontainsafile
forwhichDSSystemrequiresmasterreconstructionwillhavetowait
untilthemasterreconstructioniscompletedbeforethebackupsession
willfinish.

About Recycled Generations


Recycledgenerationsaregivenanegativenumberandcannotberestoreddirectly,
althoughAsigraCloudBackupcanaccessthem,forexample,torestoreafilebasedon
arecycledmasterandaspecificsetofdeltas.
Customerscanchoosethenumberofgenerationstheywanttoretain.Thatnumber
affectshowgenerationsarerecycledbyDSSystem.Bydefault,mastergenerationsarere
builtatthe10thgeneration,forbackupsetitemsconfiguredwithmorethan10

How Backed-up Data is Handled 143


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
generations.Thisrebuild(MasterReconstruction)isnormallyperformedbytheDelta
ChainOptimizationprocess.
ThemaximumdeltachainlengthisconfigurableontheDSSystemsideatDSSystem\
Account\DSClient\backupsetlevels.Ifthemaximumgenerationstobekeptisless
than10,adoublerulewillapply:whenrecycledgenerationsareequalthenumberof
restorablegenerationsinadeltachain,thenextgenerationwilltriggerthere
construction.

Note:IfaMasterReconstructionoftheoldestmasterofafileisrequiredby
theDSSystem,thenreconstructionofthatmasterisperformed
immediatelyandallotherprocesses(includingbackup)involvingthat
filemustwaituntilthereconstructionisfinished.Generationrecycling
willminimizethechancesofthisoccurring,butitmaystillhappen.

MasterReconstructionistriggeredonschedule(bydefault,daily)bytheDeltaChain
Optimizationprocesstask.
TheDeltaChainOptimizationprocesswilltriggerreconstructionofbackupfileswhere
thedeltachainlengthisn*2+1(wherenistheconfigurednumberforthedeltachain
lengthforthatspecificbackupsettype).Ifaspecificnumberisnotconfigured(ateither
backupset\DSClient\Accountlevel),DSSystemwilluseitsglobaldefault(9).
TheDeltaChainOptimizationprocessmustrunregularlyandbeabletocomplete,
otherwisebackupsetsconfiguredwithmorethan10generationsmayendupwithdelta
chainsthatareverylong.

Example One: Customer Retaining Under 10 Generations


Considerthefollowingexample,wherethecustomerwantstoretainsevenonline
generations.(ThisassumesGenerationRecyclingisON.)Attheeighthbackup,thelimit
ofsevengenerationshasbeenreached.Theoldestitem,themastergeneration,isrecycled
(givenanegativenumber).Attheninthbackup,thelimitisreachedagain,andagainan
item,thistimeadeltageneration,isrecycled,andsoonuntilthefourteenthbackup.At
thefourteenthbackup,thenumberofrecycled(negative)generationsequalsthenumber
ofpositive(restorable)generations.Anewmasterisautomaticallycreated(DSClient
alwayscontinuestosenddeltas:therebuildingofthemasterisdoneentirelybyDS
System)andtheprocessbeginsagain.Themasterisbuiltoutoftherecycleditemsplus
thetwooldestpositivenumberdeltagenerations,sothatoneslotremainsopenforthe
15thbackupsdeltageneration.So,intheexample,below,9M=1M+2D+3D+4D+
5D+6D+7D+8D+9D.

Note:Inthetablesshowninthissection,Dindicatesadelta,Mindicates
amaster,boldtextindicatesanewgeneration,andshadeditems
representrecycledgenerations.

DSClientisnotawareofthepresenceofrecycledgenerationsonDSSystemandcannot
directlyrequestthattheyberestored.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 144


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17

17D

16D 16D

15D 15D 15D

14D 14D 14D 14D

13D 13D 13D 13D 13D

12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D

11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D

10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D

9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9M 9M 9M

8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D

7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D

6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D

5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D

4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D

3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D

2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D

1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M

Note:Thenumbers117inthisexampledonotrepresenttheactual
generationnumbers.Theyareonlyusedforsimplicity.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 145


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Example Two: Customer Retaining More Than 10 Generations
Considerthefollowingexample,wherethecustomerwantstoretain15online
generations.(ThisassumesGenerationRecyclingisON,butthatDeltaChain
Optimizationhasnotrun.)

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15

15D

14D 14D

13D 13D 13D

12D 12D 12D 12D

11D 11D 11D 11D 11D

10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D

9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D

8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D

7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D

6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D

5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D

4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D

3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D

2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D

1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M

Theprocesscontinuesuntilthecustomerslimitof15generationsisreached,atwhich
pointgenerationrecyclingbegins.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 146


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
B16 B17 B18 B19 B20 B21 B22 B23 B24 B25 B26 B27 B28 B29 B30 B31
31D
30D 30D
29D 29D 29D
28D 28D 28D 28D
27D 27D 27D 27D 27D
26D 26D 26D 26D 26D 26D
25D 25D 25D 25D 25D 25D 25D
24D 24D 24D 24D 24D 24D 24D 24D
23D 23D 23D 23D 23D 23D 23D 23D 23D
22D 22D 22D 22D 22D 22D 22D 22D 22D 22D
21D 21D 21D 21D 21D 21D 21D 21D 21D 21D 21D
20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D 20D
19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D 19D
18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D 18D
17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D 17D
16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D 16D
15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D 15D
14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D 14D
13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D 13D
12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D 12D
11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D 11D
10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D 10D
9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D 9D
8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D 8D
7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D 7D
6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D 6D
5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D 5D
4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D 4D
3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D
2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D
1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M 1M

Note:Thenumbers131inthisexampledonotrepresenttheactual
generationnumbers.Theyareonlyusedforsimplicity.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 147


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:Forbackupsetsconfiguredwithmorethan10generations,theDelta
ChainOptimizationtaskmustrunandcomplete,otherwisethe
numberofconsecutivedeltagenerationscanbecomeverylarge,which
willaffectrestorespeeds,storageandincreasethechancesofissuesif
anygenerationinthechainbecomescorrupted.

Example Three: Delta Chain Optimization


Considerthefollowingexample,whichpicksupattheendofExampleTwo(above).The
customerwantstoretain15onlinegenerationsandhasrun31backups(withdelta
changestothefileineachbackup).(ThisassumesGenerationRecyclingisON.)
WhenDeltaChainOptimizationisrun,assumethechainlengthistheDSSystem
defaultof9deltas.Optimizationcanbeonschedule(DSOperator>SetupMenu>
Schedule:DeltaChainOptimization)orondemand(rightclickbackupsetinDS
OperatorandselectRunMaster/DeltaOptimize...).Thefollowingwillbethestatus
afteroptimizationhasrun.
Twomorebackups(B32,B33)arealsodisplayedtoshowhowthedatawillbehavefor
comparativepurposes.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 148


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
B31(beforeoptimization) B31(afteroptimization) B32 B33
33D

32D 32D
31D 31D 31D 31D
30D 30D 30D 30D
29D 29D 29D 29D
28D 28D 28D 28D
27D 27D 27D 27D
26D 26D 26D 26D
25D 25D 25D 25D
24D 24D 24D 24D
23D 23D 23D 23D
22D 22D 22D 22D
21D 21D 21D 21D
20D 20D 20D 20D
19D 19D 19D 19D
18D 18D 18D 18D
17D 17M 17M 17M
16D
15D
14D
13D
12D
11D
10D
9D
8D
7D
6D
5D
4D
3D
2D
1M

How Backed-up Data is Handled 149


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Master Reconstruction Triggers
ThefollowingprocessestriggertheMasterReconstructionactivities:
Backupactivity:Forbackupsetitemsconfiguredwithanumberofgenerationsthatis
lessthan10,whenboththerecycledgenerationsandtherestorablegenerationshave
reachedtheconfigurednumberofgenerations(reconstructionprocesswillbe
triggeredbythenextbackupactivitythattriestosaveagenerationononlinestorage).
Retentionactivity:Whenthenumberofrecycledgenerationsislargerthanthenumber
ofrestorable(positive)generations.
AutomaticDeltaChainOptimizationactivity:Wherethenumberofdeltasinadelta
chainislargerthann*2+1wherenistheconfigurednumberofdeltagenerations
allowedforthefileinquestion(basedonbackupsettype,defaultis9).
ScheduledDeltaChainOptimizationtask(DSOperator>SetupMenu>Schedule).
OnDemandMasterDeltaChainOptimizationtask(DSOperator>Rightclickbackup
set>RunMaster/DeltaOptimize...)iftheAdvancedConfigurationparameter
FixDeltaChainisON.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 150


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
File Size Calculations
InAsigraCloudBackup,afilessizecanbemeasuredinseveralways,shownthrough
DSOperator:
Sizereferstotheprotecteddatasize(thesizebeforedeltaprocessingand
compression)
DSSizeistheactualstoredamountDSSystemprotects,afterdeltaprocessingand
compression
StreamsizeistheactualsizeofthedatabackedupbytheDSClientforexample,
ifusingtheWindowsbackupAPI,backedupdatawillincludeACL,anyadditional
streams,andstreamheaders;usingotherAPIswillbackupdifferentdata
Formasteranddeltagenerations,theSizedoesnotchangebetweenonlinegenerations
(exceptbytheamountthefilechangedondisc)sincethisSizeisreadbeforeapplying
deltaprocessing.Afterbackup,however,thedeltagenerationalgorithmsavesstorage
spacebybackinguponlydifferences.Asaresult,ingeneral,theDSSizeofdelta
generationsislessthantheDSSizeofmastergenerations,evenifthereareseveraldelta
generationsandonlyonemaster.However,itisalsopossiblethatthemasterissmaller
thanthedelta(especiallyincaseofonemastergenerationandseveraldeltas,wherethe
sumofthesizesisconsidered).
Considerthefollowingexample:

Generation Last Modified Size DS-Size Stream Size

1 3/17/05 870,912 130,942 870,912

2 3/19/05 2,443,776 514,106 2,443,776

Inthisexample,StreamsizeandSizearethesamebecausestreamsandACLwerenot
backedup.Ingeneral,StreamsizeisgreaterthanorequaltoSize,andformostfilesthey
differonlybyasmallamount(mostfilesdonothavedescriptorsandtheywilldifferonly
byastreamheaderofafewbytesplusACL).
AscanbeseenfromtheSizecolumn,thesecondgenerationwasseveraltimeslarger
thanthefirst(thefirstis870Kandthesecondis2440K).TheDSSizeincreases
accordingly.
DSSystemrecordsbothadeltaamountandatransmitamount.Sometimes(butnot
always)thedeltaamountisgreaterthanthetransmitamount.Thisisbecausethe
transmitamounttakesintoaccountcompression/encryption,soitreflectsthesizeofthe
datastoredinDSSystemOnlineStorage.Thedeltaamountdoesnotinclude
compressionandreflectsthesizeofthedatabackedupbyDSClientthatwassavedas
deltagenerations.Dependingonthebackedupdata,thecompressedamountmaybe
largerorsmallerthantheuncompresseddeltas.

Turning Generation Recycling Off


Theonlinegenerationrecyclingprocesscanbeturnedoff(itisonbydefault)throughDS
Operator.Onceitisoff,newmastergenerationswillbereconstructedeachtimethe
configurednumberofgenerationsisreached.Thesizeofthesereconstructedmasterswill

How Backed-up Data is Handled 151


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
notbethesameastheoriginaltransmittedamountthatisdisplayedintheDSUser
reports.MinorinconsistenciesbetweenDSOperatorandDSUserreportsandstatistics
mayoccur.
Whengenerationrecyclingisoff,SystemAdminwillremoveanyscannedrecycled
mastergenerations.Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanrunSystemAdminasrequiredto
deleterecycledgenerations.

How Backed-up Data is Handled 152


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Common File Elimination

About Common File Elimination


Mostsystemshavecommonfiles,identicalfilesthatexistinmorethanonelocation.
Thesefilesmightexistinmorethanonelocationforasinglecustomer,orbecommonto
manycustomers,suchasoperatingsystemfiles.
Itwastesbandwidthandstoragespacetotransmitandstorethesefilesmultipletimes.
Instead,AsigraCloudBackuphandlesthemascommonfiles.Thisprocessmayalsobe
referredtoasdeduplication.Theresultisthatthesameamountofdatacanbeprotected,
withlessbeingstored.

Note:Thecommonfileprocessisrelevantto,andappliesonlyto,fileslarger
than32KB.Thecommonfileprocessisalsorelevanttoinitialbackupto
disk.Theinitialbackupsavesalistoffilesandfilesignatures,whichis
insertedintotheproductionDSSystemdatabasewhentheinitialbackup
dataisimportedtotheDSSystem.Theprocessingofthelibraryfiles
beginsassoonastheinitialbackupimportprocessends.

How DS-System Identifies Common Files


DSSystemidentifiescommonfilesbylookingforthesamefilebeingsentforbackup
morethanonce.Allfilesarecomparedbasedontheircontent,soitdoesnotmatterifthe
filesareondifferentserversorhavedifferentnames.

Note:Insomecases,identicalfilesarenottreatedascommon.Forexample,
forWindowsDSClients,backingupafilewithstreamsresultsin
differentcontentthanbackingupwithoutstreams,sothefileisnot
judgedascommon.

Bydefault,whenDSSystemseesthesamefilethreetimes,thefileisjudgedtobe
common.Itismovedtotheappropriatecommonfilelibrary(seeWhereCommonFiles
AreStoredonpage 154)andapointerisusedtopointfromthefilesoriginallocationto
thelibrarylocation.WhenviewedthroughDSOperator,theoriginalfilenamecontinues

Common File Elimination 153


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
toappear,butifthefileisrestored,itwillberestoredfromthelibrary.
Thisisacontinuousprocess,ascommonfilescanappearatanytime.

Note:DSSystemmaintainsalistofpotentialcommonfilesinitsdatabase.In
orderforthisdatabasetostayareasonablesize,DSSystem
automaticallypreservesonlythelatest1,000,000entries(configurable),
deletingolderitemsregularly(itemsolderthan365days,
configurable).Itispossible,therefore,thatafilebackedupmultiple
timesoveralargetimeintervalwillnotbeidentifiedasacommonfile,
sincetheearlierrecordofitsappearanceisnolongerinthedatabase.

Where Common Files Are Stored


Filesidentifiedascommonfilesarestoredinlibrariesofacertaintype.Forinformation
onthedirectorieswherelibrariesarestoredinDSSystemOnlineStorage,andhowto
viewtheircontents,seeLibraryFilesonpage51.
Common file library Files contained in library Files encrypted with
type

clientlibrary filescommontoasingleDS clientsprivatekey,sincelibrary


Client(thatis,thatoccurwithin containsonlyfilesforaspecific
anyoftheDSClientsbackup client
sets)

accountlibrary filesthatarecommontoseveral accountkey,sincetheyneedtobe


DSClientsofthesamecustomer accessedbymorethanoneDS
account Client(eachconfiguredwiththe
sameaccountkey)

publiclibrary filesthatarecommonacross notencrypted,onthe


morethanonecustomer understandingthatiftheyare
commonacrosscustomerstheyare
unlikelytobesecret

TheoriginallocationofthefileontheDSSystemOnlineStorageisreplacedwithalinkto
thatlibrary.Thelibrarylinksindicatethelibraryinwhichthefiledatanowresides.

How Library Files Move Between Libraries


Afilecanmovefromtheclientlibrarytotheaccountlibraryifitisbackedupagainby
anotherDSClientunderthesamecustomeraccount.Thenewlibraryfileisresentbythe
DSClientthatinitiatedthisprocess,andencryptedwiththeaccountkey.
Afilecanmovefromtheclientoraccountlibrarytothepubliclibraryifitisbackedup
againbyanotherDSClientfromadifferentcustomeraccount.Thenewlibraryfileisre
sent,unencrypted,bytheDSClientthatinitiatedthisprocess.

Common File Elimination 154


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Working with Libraries

Cleaning Up Libraries (Administrative Function)


AsthingschangeontheDSClientside(forexample,backupsetsaredeleted),libraries
mayendupholdinginformationthatnolongerneedstobestored.Ratherthan
potentiallyslowingdownthedeletionprocessbyhandlinglibraryissuesfordeletedfiles
immediately,AsigraCloudBackupoffersacleanlibraryfunction.Thisfunctionruns
automaticallybasedonaschedule(DSOperator>SetupMenu>Schedule)orisrun
manuallythroughDSOperator.
Thefirsttimethecleanlibrariesprocessruns,anyunusedlibraryfilesareflaggedwith
thecurrenttimetoindicatetheyhavebeendetectedasbeingorphaned.Eachsubsequent
timethecleanlibraryprocessisrun,neworphanedlibrariesaredetectedandany
orphanedfilesthathavebeeninthatstatefor30days(orlonger)arecleaned.
Fromv11,theimplementationofthecleanlibrariesprocessdoesnotlocktheDS
System,meaningitnolongerconflictswiththebackupprocess(theycannowrunin
parallel).However,thisdoesrequirethisratherlong30dayperiodtoensurethateven
extremelylarge(>1TB)fileshavethechancetobeprocessedascommonfiles.

Tip:Itisbesttoschedulethecleanlibrariesprocessatregularintervals
(e.g.onceamonthonaspecificday).Otherwise,youshouldruniton
demandatsimilarintervals.

WhenaDSClientisdeleted,thecontentsofitsclientlibraryareautomaticallydeleted,as
arethecontentsoftheaccountlibraryforadeletedaccount(thisiscalledremoving
orphanedlibraries).

Invalidating Libraries
ThroughDSOperator,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanchoosetoinvalidatecertain
librariesthattheysuspectcontaininaccurateorincompletedata.Dataininvalidated
librariescanstillberestored.Forinvalidatedlibraries,DSClientswillretransmitthe
librarycontentsatthenextopportunity,thatis,whenabackupprocessidentifiesthe
samefiletobebackedup.

Viewing Libraries
LibraryfilescanbesearchedforandviewedthroughDSOperator.Informationavailable
includesalistofthefilesthatpointtothatlibrary,storageinformationforthelibraryfiles
(size,encryption,filetype),andsoon.

Configuring the number of file occurrences at which Common File


Elimination applies
Bydefault,CommonFileEliminationappliesafterthreeoccurrencesofthesamefile.To
configuretheDSSystemtoprocesscommonfileeliminationatadifferentnumberof

Common File Elimination 155


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
occurrences,youcanusetheAdvancedConfigurationparameterLibCreateCount.This
canbeadjustedtoanumberbetween2and10.

Disabling Common File Elimination


Disabling Common File Elimination at the backup set level (from
DS-Client)
Althoughitisnotrecommended,eliminationofcommonfilescanbedisabledforspecific
backupsets.ThisfunctionmustbeallowedforthecorrespondingDSClientfromtheDS
System(throughDSOperator>DSClientMenu>Edit:DSTools).Then,thecustomer
cancreatesuchbackupsetsthroughDSUserbysettingtheDisableCommonFiles
option.

Disabling Public Level Common File Processing (DS-System)


CommonfileeliminationatthepubliclevelcanbedisabledfortheentireDSSystem
usingtheAdvancedConfigurationdialogfromtheDSOperator(parameter:
PubLibSwitch).Bydefault,thepubliclibraryprocessingisenabled.Oncetheswitchis
turnedonoroff,thenewsettingwilltakeeffectonlyfornewdatathatwillbesenttothe
DSSystem.

Common File Elimination 156


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Communication and Authentication

Communication Basics (DS-Client to DS-System)


CommunicationbetweenDSClientandDSSystemisalwaysinitiatedbyDSClient.

Layers of Protection
CommunicationbetweenDSSystemandDSClientisprotectedinfivekeyareas:
networkaccess,configuration,registration,encryptionauthentication,and
communicationencryption.

Network Access Protection


Networkaccessprotectionensuresthat:
TheonlyTCPportsthatneedtobeenabledarethoseusedbytheDSSystemandDS
Clientservices.
TheincomingDSClientconnectionsIPaddress(orrange)isvalidatedagainsttheDS
Clientprofile.

Configuration Layer Protection


TheDSClientmustpassitscustomeraccountandDSClientnumber(s)toDSSystem,
whichensurestheconnectionisfromalegitimateparty.

Registration Layer Protection


EachtimeaDSClientcommunicateswithDSSystem,itsendsauniqueidentifier,called
ahardwarecookie,toregisterwithDSSystem.TheidentifierisbasedontheDSClients
operatingsystemandhardwareconfiguration.
Thishardwarecookieissentwitheachcommunicationbut,dependingonthesettings,
mayormaynotbevalidatedeachtimeitissent.WhentheDSClientwascreatedinDS
Operator,arequiresregistrationoptionwaseitherenabledornot.Ifthisoptionwas
enabled,DSSystemstoresthehardwarecookieofaDSClientthefirsttimeitreceivesit,
providingthattheothervalidations(customeraccountnumber,clientnumber,
encryptioncookies)arepassedatallsubsequentconnections.DSSystemchecksthesent
hardwarecookieagainstthestoredversiontoensureitisunchanged.Iftherequires

Communication and Authentication 157


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
registrationoptionwasnotenabledforaparticularDSClient,thehardwarecookie,
whilesenteachtime,isignoredbyDSSystem.
Ifthisregistrationvalidationprotectionisinplace,acustomerwhoinstallstheDSClient
softwareonanothermachine,ormodifiesthehardwareoroperatingsystemofthe
computerwhereDSClientisinstalled,mustreregister(viaarequesttotheEnterprise/
ServiceProvider)inordertoconnect.
Registrationvalidationprovidesahighlevelofconfidencethatthecomputertryingto
connectisthesamecomputerthatregistered.

Encryption Authentication
Encryptionauthenticationvalidatesaccesstobackedupdata.AonewayhashoftheDS
Clientsencryptionkeysisperformedtocreatetwoencryptioncookies.Thishashisused
tocheckthatdatabeingbackeduporrestoredwasencryptedwiththesamekey.It
cannotbeusedtodiscovertheencryptionkeyitself.Thischeckisperformedateach
connectionrequest,ensuringtheintegrityofboththeprivatekeyandaccountkey
(accountkeyverificationensuresthatallDSClientsforthesamecustomersharethe
sameaccountkey).

Communication Encryption
Bydefault,allthefollowingcommunicationsareencryptedwitha256bitrandom
encryptionkey:
betweentheGUIandservice/daemon(e.g.DSUsertoDSClient),and
betweenservice/daemonandservice/daemon(e.g.DSClienttoDSSystem)
Thisensuresthata3rdpartycannotdecryptthecommunicationbetweenAsigraCloud
BackupDSSoftwarecomponents.
Evenifthecommunicationmethodisunencrypted,customerdataalwaysremains
encryptedwiththeirencryptionkeys.

Reasons for DS-System Rejecting DS-Client Connections


Aconnectionrequestfailsif:
ThecustomeraccountorDSClientnumberdoesnothaveanactivestatus(islocked
orhasbeendeleted).
TheDSClientsserviceperiodhasended.
Anaccountkeyisrequiredbutnotconfigured(forcustomerswithmultipleDS
Clients).
Theencryptioncookies,hardwarecookies(ifrequiresregistrationisenabled)orIP
addressofDSClientdonotmatch.
TheDSClientversionisincompatiblewithDSSystemsandacompatibleauto
upgradepackagecannotbedownloaded.
DSSystemisinDisasterRecoverymodeinaphasewhensomeorallactivitiesare
rejected.
DSSystemisbeingorhasbeenshutdown.

Communication and Authentication 158


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DSSystemactivitiesaredisabled(administrativeoptionhasbeensetinDSOperator)
orDSSystemlicensehasexpired.
Backupactivitiesaredisabled(storagecapacityoftheDSSystemlicensehasbeen
reached).

Recovering from Communication Failure

During Backup
IftheconnectionbetweenDSClientandDSSystemislostduringbackup,onlythefiles
beingsentatthattimeareaffected.Bydefault,abackupactivityattemptstoconnect
threetimesatfiveminuteintervals.Ifitsuccessfullyconnects,theresultsdependonwhat
filesthebackupsetwasprocessingwhentheinterruptionoccurred:
Forfilesbiggerthan100MB(default,configurable)orfordatabasesbeingbackedup
usingtheDSClientbuffermethod,DSClientcontinuessendingblocklevel(notfile
level)datathatstillneedstobebackedup.
Forfilesthatdonotmeetthiscondition,thebackuprestartswiththelastfilesthat
werenotsentsuccessfully.
IfDSClientdoesnotreconnectaftertryingthreetimes,thebackupactivitywillstoporif
thebackupsethasbeenconfiguredwiththeLocalStorageCacheoption,thebackup
activitywillbackuptheremainingdatalocallyontheDSClientLAN.Datawillbe
backedupbythenextscheduledbackup,assumingtheconnectionhasbeenre
established.IfdatawassavedintheLocalStorageCacheitwillbesenttotheDSSystem
assoonasaconnectiontotheDSSystemisreestablished.

During Restore
IftheconnectionbetweenDSClientandDSSystemislostduringarestore,onlydata
restoredtothatpointisavailabletocustomers.Thecustomermustmanuallyrestarta
restore,whichstartsfromthebeginningoftheprocess.

During Restore from Local Storage


WhenrestoringwiththeLocalStoragemodule,thefollowingoptionsareavailableto
dealwithpossibleinterruptionstotheDSSystemconnection:
TrytoconnecttoDSSystembeforedoingtherestoreand,iftheconnectionfails,stop.
Thisshouldbeusedonlywhenitislikelythatnotallthefilestoberestoredareinlocal
storageandapartialrestoreisnotuseful(orcouldevencorruptexistingdata).
StoptherestoreifaconnectiontoDSSystemisnotavailablewhenitisneeded.This
shouldbeusedwhenitislikelythatallthefilestoberestoredareinlocalstorage
(meaningtheconnectionisneverrequested),butifaconnectionisneeded,apartial
restoreisnotusefulsoshouldnotbeattempted.
Continue,eveniftheconnectiontoDSSystemisnotavailable.Thisshouldbeused
whenitisusefultorestoreasmuchdataaspossible.FilesonDSSystemcanbe
restoredatalaterdate,whentheconnectionisavailable.

Communication and Authentication 159


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Opening Firewalls (Windows XP)
OnWindowsXPmachines,firewallswillmostlikelypreventconnectionsfromDS
Client.Toavoidthis,setupprebackuporpostbackupscriptingonDSClienttoopen
thecorrectportswiththecorrectpermissions.

Communication between DS-Systems belonging to the same


Replication Group

Communication Basics (DS-System to DS-System)


CommunicationbetweentheDSSystemsbelongingtothesamereplicationgroupcanbe
initiatedbyanyoftheDSSystemsfromthatGroup.Communicationcanbeinitiated
becauseaDSSystemhastosendreplicationdatatootherDSSystem(s)fromthegroup
orareplicationcheckisperformed(eithermanuallyorscheduled).

Layers of protection (DS-System to DS-System)


CommunicationbetweenDSSystemsbelongingtothesamereplicationgroupis
protectedinthreekeyareas:networkaccess,configuration,andcommunication
encryption.

Network Access Protection (DS-System to DS-System)


Networkaccessprotectionensuresthat:
TheonlyTCPportsthatneedtobeenabledarethoseusedbytheDSSystemduring
thereplicationprocess(bydefault,4409,howevertheportnumbercanbeconfigured;
notealltheDSSystemsfromthesamereplicationgroupmustbeconfiguredwiththe
samereplicationport).
TheincomingDSSystemsIPaddress(es)is/arevalidatedagainstthereplication
groupconfiguration.

Configuration Layer Protection (DS-System to DS-System)


TheDSSystemsbelongingtothesameDSSystemreplicationgroupmustvalidatethe
following:
TheSystemIDbasedonthereplicationgroupconfiguration.
DSSystemIPaddress(es)basedonthereplicationgroupconfiguration.
Replicationgroupserialcodenumberasconfiguredfortheentirereplicationgroup.

Communication Encryption (DS-System to DS-System)


Allthefollowingcommunicationsareencryptedbydefault,with256bitrandom
encryptionkey:
BetweenGUIandservice/daemon(i.e.DSOperatortoDSSystem),and
Betweenservice/daemonandservice/daemon(i.e.DSSystemtoDSSystem)
Thisensuresthata3rdpartycannotdecryptthecommunicationbetweenAsigraCloud
BackupDSSoftwarecomponents.ThecommunicationbetweenDSSystemsofthe

Communication and Authentication 160


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
samereplicationgroupcanbeperformedunencrypted,howeverallDSSystemsfromthe
samegroupmustbeconfiguredthesameway(eitherallencryptedorallunencrypted).

Reasons for DS-Systems rejecting other DS-System Connections


DSSystemdoesnothavetheReplicationmoduleenabled.
DSSystemlicensecannotacceptreplication.
DSSystemIPaddressdoesnotmatch.
DSSystemIDinthereplicationgroupdoesnotmatch.
AllowDSSystemGroupsetting(DSSysGroupparameter)doesnotmatch.
GroupPortnumber(GrpPortparameter)doesnotmatch.
GroupEncryptionsetting(GrpEncryptparameter)doesnotmatch.
Serialcodenumber(GrpSerialCodeparameter)doesnotmatch.

Communication Failures (DS-System to DS-System)


During Replication process (DS-System to DS-System)
IfaDSSystemlosesconnectiontoanotherDSSystemwhileareplicationactivityisin
progress,thereplicationactivitythatwasinterruptedwillbeaddedtothereplication
activityqueue.Itwillberestartedassoonasareplicationcheckhasrun(eitherscheduled
orondemand)orassoonasanotherbackupactivityhasendedonthatbackupset(which
triggersareplicationcheckprocess).

Communication between DS-System and BLM Archiver

Communication Basics (DS-System to BLM Archiver)


CommunicationbetweenDSSystem(s)andBLMArchiverisalwaysinitiatedbyDS
System(s).

Layers of protection (DS-System to BLM Archiver)


CommunicationbetweenDSSystem(s)andBLMArchiversisprotectedinthreekey
areas:networkaccess,registrationandcommunicationencryption.

Network access protection (DS-System to BLM Archiver)


Networkaccessprotectionensuresthat:
TheonlyTCPportsthatneedtobeenabledarethoseusedbyDSSystemtoconnectto
BLMArchiver.Bydefault,port4400isused.
TheincomingDSSystemsIPaddressisvalidatedagainsttheBLMArchiver
configuration.

Registration Layer Protection (DS-System to BLM Archiver)


AuniqueidentifierisgeneratedontheBLMArchiverassoonasaDSSystemis
registeredwithBLM.

Communication and Authentication 161


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Communication Encryption (DS-System to BLM Archiver)
Allthefollowingcommunicationsareencryptedwitha256bitrandomencryptionkey:
betweentheGUIandservice/daemon(e.g.BLMGUItoBLMArchiver),and
betweenservice/daemonandservice/daemon(e.g.DSSystemtoBLMArchiver)
Thisensuresthata3rdpartycannotdecryptthecommunicationbetweenAsigra
SoftwareDSSoftwarecomponents.

Reasons for BLM rejecting a DS-Systems Connection


Licenseisinvalid.
Licensehasexpired.
BLMArchiverService/Daemonisstopped.

Communication between DS-System / BLM Archiver and DS-License


Server

Communication Basics (DS-System / BLM to DS-License Server)


CommunicationfromDSSystem/BLMArchivertoDSLicenseServercanbeinitiated
onlybytheDSSystemsoftwareorbytheBLMArchiversoftware.Communicationis
initiatedrandomlytocheckthelicensevalidityagainsttheparametersconfiguredinthe
DSLicenseServer.

Layers of Protection
CommunicationbetweenDSSystem,BLMArchiverandDSLicenseServerisprotected
inthreekeyareas:networkaccess,configurationandcommunicationencryption.

Network Access Protection (DS-System / BLM to DS-License Server)


Networkaccessprotectionensuresthat:
TheonlyTCPportsthatneedtobeenabledarethoseusedbytheDSSystem/BLM
Archiverduringthelicenseauthenticationprocess(bydefault,4417)
TheincomingDSSystem/BLMArchiverIPaddressesarevalidatedagainstthe
correspondingIPAddressesconfiguredintheDSLicenseServer.

Configuration Layer Protection (DS-System / BLM to DS-License Server)


DSSystem/BLMArchiverIPaddress(es)basedontheDSLicenseServer
configuration.

Communication Encryption (DS-System / BLM to DS-License Server)


Allthefollowingcommunicationsareencryptedbydefault,with256bitrandom
encryptionkey:
BetweenGUIandservice/daemon(i.e.DSLicenseGUItoDSLicenseServer;onlyon
port4418),
Betweenservice/daemonandservice/daemon(i.e.DSSystemtoDSLicenseServer)

Communication and Authentication 162


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Thisensuresthata3rdpartycannotdecryptthecommunicationbetweenAsigraCloud
BackupDSSoftwarecomponents.

Reasons for DS-License Server rejecting DS-System / BLM


Connections
1 DSSystemIPAddressisnotregisteredontheDSLicenseServer.
2 LicenselimitexceededforthespecifiednumberofDSSystems/BLMArchiversactive
ontheDSLicenseServer.
3 Licenselimitexceededforanyspecifiedstoragecapacity(ortotalstoragecapacity)
availableontheDSLicenseServer.
4 TheDSLicenseServerisrunningwithanexpiredlicense.
5 TheHASPUSBisnotconnectedtotheDSLicenseServer.
6 DSSystem/BLMArchiverisinactiveontheDSLicenseServer.
7 AStandaloneDSSystemConfigurationattemptstobelicensedwithanN+1DS
SystemConfigurationontheDSLicenseServer(ortheotherwayaround).
8 DSLicenseServerDatabaseiscorrupted.

Communication Failures (DS-System / BLM to DS-License


Server)
IfaDSSystem/BLMcannotestablishaconnectiontotheDSLicenseServer,theDS
System/BLMcanfallbacktoestablishaconnectionandauthenticatetoanEmergency
DSLicenseServer.TheEmergencyDSLicenseServercanbekeptrunninginparallel
withtheproductionDSLicenseServer.TheEmergencyDSLicenseServerhasalicense
with20%morestoragecapacitythantheproductionDSLicenseServer.

Communication between DS-License Server RLM and Asigra


Licensing Server
CommunicationfromDSLicenseServerRLMtoAsigraLicensingServerisinitiatedonly
bytheDSLicenseServerRLMsoftwareperiodically,inordertoupdatethelicense
parametersintheDSLicenseServerRLM.

Network Access Protection


Networkaccessprotectionensuresthat:
TheonlyTCPportsthatneedtobeenabledarethoseusedbytheDSLicenseServer
RLMtoestablishtheconnectiontotheAsigraLicensingServer(port4417).

Communication Encryption
Allthefollowingcommunicationsareencryptedbydefault,with256bitrandom
encryptionkey:
Betweenservice/daemonandtheAsigraLicensingServer.

Communication and Authentication 163


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Communication between DS-System / BLM Archiver and DS-Billing
System

Communication Basics (DS-System / BLM to DS-Billing System)


CommunicationfromDSSystem/BLMArchivertoDSBillingSystemcanbeinitiated
onlybytheDSSystemsoftwareorbytheBLMArchiversoftware.Communicationis
initiatedperiodicallyinordertoupdatethebillinginformationanddatatotheDSBilling
System.

Layers of Protection
CommunicationbetweenDSSystem,BLMArchiverandDSBillingSystemisprotected
inthreekeyareas:networkaccess,configurationandcommunicationencryption.

Network Access Protection (DS-System / BLM to DS-Billing)


Networkaccessprotectionensuresthat:
TheonlyTCPportsthatneedtobeenabledarethoseusedbytheDSSystem/BLM
ArchivertoestablishtheconnectiontotheDSBillingSystem(bydefault,4414for
BLMConnectiontoDSBillingand4415forDSSystemConnectiontoDSBilling).
TheincomingDSSystem/BLMArchiverIPaddressesarevalidatedagainstthe
correspondingIPAddressesconfiguredintheDSBillingSystem.

Configuration Layer Protection (DS-System / BLM to DS-Billing System)


DSSystem/BLMArchiverIPaddress(es)basedontheDSBillingSystem
configuration.
DSBillingSystemIPaddress(es)basedontheDSSystem/BLMArchiver
configuration.

Communication Encryption (DS-System / BLM to DS-Billing System)


Allthefollowingcommunicationsareencryptedbydefault,with256bitrandom
encryptionkey:
BetweenGUIandservice/daemon(i.e.DSBillingGUItoDSBillingSystem;onlyon
port4416),
Betweenservice/daemonandservice/daemon(i.e.DSSystemtoDSBillingSystemor
BLMArchivertoDSBillingSystem).
Thisensuresthata3rdpartycannotdecryptthecommunicationbetweenAsigraCloud
BackupDSSoftwarecomponents.

Communication Failures (DS-System / BLM to DS-Billing Server)


DSSystem/BLMArchiverisnotconfiguredwiththeDSBillingIPAddress.
DSBillingSystemisnotconfiguredwiththeDSSystem/BLMArchiverIP
Address(es).

Communication and Authentication 164


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Synchronizing DS-Client with DS-System

About Synchronization
TheDSClientdatabaseisresponsibleforrecordingwhathasbeenbackedup.Toensure
dataintegrity,thedatabasemustremaininsyncwiththecontentsoftheDSSystem
OnlineStorage.Mostofthevalidationdonetoensurethisishandledautomatically
throughDSClientAdminprocesses.Synchronizationisalsoperformedduring
scheduledbackupsandwhenrecoveringorphanedbackupsets.However,abackupset
maybemanuallysynchronizedthroughDSUser.
SynchronizationisinitializedbyDSClient.DSSystemOnlineStorageisassumedtobe
thevaliddatasetagainstwhichthedatabaseshouldbechecked.Thatis,ifadifferenceis
foundbetweenthedatabaseandDSSystemOnlineStorage,DSSystemOnlineStorageis
assumedtohavethemoreaccurateinformation.
Duringsynchronization,backupsetsbeingsynchronizedarenotavailableforadditional
backups/restores.TheWeeklyAdminprocesshandlesthesynchronizationofmultiple
backupsets,speedingupfuturesynchronizationprocessing.Italsoreleasesbackupsets
astheyaresynchronized,makingthemavailableforbackup/restorefunctions.Only
manualactivitiesareallowed,however:schedulesremaindisableduntilsynchronization
iscomplete.

Note:SetsthatareoutofsyncareshowninredinDSUser.

Types of Synchronization

Normal Synchronization
Innormalsynchronization,DSClientreportsonitsdatabasecontents.DSSystemthen
comparesthosecontentstowhatisinDSSystemOnlineStorageandtellstheDSClient
howtoupdateitsdatabasetomatchtheDSSystemOnlineStoragecontents.For
example,ifthedatabasehasrecordsofthreeonlinegenerationsofaparticularfileand
theDSSystemOnlineStoragehasfourgenerations,thedatabaseneedstoupdateits
recordstoincludetheadditionalgeneration.

Synchronizing DS-Client with DS-System 165


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Thisprocesschecksformismatchesatthebackupset,share,anddirectorylevel.Sinceit
doesacomparisonfirstandthensynchronizesonlytheneededdirectories,theprocessis
fastandhighlyaccurate.Iffilesareoutofsynch,theprocessopensandvalidatesfile
headers.Ifitdeterminesthatafileisinvalid,thefileanditsdependants(delta
generations)aremovedtothetrashfolder,wheretheyremainuntilremovedbythe
emptytrashfunctionoftheDSOperator.
ThistypeofsynchronizationisperformedbytheWeeklyAdminprocess.Itisalsodone
automaticallybyascheduledbackup,ifitdiscoversitssetisoutofsync.
Ondemandbackupswillfailifthebackupsetisoutofsync:amanualsynchronizationis
required.
IfabackupsetismarkedinconsistentbecauseofDSSystemDR,bothondemandand
scheduledbackupsetswillrunasystemsynchronization(seebelow)insteadofanormal
one.

System (Full) Synchronization


Infullsynchronization,DSClientrequeststhatinformationaboutthebackupsetinthe
entiredatabasebevalidatedagainsttheinformationintheDSSystemOnlineStorage
(typicallyusedtorecoverfromadatabasefailure).Notethatdeltageneration
informationmaybelostasaresultifthisisthecase,thenextbackupwillbackup
mastergenerationsratherthandeltagenerations.Informationusedtoidentifydeleted
directories/filesmaybelostaswell(onlyDSClientpreservesthatinformation).Notethat
sincethisprocessreretrievesallbackupsetinformation,itistheslowest,althoughmost
powerful,option.Itopensandvalidatesfileheaders.Invalidfilesarehandledasfor
normalsynchronization.
Thiskindofsynchronizationcanberunondemandandshouldberunifanormal
synchronizationfailswithdatabaseerrors.Iffullsynchronizationfails,theAutonomic
Healingmoduleshouldbeusedtocheckthebackupset.

Check Only Synchronization


TheCheckOnlysynchronizationprocesssimplychecksandreportsonany
inconsistenciesbetweentheDSClientdatabaseandtheDSSystemOnlineStorage,
consideringsynchronizationtimesandfile/directorycount.Synchronizationproblems
arenotfixedbythisprocess.

Unconfirmed Files Only Synchronization


Thissynchronizationisperformedbyscheduledbackupsthatloseaconnectionduring
backup.Duringthebackupprocess,DSClientposts(inaqueue)areferencetobackedup
files,waitingforDSSystemtoacknowledgethatthefilehasbeensaved.Iftheconnection
islostbeforetheconfirmationmessageisreceived,DSClientdoesnotknowwhetherthe
filewassavedornot,thereforeitwillmarkthebackupsetoutofsync.Insuchascenario,
afterreconnecting,DSClientwilltrytocontinuethebackupwithoutperforminga
normalsynchronization.ItwillqueryDSSystemabouttheunconfirmedfilesand
synchronizethem.

Synchronizing DS-Client with DS-System 166


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:Thiskindofsynchronizationcannotberunmanually.However,a
normalsynchronizationmaybesimplifiedtothistypeof
unconfirmedonlysynchronization,iftheDSClientdeterminesthe
outofsyncstatusisbecauseofunconfirmedfiles.

Why Backup Sets Become Out of Sync

Lost Connection Before Confirmation


Backupsinterruptedbeforereceivingallconfirmationsaremarkedoutofsync.See
UnconfirmedFilesOnlySynchronizationonpage166.

Interrupted Backup
Duringbackup,alistofunconfirmedfilesiskepttosimplifythenextnormal
synchronization.Thebackupsetismarkedoutofsyncinthesecircumstances,whether
ondemandorscheduledbackup.

Last Backup/Sync Time Discrepancy


TherecanbeaninconsistencybetweenDSClientandDSSystemregardingthelast
backup/synctime.Forexample,whenrecoveringtheDSClientdatabase,thesetsbacked
upafterthedatabasewassavedtoDSSystemwillindicateaninconsistenttime,andso
willbeoutofsync.AnothersituationwherethismightoccuriswhenrecoveringDS
SystemOnlineStorage:theDSClientdatabasewillreflectatimelaterthanthatofthe
recovereddata.

Actions of Maintenance Processes


DSSystemmaintenanceprocesses(SystemAdmin,AutonomicHealingmodule,
RestorabilityValidation)detectandremovesomecorruptedorinvalidfiles.DSClientis
notawareofthosechanges;thereforeDSSystemwillmarkthesetsoutofsync.

Failed Reconstruction
WhenthereconstructionofamastergenerationfailsonDSSystemduetofilecorruption,
missingfiles,incorrectlinksorothersuchproblems,thefileandanyonlinegenerations
thatdependonitwillbedeletedandDSSystemwillmarkthesetoutofsync.

Synchronization Interrupted
Ifanormal/fullsynchronizationprocessisinterruptedwhileinsertingdataintotheDS
Clientdatabase,backupsetscanbemarkedoutofsync.

Forced Synchronization
AnoptionisavailabletomarkallsetsoutofsyncandforceallDSClientstosynchronize
alltheirbackupsets.Thishasbeenimplementedforextremescenarios,whenonlinedata
isincompletelyrestored.Alternatively,runningDSSysteminDisasterRecoverymode

Synchronizing DS-Client with DS-System 167


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
forcessynchronizationforallbackupsets.

Inconsistencies Detected
WhenrunningCheckOnlysynchronization,ifthefollowinginconsistenciesarefound,
thesetwillbemarkedoutofsync:
files/directoriesmissingeitherfromDSSystemOnlineStorageorfromtheDSClient
database
badfiles
directoriesmarkedoutofsyncorwithdifferentbackuptimes.

Delete not Completed Normally


Whendataisbeingdeleted,abackupsetismarkedoutofsyncbecauseDSClientdeletes
datafromitsdatabasefasterthanDSSystemdeletesdatafromDSSystemOnline
Storage.Iftheprocessdoesnotcompletenormally,thesetwillremainoutofsync.

Synchronizing DS-Client with DS-System 168


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
SNMP Integration

About SNMP Notifications


AsigraCloudBackupsupportsSNMPnotificationaboutspecificeventsonDSClient
andDSSystem.ThisenablesAsigraCloudBackuptointegratewithenterprise
networkandsystemsmanagementsolutionssuchasHewlettPackardOpenView,
ProcuroEMS,BMCPatrol,CAUniCenterandothers.
Notificationscanbefrom:
DSSystem(seeTrapsforDSSystemonpage169)
DSClient(seeTrapsforDSClientonpage169)
DSNOC(seeDSNOCModuleonpage232)
DSLicenseServer(seeTrapsforDSLicenseServeronpage170)

Types of Traps

Heartbeat Traps
BothDSClientandDSSystemcanbeconfiguredtosendaspecialtrapasaheartbeat
signal(atacustomerdefinedfrequency).ThissignalcanbeusedtoconfirmthatAsigra
CloudBackupisrunning.

Traps for DS-Client


ADSClienttrapissentonce,immediatelyaftereachbackupactivity,indicating:
Backupfailed
Backupcompletedwitherrors
Backupcompletedwithouterrors
Backupcompletedwithwarnings

Traps for DS-System


Atrapissentassoonasaneventisdetected.Formostevents,DSSystemcancontinueto
sendtrapsatacustomerdefinedfrequencyuntiltheissueisresolved.Theexceptionsare
DSClienthaderrorsduringbackupandDSSystemfoundinvalidfile(s)onstorage
drive,whicharesentonlyonce.

SNMP Integration 169


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
TrapsforDSSysteminclude:
DSClientbackupproblems(errorsduringbackup)
DSClientrequestedadisc/tape/DVD/CDfromtheDisc/Tapemodule
DSSystemrunninglowonmemory(specifiedamount)
DSSystemstoragedrivecapacitylow
DSSystemfoundinvalidfilesonDSSystemOnlineStorage
customer/DSClientstoragequotasreached
impendinglicenseexpiry
specificpercentageoflicensesstoragecapacitylimitreached
connectionwaslostbetweenDirectorandLeaf(N+1DSSystems)
N+1formationprocesssucceeded(N+1DSSystems)
onlinestoragelockedforthirdpartysnapshot

Traps for DS-License Server


TrapsforDSLicenseServerinclude:
DSLicenseServerlicensewillexpireinaspecifiednumberofdays
DSLicenseServerlicensehasreachedaspecifiedpercentageofusageoutofthetotal
licensecapacity

Setting up SNMP Notifications

Setting up Traps
Trapstobesentareconfiguredintheappropriateinterfaces(DSOperator,DSUser,or
theinterfacesoftheDSNOC).

MIB file for SNMP integration


ForSNMPintegration,AsigraInc.givesEnterprise/ServiceProvidersamanagement
informationbase(MIB)filewhichdescribestheobjectsinatree,alongwiththeirevent
traps.AsigraInc.sprivateenterprisenumberis15538.ThisfilecanbeusedforallAsigra
Inc.applications.

Configuring SNMP System


HowtoconfiguretheSNMPsystemvariesdependingonthesystemused.Forexample,
withHPOpenView,theprocedureis:
1 Loadtheasigra.mibintoOpenView,whichloadstheAsigraInc.enterpriseinthe
eventconfigurationdialog.
2 ChooseeventsforAsigraInc.applications,settingeventmessageactions,severity
levels,andEventLogmessages.

SNMP Integration 170


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Restorability Validation

About Restorability Validation


EvenwithallthechecksandbalancesbuiltintoAsigraCloudBackup,includingthe
AutonomicHealingmodule,filecorruptionsmayoccur.Customersmaywanttorun
testrecoveryprocesses,toconfirmthatcompleteandvaliddatacanberecovered.
However,doingthisontheDSClienttakesupbothprocessingpowerandstoragespace.
Italsorequiresthatdatabetransferred,potentiallyslowingthenetworkprocessing
speed.Asaresult,whenvalidatinglargeamountsofdata,testrecoveriesmaynotbea
practicalsolution.TheRestorabilityValidationfunctionallowsatestrecoverytoberun
ontheDSSystemsideinstead,avoidingtheseissues.

Preconditions For Restorability Validation


Bydefault,DSSystemdoesnothaveaccesstoencryptionkeys,thereforeitcannot
validatethedigitalsignatureneededtovalidatedataforrestore.DSSystemcanonly
validatethedatainthefollowingsituations:
1 DSClientinitiatedValidationwhentheDSClientsendsitsprivatekeyandaccount
keytotheDSSystemforthedurationofthevalidation(testrestore)process.
Thiswillprobablybegovernedbyawrittenagreement.
Thecustomermaychoosewhichdatatovalidate(atthebackupsetlevel).
TheencryptionkeysarenotsavedinanywayonDSSystem:theymustberesent
byDSClienteachtimearestorabilityvalidationsessionisrequested.
2 DSSysteminitiatedValidationwhentheEncryptionKeyManagementfeaturehas
beenenabled(perDSClient)andtheDSClienthasforwardeditsencryptionkeysto
theDSSystem.
TheServiceProvidermaychoosewhichdatatovalidate(atthebackupsetlevel).

Note:TheonlytimeDSSystemsavesacopyoftheencryptedencryption
keysintheDSSystemdatabaseisiftheEncryptionKeyManagement
functionalityisconfiguredandarequestforthisfunctionalitycomes
fromaDSClient.TheseencryptionkeyscanbeusedbyaValidation
RestoreprocesstriggeredfromtheDSSystem.

Restorability Validation 171


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
How Restorability Validation Works

What the Customer or DS-System Administrator Does


Arequestismadeforthebackupsettobevalidated.Iftherequestisperformedfromthe
DSSystemside(viaDSOperator),theSystemValidationprocesscansimplybestarted
forcertaingenerationsofthedata.IftherequestisperformedfromtheDSClientside,
theprocessinvolvesenteringthenecessaryencryptionkeys.
ValidationcanbeperformedondemandorscheduledfromtheDSClientside.When
performedondemandfromDSClient,customerscanchoosetovalidateallonlinedata
orjustselectedonlinegenerations.Whenrunonschedule,customerscanchooseto
validateallonlinedataorjustthelastonlinegeneration.
ValidationcanonlybeperformedondemandfromtheDSSystemside.Whenperformed
fromtheDSOperator,theDSSystemAdministratorcanchoosetovalidateallonline
dataorjustthelastonlinegeneration.

What DS-System Does


Onavalidationrequest,DSSystem:
performsastructurevalidationsimilartothatperformedbySystemAdmin
reads,decryptsanddecompressesthedata
generatesthedigitalsignature
comparesthegeneratedsignaturetotheoriginaloneinordertovalidatethatthedata
isthesameasthatwhichwasbackedup
reportsresults
Theprocessislikeanactualrestore,buttheresultingdataisneithersavednorsenttoDS
Client.
Ifafileisfoundtobecorrupted,itandallfilesthatdependonitaremovedtothetrash
folderintheDSSystemOnlineStorageandtheerrorisreportedinboththeDSSystem
andDSClientlogs.
Ifafilecannotbedecryptedordecompressed,orcannotbeaccessed(perhapsdueto
readingornetworkproblems),validationforthatfileisskippedanderrorsarereported
Best Practice: Even if the Restorability Validation function is used, Asigra Inc.
recommends having the Autonomic Healing module running all the time to find and fix
corruptions or inconsistencies as soon as possible. Autonomic Healing improves
confidence in the on-line storage restorability, although not to the 100% level offered
by the Restorability Validation function.

Note:TheRestorabilityValidationfunctionisdiskI/OintensiveontheDS
Systemside,sinceitreadsalldatatocheckthedigitalsignature.

Restorability Validation 172


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Implementation Topics

ThissectioncontainstopicsspecifictoimplementingAsigraSoftware.

173
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Implementation Steps

Introduction
Thissectionsetsout,ingeneraltimes,thestepsinvolvedinimplementingAsigraCloud
Backupanddeployingittocustomers.Thisdocumentisintendedasasummary.For
informationonthedetailedconfigurationoptionsforDSSystem(standaloneandN+1
DSSystem)andDSClient(standaloneandGridDSClient),seeImplementingDS
Systemonpage176andImplementingDSClientonpage182.Forsizing
considerations,seeSizingAsigraCloudBackuponpage187.

Implementation Steps (for Enterprise/Service Providers)


1 MakeDSSystemimplementationchoices.
2 PurchasetheappropriatehardwarefortheDSSystemmachineandtheDSSystem
OnlineStorage.
3 ArrangelicensefortheappropriateDSSystemsoftware,includingmodules.
4 Optionally,requestbrandingofthesoftwarethecustomerwillsee.(SeeASIGRA
BrandingPolicysectionintheASIGRAPoliciesPDFformoredetails.)
5 InstallDSSystemanditscomponentsontheappropriatedevices,followingthe
instructionsinthevariousinstallationguides.
6 IftheAsigraBillingprocessisused,installandconfiguretheDSBillingModule.
7 EnsurethattheappropriateTCPportsareaccessiblefromthecustomers
environments(seeDSOperatorManual>Appendix>NotesforAdministrators>
Portsforafulllistanddescription).

Implementation Steps (For Each Customer)


1 ProvideanyadviceorconsultingneededtohelpcustomersprepareforAsigraCloud
Backup,includingchoicesforDSClientimplementation.
2 SetupcustomeraccountsthroughDSOperatororDSNOC.Alternatively,useDS
NOCtoallowcustomerstosetuptheirownaccounts.
3 Optionally,setupanXMLfiletohandlemassdeployment.
4 DistributeDSClientsoftwaretocustomersusingoneofthesemethods:

Implementation Steps 174


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DSNOCorDVD
aCRIfiletosetinstallationparameters(thisfileiscreatedwhenacustomer
accountiscreatedthroughDSNOCorDSOperator)
ifmassdeploymentisused,distributeXMLfile.
5 CustomersinstallandconfigureDSClient.TheCRIfile,ifused,automatessomeparts
oftheinstallation.Customerswhoreceivemassdeploymentwillbeautomatically
configured.Othercustomerswillneedtodosomeconfigurationwork.
6 SetupbackupsetsusingtheDSUserNewBackupSetWizard.
7 Doinitialbackup.

Implementation Steps 175


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Implementing DS-System

Considerations for Choosing DS-System Configuration


ConsiderwhetherastandaloneDSSystemissufficientoriftheprocessingpowerofN+1
DSSystemisneeded.Forinformationthatcanhelpthisdecision,seeTuningandSizing
forDSSystemonpage194.

Note:UpgradingfromstandalonetoN+1isasimpleprocess.

Decidewhatplatformyouwanttouse(seetheInstallationandBackup/RestoreSupport
Matrix).
Decidewhichofthemodulesyouwanttouse.
DecidewhatsecondarybackuptousefortheDSSystemOnlineStorage:eitherAsigra
CloudBackupReplicationora3rdpartyreplicationsolution.

Sizing Issues
ForhelpestimatingthesizeofvariouselementsofDSSystem,seeSizingAsigraCloud
Backuponpage187.

Operating Systems for DS-System


DSSystemisavailableforWindowsandUnix.ChecktheInstallationandBackup/
RestoreSupportMatrixforversionsandotherdetails.ReplicationDSSystemsdonot
havetorunonthesameplatformastheproductionDSSystemandtheydonothaveto
havethesameconfiguration.TherecanbeanymixofWindows/UnixPlatforms,aswell
asanymixofStandAloneandN+1configurations.

Note:DSClientsdonothavetorunonthesameoperatingsystemastheDS
Systemtheycommunicatewith.

Note:DSOperatorisJavabasedandplatformindependent.

Implementing DS-System 176


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Configuration in Relation to DS-Clients
Wherecustomershavealargevolumeofdatatobackupordonotwanttheirdatastored
inthesameonlinestorageasthatofothercustomers(eventhoughdataisencrypted),a
singleDSClientcanbeassociatedwithasingleDSSystem.Thisiscalledaonetoone
configuration.AsecondoptionistouseExtensibleStorageGroupswhenconfiguringthe
DSSystemOnlineStorage.ThisallowsEnterprise/ServiceProviderstoseparatecustomer
datasothatitdoesnotresideonacommonstoragelocation.Formoreinformationsee
ExtensibleStorageConfigurationonpage46.
Moretypically,asingleDSSystemservesmanyDSClients.Thisiscalledaoneto
manyconfiguration.DSSystemdoesnotneedmuchprocessingpower(itneedsonlyto
storedataanddosomedatabaseupdates).Therefore,asingleDSSystemcanusually
handleseveralDSClients:technically,itcanhandleupto10,000,000DSClients.The
actuallimitdependsonDSSystemsstoragecapacityandprocessingpowerandon
networkbandwidth.
Formorescalability,loadbalancing,anddisasterprotection,severalDSSystemscan
worktogetherinanN+1DSSystemconfiguration.SeeDSSystemN+1Configuration
onpage180.
FordetailsonestimatingDSSystemsizing,seeTuningandSizingforDSSystemon
page194.
Formorescalability,loadbalancing,anddisasterprotection,severalDSClientscanwork
togetherinasingleGridDSClientconfiguration.SeeAboutGridDSClient
Configurationonpage93.

Implementing DS-System 177


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Considerations for DS-System Communication with IP over WAN
Toplanforappropriatebandwidth,usetheformulasfoundinEstimatingBandwidth
andStorageRequirementsBasedonCustomerDataonpage188.
AfirewallshouldbeplacedbetweentheLANholdingDSSystem(s)andtheIPWAN
connection.ThisfirewallneedstobeopentoDSClients,DSOperatorand,ifnecessary,
DSNOC.ThefollowingillustrationshowsportinformationrelevantforAsigraCloud
Backupsoftware.

Implementing DS-System 178


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Considerations for DS-System Database Configuration

Supported Databases
TheruleofthumbisMicrosoftSQLserverforWindowsDSSystemandPostgreSQLfor
UNIXDSSystem,howeverchecktheInstallationandBackup/RestoreSupportMatrixto
determinewhatdatabasesaresupportedforwhichoperatingsystems.

Database Location
ChoosewhethertheDSSystemdatabaseshouldbestoredlocallyorremotely.
Ifstoredlocally,putthedatabaseonadifferentphysicaldevicefromtheDSSystemlog
files.Ifpossible,putthedatabaseandlogfilesondifferentdiskcontrollersentirely,
unlessusingsophisticatedintegritystrategiessuchasRAIDsubsystems,database
replication,orstandbyservers.Thisimprovesperformance,duetoparalleldiskI/O,and
improvesthechanceofrecoveringthedatabaseifadiskisdamaged.
BeforeinstallingDSSystem,setthedefaultdatadirectoryanddefaultlogdirectoriesto
differentpathsondifferentphysicaldrives.

Database Clustering
Ifpossible,installtheDSSystemdatabaseonaclustereddatabaseserver.

Considerations for DS-System Online Storage Configuration

Storage Size
WhenconsideringthesizeofDSSystemOnlineStorage,takeintoaccountthecustomers
thesystemwillserve:theamountofdatathosecustomerswillprotect,aswellasthetype
ofdata(filesystem,EMails,databases,etc.).Alsoconsiderhowmanyonlinegenerations
ofdataaregoingtobestored.Thenumberofgenerationswillvarydependingonthe
customerssettingsandthefrequencywithwhichfileschange.Thenumberofcommon
fileswillalsoaffecttheamountofstorage(sincecommonfilesarestoredonlyonce).
Tohelpestimatestoragesizeneeds,usetheformulasfoundinEstimatingBandwidth
andStorageRequirementsBasedonCustomerDataonpage188.
Considertheuseofextensiblestorage.

Secondary Backup (Backup of the Backup)


Replication,mirroring,ordailytapebackupsofDSSystemOnlineStorage,sentoffsite,
arestronglyrecommended.Enterprise/ServiceProviderscantakeadvantageofthe
ReplicationofferedbyAsigraCloudBackupDSSystemsortheymayconsiderother
methodsofprotection,suchasmirroringorcopyingthe<Root>directorytoanother
location.StoragecanbehandledthroughDAS,NASorSAN.
Best Practice: Asigra Inc. recommends using RAID disk subsystems to protect the DS-
System against simple hard drive failure. A failed or potentially failing hard drive should
be replaced immediately.

Implementing DS-System 179


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Best Practice: Use of NFS or SAN, with exporter, is recommended to take into account
system growth.

DS-System N+1 Configuration

DS-System Online Storage for DS-System N+1


EachDSSystemN+1nodemusthaveaccesstothesameDSSystemOnlineStorage.
Accesscanbesharedintwoways:
Useasharedstorageareanetwork(SAN+Exporter)
UseaNASdevice
DSSystemOnlineStorageshouldbeclusteredorotherwiseprotected(RAID,SAN,etc.).

Configuration Files for DS-System N+1


EachDSSystemtypicallyrunsonitsownmachine,soeachneedsitsownconfiguration
filetospecify
howtoconnecttothedatabase
itsmachineIDinsidethegrid(from1n,wherenisthefullcomplementofDS
Systems).ThisistheClusterID,auniquenumberthatidentifiestheDSSystemnode
withintheN+1.
Inaddition,aconfigurationfileisneededfortheentirecluster.Thisfilespecifiesthe
originalnumberofnodeswhenallareupandrunning,theIPaddressesandportsofeach
DSSystemnode.ItresidesintheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

Considerations for Notifications

E-Mail Configuration
AnEMailserverneedstoexistandtheDSSystemcomputeror,forN+1DSSystem,all
DSSystemsintheN+1grid,shouldbeabletoconnecttoit.
EMailnotificationsaredeliveredbySMTPservers.

Note:DSSystemisnotcompatiblewiththeOutlookExpressmailclientor
MicrosoftOutlookmailclient.

SNMP Configuration
IfSNMPtrapsarebeingused,monitoringsoftwareneedstobeinstalled.Thissoftware
needstobeabletocapturethetrapssentbyDSSystem.

Implementing DS-System 180


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Considerations for Modules

DS-NOC Module Configuration


TheDSNOCisaJavaapplicationthatcanbeinstalledonanyWebServermachine.Itcan
beinstalledontheDSSystemmachine(notrecommended)oradedicatedmachine.
Best Practice: Asigra Inc. recommends using separate machines for DS-System and
DS-NOC.
ItstorescustomeraccountandconfigurationinformationaswellasDSNOClogsina
PostgreSQLdatabase.ItcanalsobesetupsoeachSalesGroupisassociatedwitha
differentDSSystemIPaddressorDNSname.Toconfigurethedatabaseandsetup
ApacheTomcattoconnecttoPostgreSQL,seetheDSNOCInstallationGuide.

Disc/Tape Module Configuration


TheDisc/Tapemodulerequiresabufferdirectoryofasizesufficienttostorethedata
beingcopiedtomedia.

Implementing DS-System 181


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Implementing DS-Client

DS-Client Data Considerations


Enterprise/ServiceProvidersmaywanttoworkwithcustomerstodetermine:
whatcustomerswanttoprotect:choosingwhatiscriticalvs.whatisjustimportant
(helpsdeterminebackupsetcontents,numberofonlinegenerationstokeep)
howmuchdataneedstobestoredandhowoftenitchanges:theLANDiscoveryand
statisticalbackupcanhelpdeterminethis
howmanyonlinegenerationsofdatatheywanttokeep
whatarethedatastoragerequirements:onsiteandoffsite,offsiteonly,onsiteonly
iftheywanttotrytheproductout,usingselfcontainedbackupsets
iftheyhavespecialfilesystemsordatabasestheywanttobackupand,ifso,iftheyare
awareofthespecificissuesandneeds(APIs,privileges,etc.)foreach:moredetailscan
befoundintheDSClientKnowledgeBase
whichusersaregoingtobebackingupwhatdata,andwhetherornottheyhavethe
appropriatepermissionstobackupthatdata
whatkindofbackupschedulewillmeetthecustomersneedswithoutplacingtoo
muchloadonCPU,memory,andIPWANconnection
retentionrulesthatcustomerswaittoimplementforonline/localstoragedata
disasterrestoreexpectationsandprocedures
whethercustomerswanttoarchivedatatoremovablemedia
ifcustomersneedtobackupstandaloneworkstationsorlaptops
ifcustomersneedtousestandaloneDSClients,GridDSClients,DSMobileClientor
DSNotebookClient.

Considerations for DS-Client Software

DS-Client Service
DSClientsoftwarecomesinthreeflavors:
WindowsDSClient(whichcan,ifdesired,beinstalledasDSMobileClient,orbe
combinedintoaGridDSClient)
LinuxDSClient

Implementing DS-Client 182


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
MACDSClient(whichcan,ifdesired,beinstalledasDSNotebookClient)

DS-User Location
DSUserisinstalledonthesamemachineasDSClientorcanbeinstalledonaseparate
machinethatcommunicateswiththeDSClientmachine(s).
BecausetheentirecommunicationisencryptedbetweentheASIGRAGUIandthe
service/daemon,thesecomponentscanbeinstalledondifferentnetworksanddonot
requireuseofasecureconnection(likeVPN).

DS-Clients Communication with Source Computers


Toreaddatafromsomeapplications,DSClientneedstohaveanativeAPIinstalledon
itscomputer.Forexample:
ToaccessfilesonaNovellserver,DSClientneedstheNovellclientsoftware.
ToaccessDB2files,DSClientneedstheDB2client.
ToaccessSystemifiles,DSClientneedstheIBMiSeriesAccessforWindowssoftware
(forWindowsDSClients).

Considerations for DS-Client Platform

Supported Operating Systems


DSClientisavailableforWindows,Linux,andMACOSX.Thechoiceofoperating
systemshouldmatchthesourcecomputers:forWindowscomputers,installWindows
DSClientonaWindowsmachine;forLinuxcomputers,installLinuxDSClientona
Linuxmachine;forMACcomputers,installMACDSClientonaMACOSXmachine.
Keepthefollowinginmind:
FilesystembackupscanberunfromanyFullFeaturedWindows,Linux,orMACDS
Client,DSMobileClientorDSNotebookClient.
NASbackupcanberunfromanyFullFeaturedWindowsorLinuxDSClient.
MicrosoftSQLServer,MicrosoftExchangeServer,andEMailcanbebackeduponly
byFullFeaturedWindowsDSClients.
OracleandSystemicanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedWindowsorLinuxDSClients.
MySQLcanbebackedupbyWindows,Linux,orMACDSClients.
Salesforce.combackupscanberunfromFullFeaturedWindowsDSClients.
GoogleAppsbackupscanberunfromFullFeaturedWindowsDSClients.
LocalDSVDRbackupsetscanberunfromFullFeaturedWindowsandLinuxDS
Clients.
PostgreSQLcanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedLinuxorMACDSClients.
DB2canbebackedupbyFullFeaturedLinuxDSClientonly.
SAPcanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedLinuxDSClientonly.
XenServercanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedLinuxDSClientonly.
VMwarecanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedWindowsorLinuxDSClient.
MSSharePointcanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedWindowsDSClientonly.

Implementing DS-Client 183


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
HyperVandClusterHyperVcanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedWindowsDSClient
only.
SybasecanbebackedupbyFullFeaturedLinuxDSClientonly.
DSSystemandDSClientdonothavetorunonthesameoperatingsystemto
communicatewitheachother.Forexample,aDSSysteminstalledonWindowscan
communicatewithaLinuxDSClient.
OtherspecificfeaturesareavailableonlyforcertainflavoursofDSClient:seethe
InstallationandBackup/RestoreSupportMatrix.

DS-Client Location
DSClientcanbeinstalledoneitheradedicatedmachineoramachineusedforother
purposes.
Best Practice: Use of a dedicated machine for DS-Client is recommended for
customers who are using one DS-Client to back up an entire network. This ensures the
entire processing power of that server is used for backup.
ThemachinehostingDSClientisbestlocatedonthesameLAN/subnetasthemachines
tobebackedup.BecauseAsigraCloudBackupoffersagentlessDSClient,nosoftware
needstobeinstalledonthemachinestobebackedup.
Best Practice: If the DS-Client machine is on an Internet gateway, it is recommended
that two network cards (one to connect through the firewall to the internet, another to
connect to the LAN directly or through a router) be used.
AsingleDSClientcanbackupeverythingattachedtotheLANtowhichtheDSClients
machineisitselfattached.AsingleDSClientcanbackupasinglecomputeroranentire
network,dependingontheinstalledDSClienttype.

DS-Client Communication with IP over WAN


CommunicationoverWANrequiresTCP/IPanditusesyourexistingnetwork
infrastructure.Thecommunicationmethodchosenmustbesufficienttotransmitthe
volumeofbackupdata.
AfirewallshouldbeplacedbetweenDSClientandtheIPWANconnection.
TheDSClientcustomeraccountcanauthenticatetheexternalIPaddress(ifconfigured)
foraDSClientconnectiontoDSSystem.
Toplanforappropriatebandwidth,usetheformulasfoundinEstimatingBandwidth
andStorageRequirementsBasedonCustomerDataonpage188.
CommunicationspeedcanbeaffectedbythebandwidththrottlesetbyEnterprise/
ServiceProvidersforindividualDSClients.

Considerations for DS-Client Databases


WindowsDSClientsupportsMSSQLServer,andMSSQLServerExpress.(Windows
DSMobileClientusesanembeddeddatabase,DSNotebookClientusesapreconfigured
PostgreSQLdatabase.)LinuxandMacDSClientssupportPostgreSQL.Todetermine
whichdatabaseversionsaresupportedforwhichoperatingsystems,checkthe
InstallationandBackup/RestoreSupportMatrix.

Implementing DS-Client 184


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:Thefilesystemmayimposeitsownrestrictionsonfilenameand
directorypathlength.

Considerations for Grid DS-Clients


usethesamedatabase
accesstosamestorageusedforLocalStorage
forinstructionsonsettingupaGridDSClient,refertotheWindowsDSClient
InstallationGuidesGridDSClientInstallationsection.

Considerations for Source Computers


ThesourcecomputersmustbeonthesameLANastheDSClientmachine.Nosoftware
needstobeinstalledonthesecomputers(AsigraCloudBackupfeaturesanagentless
DSClient).However,theremaybesomecommunicationissuesbetweentheDSClient
machineandspecificmachinetypesforsomebackupscenarios.Asaresult,some
additionalsoftwaremaybeneededonDSClienttoaccommodatedifferenttypesof
backupsets.

Considerations for Notifications

E-Mail Notification
AnEMailserverneedstoexistandtheDSClientmachine(orallnodesinaGridDS
Client)mustbeabletoconnecttoit.
EMailDSClientnotificationsaredeliveredbythirdpartymailclientsregisteredwith
theWindowsMessagingSubsystem(MAPI),orbySMTPservers.Bydesign,MAPIand
mostmailclientscausetheirclientapplicationstopopupdialogboxestointeractwitha
user.BecauseDSClientisunattendedservicesoftware,itwouldhangifitdisplaysa
dialog.Therefore,DSClientusesonlycompatiblemailclientsthatneverdisplayadialog.

Note:DSClientisnotcompatiblewiththeOutlookExpressmailclient.

ForinstructionsonhowtocreateamailprofileforDSClient,seetheDSClient
KnowledgeBaseSettingupDSClientNotifications.

SNMP Notification
IfSNMPtrapsarebeingused,SNMPsoftwareneedstobeinstalledandableto
communicatewiththeDSClientmachine.

Considerations for DS-Client Buffer


IfusingtheDSClientbuffer,adequatediskcapacityisrequiredonthebuffersdrive.

Implementing DS-Client 185


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Considerations for Modules

Considerations for Local Storage Module


TheLocalStoragemodulecachesthelatestonlinegenerationofbackedupfilesforfast
recovery.Itsrequirementforstoragespacedependsonhowmuchdataisbeing
protected:thestatisticalbackupfunctioncangiveanideaofthenumberoffilesandtheir
averagesize.LocalstoragecanbelocatedontheDSClientmachineoranothermachine
accessibleontheDSClientLAN.BackupsetswiththeLocalStorageoptionenabledcan
beconfiguredtosavemultiplegenerationsontheLocalStoragebuffer.Ifenabled,Local
StoragecanalsobeusedforLocalOnlybackupsets.

Considerations for DS-NOC module


TheDSNOCcanbeinstalledonamachinethatcanbeaccessedviaHTTPorHTTPSby
alltheDSClientstobemonitored.

Implementing DS-Client 186


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup

Introduction to Sizing
WhenconsideringsizingissuesforAsigraCloudBackup,Enterprise/ServiceProviders
shouldconsider:
estimatedsizeofDSSystemOnlineStorage(considerationforbothhardware
implementationandlicenserequirements)
configurationofDSSystem(N+1DSSystemorstandalone)andplatformchoices(OS,
hardware,andlicensingrequirements)
bandwidthrequiredforcommunication
DSClientdeploymentandsizingissues
ThissectionshouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththeinformationinImplementingDS
Systemonpage176andImplementingDSClientonpage182.

Estimating the Size of DS-System Online Storage


ThesizeofDSSystemOnlineStoragedependsonthefollowingvariables:
amountofdatastoredbycustomersandwithhowmanyonlinegeneration(see
EstimatingBandwidthandStorageRequirementsBasedonCustomerDataonpage
188)
effectofeliminationofcommonfiles(seeEstimatingBandwidthandStorage
RequirementsBasedonCustomerDataonpage188)
storageneededforadditionalitems:
DSClientdatabasedumps(seeDSClientDatabaseSizeonpage200)
DSSystemdatabasedumps(seeDSSystemDatabaseSizeonpage197)
extradirectoryinformation(seeEstimatingSizeofExtraDirectoryInformation
onpage193)

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 187


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Estimating Bandwidth and Storage Requirements Based on Customer
Data

About These Calculations


Thissectionsetsoutsomeformulasthatcanbeusedtoestimatesizingrequirementsfor
AsigraCloudBackupstorageandbandwidthtoaccommodatespecificcustomers.A
statisticalbackupcanalsobeusedtohelpassessthestorageneedsofanindividual
customer.
EntervaluesintheValuecolumnsofthisdocument(using,wherenecessary,the
formulasoutlinedinboldintheDescriptioncolumns),orcontactsupport@asigra.com
foranExcelspreadsheetthatcanbeusedtoautomatecalculations.

Parameters
Deployment Parameters
Item Value Unit Description

Numberofsites Sites/system Numberofsitesforservicedeployment.Each


sitehassimilarcharacteristics.

DSClientspersite client/site NumberofDSClientsinstalledateachsite.

User/User Computer Parameters


Item Value Unit Description

Computerspersite Machine/site Definesthenumberofusermachinesthat


requireprotection.Thisisoftenequaltothe
numberofusersatthesite.Maybe0ifuser
machinesarenotprotected(thatis,ifusers
savefilestoacentralserver).

Filespercomputer files/machine Numberoffilesthatrequireprotectionon


eachoftheusercomputers.

LibraryFiles files/machine Numberoffilesestimatedtobecommonfiles


acrossallusermachines.Typicalcandidates
areoperatingsystemfilesandstandard
applications.

Datasize GB/machine Amountofdatathatwillbeprotectedbythe


DSClient.

Dailyfilechange files/machine Numberoffilesexpectedtochangedailyon


onemachine.

BackupWindow hours/day Numberofhoursduringwhichthebackup


mustbecomplete.Affectstherequired
bandwidth.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 188


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Server Parameters
Item Value Unit Description

Serverspersite Machine/site Numberofserversthatrequireprotectionon


eachsite.

Usersperserver Users/ Numberofusersstoringfilesonthisserver.


machine

Filesperuser Files/User Numberoffilesusersstore.

Sizeofuserfiles MB/user Sizetheuserfilesoccupy.

ServerO/SFiles Files/ Numberoffilestheserverhasthatdonot


Machine belongtousers(applicationfilesandO/Sfiles)

ServerO/SSize GB/Server AmountofspacetheO/Sfilestake.

Filesperserver files/machine Numberoffilesthatrequireprotectionfor


eachserver.

Serverlibraryfiles files/machine Numberoffilesestimatedtobecommonfiles


acrossallusermachines.Typicalcandidates
wouldbeoperatingsystemfilesandstandard
applications(ServerO/SFiles)

Serverfilesize GB/machine Sizeoffilesthatrequireprotectiononeach


server(databasesexcluded).

Dailyserverfilechange files/machine Numberoffilesexpectedtochangedailyon


onemachine.Typicallyonlyuserfileswould
change.

Serverdatabasesize GB/machine Estimateofdatabasessizeoneachofthe


protectedservers.

BackupWindow hours/day Numberofhoursduringwhichthebackup


mustbecomplete.Affectstherequired
bandwidth.

DS-Client Configuration Parameters


Item Value Unit Description

Generationsforuserfiles gen/machine Numberofonlinegenerationstobeprotected


bytheDSClientforusermachines.

Generationsforserver gen/machine Numberofonlinegenerationstobeprotected


files bytheDSClientforservers.

Generationsfor gen/machine Numberofonlinegenerationstobeprotected


databases bytheDSClientfordatabases.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 189


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Asigra Software Technology Parameters
Item Value Unit Description

Filecompressionratio 0.500 N/A Compressionratioforbasicfiles(not


databasesorexecutables),expressedas2:1
ratio.

Databaseinitial 0.500 N/A Compressionratioforinitialbackupof


compressionratio databasefiles,expressedas2:1ratio.

Databasedelta 0.040 N/A Compressionratiofordeltabackupof


generationcompression databasefiles,expressedas25:1ratio.
ratio

Maximumdeltachain 10 N/A Maximumlengthforadeltachainbetween


length twomastergenerations.

Results
Per-Site Statistics
Item Value Unit Description

Numberoffilespersite

UserComputerfiles Files Numberoffilesstoredateachsiteonuser


computers.
computerspersite*(filespercomputer+
dailyfilechange*(generationsforuserfiles
1))

ServerFiles Files Numberoffilesstoredateachsiteonservers.


serverspersite*(filesperserver+daily
serverfilechange*(generationsforserver
files1))

Databasemaster Generations Numberofmasteronlinegenerationsfor


generations databasebackups.
generationsfordatabases/maximumdelta
generationchainlength

Databasedelta Generations Numberofdeltagenerationsfordatabase


generation backups.
generationsfordatabasesdatabasemaster
generations

Protectedsizepersite

Usercomputeraverage KB/File Averagefilesizeonausercomputer.


filesize (datasize*1024*1024)/filespercomputer

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 190


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Item Value Unit Description

Serveraveragefilesize KB/File Averagefilesizeonaservermachine.


(serverfilesize*1024*1024)/filesper
server

Usercomputerfilesize GB/machine Totalprotectedsizeforallusercomputerfiles.


computerspersite*datasize

Serverfilesize GB/machine Totalprotectedsizeforallserverfiles.


serverspersite*serverfilesize

Databasemastersize GB/machine Protectedsizeformasterdatabase


generations.
serverfiles*serverdatabasesize*servers
persite

Databasedeltasize GB/machine Protectedsizefordeltadatabasegenerations.


databasedeltageneration*serverdatabase
size*serverspersite

Recommendations

DSClientspersite clients/site RoughestimateofDSClientspersitewiththe


ruleofoneDSClientprotecting
approximately2millionfiles.
usercomputerfiles+serverfiles/2000000

TotalnumberofDS clients/ EstimateofnumberofDSClientsrequired.


Clients system Thiscanbeusedtodeterminethenumberof
machinesinanN+1DSSystemgrid(if
needed).
DSClientspersite*numberofsites

Daily Bandwidth Usage


Item Value Unit Description

Serverbackupbandwidth

Filebackupbandwidth KB/s Requiredbandwidthtosenddaily


forservers incrementaldatatotheDSSystem(assumes
initialbackupiscompleted).Eachsite
requiresthisbandwidth.
(serverspersite*serveraveragefilesize*
dailyserverfilechange*filecompression
ratio)/(60*60*backupwindow)

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 191


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Item Value Unit Description

Databasebackup KB/s Requiredbandwidthtosenddaily


bandwidth incrementaldatatotheDSSystem(assumes
initialbackupiscompleted).Eachsite
requiresthisbandwidth.
(serverspersite*serverdatabasesize*1024
*1024*databasedeltacompressionratio)/
(60*60*backupwindow)

Usercomputersbackup

Filebackupbandwidth KB/s Requiredbandwidthtosenddaily


forusercomputers incrementaldatatotheDSSystem(assumes
initialbackupiscompleted).Eachsite
requiresthisbandwidth.
computerspersite*dailyfilechange*user
computeraveragefilesize*filecompression
ratio/(60*60*backupwindow)

ProtectedSizepersite

Totalsitebandwidth KB/s Amountofbandwidthneededfromeachsite


totheDSSystem.Additionalbandwidthmay
berequiredtotakegrowthintoaccount.
filebackupbandwidthforservers+file
backupbandwidthforusercomputers+
databasefilebackupbandwidth

DS-System Storage Amounts


Item Value Unit Description

DSSystemfilecount

Filecountpersite Files/site Numberoffilesforeachsite.


usercomputerfiles*serverfiles

Filecountforallsites Files/system TotalnumberoffilesfortheDSSystem.


filecountpersite*4

DSSystemstoredsizes

Userfilestoragesize GB/system UserfilesizeontheDSSystem.


((((filespercomputerlibraryfiles)+daily
filechange*(generationsforuserfiles1))*
numberoffiles+libraryfiles)*user
computeraveragefilesize*computersper
site)/(1024*1024)

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 192


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Item Value Unit Description

Serverfilestoragesize GB/system ServerfilesizeontheDSSystem.


(((filesperserverserverlibraryfiles+
dailyserverfilechange*(generationsfor
serverfiles1))*numberofsites+server
libraryfiles)*serveraveragefilesize*
serverspersite)/(1024*1024)

Databasestoragesize GB/system DatabasessizeontheDSSystem.


(databasemastersize*databaseinitial
compressionratio+databasedeltasize*
databasedeltacompressionratio)*number
ofsites*serverspersite

Total GB/system TotalstoredsizeontheDSSystem.


userfilestoragesize+serverfilestoragesize
+databasestoragesize

Estimating Size of Extra Directory Information


ExtradirectorydataisstoredusingfilesonbothWindowsandUnixDSSystems.See
DSSystemOnlineStorageonpage42fordetails.
Sinceeachbackupset,application,ordirectoryhasitsowndirectorydata,thenumberof
suchdatafilesorstreamscanbeestimated:

B,thenumberofbackupsets __________

S,theaveragenumberofsharesperbackupset __________

D,theaveragenumberofdirectoriespershare __________

MultiplyBxSxDforthenumberofdatafilesorstreams __________
needed

Thesizeofsuchdataissmallcomparedtothebackedupdata:about64to128bytesfor
statisticalinformationplusthespaceneededtostorethenameofthedirectory,backup
set,orshare.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 193


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Tuning and Sizing for DS-System

Introduction
SizingforDSSystemdependsonsystemresources(whichcanbetuned,asexplainedin
thissection)andthenumberofDSClientsbeingsupported(seeNumberofDSClients
onpage199).

About Tuning
DSSystem(standaloneorN+1DSSystem)canrunmoreprocesses,andthushandle
morefilesatonetime,ifitsoperatingsystemistuned.Tuninginvolveslookingatsystem
resourcessuchasmemory,processingpower,threads,andopenfilesorsockets.
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersmayincreasesomeresources,suchasCPUpowerandI/O
usage,bychangingthehardware.Thetunableresourcesareusuallythreadsandfile
descriptors(filesandTCPconnections),becausetheyarelimitedbytheoperatingsystem.
Tuneasfollows:
TuneaLinuxoperatingsystembysettingthemaximumnumberofopenfilesto4096
andthestackspaceforaprocessto2MB.

DS-System Resource Usage


Threads Used by DS-System
ALinuxDSSystemusesthreadsasfollows:
Atstartup,aDSSystemmayuseabout20maintenancethreads(schedulingactivities,
listeningforincomingconnections,andsoon).
Foreachactivity,aDSSystemuses1thread.
ForN+1DSSystem,aLeafDSSystemmightuseanother0.11threadsifthisactivityis
aDSClientconnection.(DSClientconnectionprocessingisdonebyathreadpool.)
Similarly,theDSDirectormightuseanother0.11threadsforeachN+1node(for
connectionpooling).

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 194


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Thenumberofactivitiesislimitedbythemaximumnumberofthreads,
nodes (maxthreads 10 nodes)
calculatedas maxactivities
1.11

where
maxthreadsistheresourcelimitsetbytheoperatingsystemformaximumnumberof
threads
nodesisthenumberofDSSystems(standaloneorN+1DSSystem)

File Descriptors Used by DS-System


ThefiledescriptorusageoftheDSSystemisgovernedbytheserules.
Atstartup,theDSSystemusesabout20filedescriptors(acceptingincoming
connections,databaseconnections,etc.).
ForeachIPWANconnection(DSClient,DSOperator,N+1DSSystem
interconnectivity)theDSSystemusesonecommunicationfileandafilepoolfor
synchronization.
TheDSSystemtypicallyprocessesoneortwofilesatonce;andeachfilemayhavetwo
opendescriptors.Sotherecouldbeabout4openfiledescriptorsperDSSystem.
Thenumberofactivitiesislimitedbythemaximumnumberoffiledescriptors,
nodes (maxfiledesc 20 nodes)
calculatedas maxactivities
5.02

maxfiledescistheresourcelimitsetbytheoperatingsystemformaximumnumberoffile
descriptors
nodesisthenumberofDSSystems(standaloneorN+1DSSystem)

Concurrent Activities
Thenumberofactivitiesmightbelimitedbyanoperatingsystemslimitsforthreadsor
foropenfiles(filedescriptors).Thesectionsabovedescribedthedependencyof
concurrentactivitiesonmaximumthreadsormaximumfiledescriptors.Thenexttable
showsthelimitsfordifferentoperatingsystems.Wechosebackupsbecausetheyusethe
mostopenfilesandthreads.
Inthefollowingtable:
ResourceLimitisthelimitsetbytheoperatingsystemforthisresource(files,threads),
whichtheDSSystemcannotexceed
DSSystemsistheDSSystemconfiguration:eitherstandaloneorN+1DSSystem
configurationwiththespecifiednumberofnodes
Maximumactivitiesistheapproximatelimittothenumberofconcurrentbackup
activitiesthattheDSSystemwillsupport.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 195


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
RecommendedlimitstoconcurrentactivitiesinDSSystem

Number of Linux operating system


DS-Systems

Maximum backup activities with...

Resource Limit: 4 GB RAM 8 GB RAM

1024 255 4096 files 1020 threads 8192 files 2040 threads
files threads (tuned) (tuned) (tuned) (tuned)

(Standalone)1 200 220 811 909 1622 1818

3 598 654 2434 2721 4868 5442

4 796 868 3244 3625 6488 7250

5 995 1081 4054 4527 8108 9054

6 1192 1291 4864 5427 9728 10854

7 1390 1500 5673 6325 11346 12650

8 1587 1708 6482 7221 12964 14442

9 1783 1913 7291 8116 14572 16232

10 1980 2117 8099 9009 16198 18018

11 2175 2318 8907 9900 17814 19800

12 2371 2518 9714 10798 19428 21596

13 2566 2717 10521 11676 21042 23352

14 2760 2913 11328 12562 22656 25124

Tip:Ingeneral,thevaluesshownabovearethemaximumactivitiesthata
DSSystemcouldhandle.Foroptimalperformance,installabouttwice
asmanysystemsasthetheoreticalminimumforyourneeds.

Number of DS-Clients Supported


Bydefault,each32bitDSClientcanstarteightconcurrentactivitiesandeach64bitDS
Clientcanstarttwelveconcurrentactivities.Soforevery812concurrentactivities,aDS
SystemcansupportoneDSClient.Forexample,ifDSSystemcanrun200concurrent
activities,itshouldhavenomorethan2532bitDSClients.
ThefollowingtablerecommendsmaximumconcurrentactivitiesandsupportedDS
Clients.TopreventDSSystemfromreachingthemaximumnumberofsupported
activities,theserecommendationsuseaguidelineof50%80%ofthemaximumload
listedabove.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 196


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Inthefollowingtable:
DSSystemsisthestandalone(1system)orN+1DSSystemconfigurationwiththe
specifiednumberofnodes
Maximumactivitiesistheapproximatelimittothenumberofconcurrentbackup
activitiesthattheDSSystemwillsupport.
MaximumDSClientsisthemaximumnumberofsupportedDSClients,ifoneDS
Clientstartsnomorethaneightconcurrentactivities.

Recommendedlimitstoconcurrentactivitiesin
DSSystem

Operating System: Tuned Linux

Number of Recommended Minimum


DS-Systems maximum backup DS-Clients
activities supported

(Standalone)1 405 50

3 1217 150

4 1622 200

5 2027 250

6 2432 300

7 2836 350

8 3241 400

9 3645 450

10 4049 500

11 4453 550

12 4852 600

13 5260 650

14 5660 700

DS-System Database Size


TheDSSystemdatabasedoesnotstorebackedupdata,soitisnotaffectedbythe
amountofcustomerdatabeingbackedup.Theonlysizingconsiderationsarethese:
libraryinformationfortrackingcommonfilesthemorecommonfilesthereare,the
morelibrariesandthereforethegreaterthedemandonthedatabase(thelibraries
themselvesarestoredonDSSystemOnlineStorage)
volumeofactivities(allarebeinglogged),especiallyeventssuchassystembased
synchronization,whichmaywritemanymessages

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 197


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
numberofinvoices(minimalimpact)
Best Practice: A SQL Server 2005/2008 Express database should only be used for
demo or Proof-Of-Concept environments. It should not be used in production
environments.
numberofDSClients/backupsets

Selecting the DS-System Online Storage


AsigralicensestheDSSysteminseveralconfigurations:
StandaloneDSSystem
N+1DSSystem
ReplicationDSSystem.
TheStandaloneDSSystemisasingleDSSystemsoftwareinstallationthatworkswith
onedatabaseandoneOnlineStorage.TheDSSystemOnlineStorageforaStandalone
DSSystemmaybeeitherDAS,SANorNAS.
TheN+1DSSystemismadefrommultipleDSSystemsoftwareinstallationsthatwork
withonecommonDSSystemdatabaseandonecommonDSSystemOnlineStorage.For
anN+1configuration,theOnlineStoragemustusetheNASarchitecture.
TheReplicationDSSystemmaybeeitherastandaloneReplicationDSSystemoranN+1
ReplicationDSSystem.Assuch,theaboverulesapply:
forstandaloneReplicationDSSystem,theOnlineStoragemaybeeitherDAS,SANor
NAS,and
foranN+1ReplicationDSSystem,theOnlineStoragemustbeNAS.
WhenselectingaDSSystemOnlineStorage,youmaywishtoconsiderthefollowing:
typesandsizeofdisks
numberofIOPsthatcanbereachedwiththeselectedarchitecture
scalabilityofthearchitectureifyouplantogrowtheDSSystem,uptowhatstage
willthisarchitecturescalefromthefollowingpointsofview:
thenumberofread/writeactivities
thenumberoffiles
protectingyourDSSystemOnlineStoragefromdisasters
Asigrarecommendstestingseveralbackendstoragesubsystemvendorsbefore
purchasingtheDSSystemOnlineStoragesolution.Onrequest,Asigracanprovidesthe
AsigraI/OLoadTestTool.ThistoolisdesignedtosimulateDSSystemactivitiesona
backendstoragewithouttheneedtoactuallylicenseandsetuptheDSSystemsoftware.
Thistoolshouldbeused(withthesametestparameters)formultiplevendorsand/or
vendorsstoragesubsystemconfigurationsinordertobeabletoprovideyouwith
resultsthatwillenabletheselectionofthebeststoragesubsystemforyourenvironment.
TheparametersthatmustbekeptthesamewhentestingwiththeAsigraI/OLoadTest
Toolare:
NumberofDSClients
AveragenumberofbackupsetsperDSClients
Typeofbackupsets

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 198


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Averagenumberoffilesperdirectory
Averagesizeforfiles
TheconfigurationsthatmayvarywhentestingwiththeAsigraI/OLoadTestToolare:
number,sizeandtypeofdisks
typeofstoragesubsystem(differentvendors)
protocoltoaccessthestorage(CIFSforplannedWindowsDSSystem
implementationsandNFSforplannedLinuxDSSystemimplementations)

DS-Client Sizing Issues

Number of DS-Clients
CustomerscanhaveasmanyDSClientsastheywish.EachDSClientcouldbededicated
foragroupofbackupsets,butallcancommunicatewithasingleDSSystem.
ThereisnopreciseformulatodeterminehowmanyDSClientsareneededtocovera
particularsizeofLAN.Thenumbertypicallydependsontheamountofdatachanged
daily,typeofdata,numberoffiles,LANspeed,hardwareusedforDSClient,andthe
capacityofthesourcecomputers.

DS-Client Number of Concurrent Activities


A32bitDSClient(Windows/Linux),bydefault,runsamaximumofeightconcurrent
activities.A64bitDSClient(Windows/Linux),bydefault,runsamaximumoftwelve
concurrentactivities.Bothareconfigurable,howevertheperformancemaydecreaseif
thenumberofconcurrentactivitiesistoohighfortheDSClientsprocessingpower.

Note:GridDSClientmaybeusedforloadbalancing.Thecalculations
describedinthisdocumentrefertostandaloneDSClientsanddonot
includedetailsaboutGridDSClients.

DS-Client Activity Load


TheLoadsummaryinDSUsershowstheloadonaDSClientmachineforaparticular
periodoftime.Ifhighlevelsareobservedataparticulartime,considerrescheduling
backupsetstodistributetheloadmoreevenly.Iflevelsarehighatalltimes,considera
morepowerfulcomputerordelegatesomebackupsetstoanotherDSClientmachine.
YoucanalsochoosetoupgradetoaGridDSClient.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 199


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Memory and CPU Requirements
ThecompressionandencryptionactivitiesofDSClientarequiteresourceintensive.The
DSClientmachineneedstohaveenoughmemoryandCPUtosuccessfullycompletethis
processing.Thememoryrequirementscanbeestimatedasfollows:
forfileslessthan10GBinsize,0.5%,
forfilesbetween10GBand100GBinsize,0.125%,
forfilesbetween100GBand1TBinsize,0.031%,
forfilesbetween1TBand10TBinsize,0.008%,and
forfileslargerthan10TBinsize,0.002%
ofthesizeofthefilesprocessedatagiventime.Forexample,ifDSClientisprocessinga
10GBfile,itwillrequireapproximatelythreeunfragmentedmemoryblockstotalling
about0.050GBorabout50MBofmemory.
Keepinmindthatabackupcouldprocessmorethanonefileinparallel.CPUand
memoryusecanbemonitoredthroughtheDSClientLoadSummary(accessedviaDS
User).

DS-Client Pool Memory


ADSClientrunningmanybackupsonaWindows2000OperatingSystemcanrunintoa
systemresourceproblem,andDSClientmayreportError1450:
Insufficient System Resources Exist to Complete the Requested Service
ThiscanoccurduetoashortageofpoolmemoryintheWindowsoperatingsystem,even
ifthesystemhasplentyofRAManddiskspace.
Iftheseproblemsoccur,customerscandooneofthesethings:
reducethenumberofactivitiesrunningatthesametime
reducetheconfigurablenumberofthreadsusedforbackupandrestoreactivities.

DS-Client Database Size


Themorefilesbeingbackedup,thebiggerthemainDSClientdatabasemustbe.Itneeds
tohaveroomfor:
backupfileinformation(path,lastsizeandmodificationtime,deltageneration
informationforlargefiles)
logs(ActivityLogandEventLog)
backupsetandscheduledefinition(thisoccupieslittlespace).
Ingeneral,mostofthedatabasespaceistakenbyfileinformationeachfilerequiresa
recordinthedatabase,andabout500KBofdeltagenerationinformationisusedfor
everygigabyteofbackup,plusfilenamestorage.Manyfilesaretoosmalltobeprocessed
withdeltaprocessing,sodeltaspaceisnotnecessary.Thiscanalsobecalculatedusing
statisticalbackup.

Sizing Asigra Cloud Backup 200


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Asigra DS-Software Licensing

What is Licensed
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersmustpurchasealicenseforthedeploymentofDSSystem,
BackupLifecycleManagement,aswellaslicensesforanynecessarymodules(including
LocalOnlyQuotaforDSClients).TheDSClientsoftwarelicenseisfreeofcharge.See
theASIGRADSKeyLicensingPolicysectionoftheASIGRAPoliciesPDFfor
informationonthedifferenttypesoflicensesavailable.
SeeASIGRADSLicenseServeronpage201.

ASIGRA DS-License Server

What ASIGRA DS-License Server does


TheASIGRADSLicenseServerallowsEnterprise/ServiceProviderstopurchaseabulk
licenseamount,anddistributethatamountamongtheirDSSystems/BLMsasrequired.
ThisgivesanEnterprise/ServiceProviderflexibilitywhenallocatingAsigraInc.licenses.
RefertotheDSLicenseServerManualforfullinstallationandoperatinginstructions.
SomehighlightsoftheASIGRADSLicenseServerfunctionalityareasfollows:
CanbeinstalledoneitherWindowsorLinux.
OncetheDSLicenseServerisrunning,youcanconfigureittoworkwithyourDS
SystemsandBLMArchiversviatheDSLicenseGUI.
YoucanallocateOnlinestoragecapacityandLocalOnlycapacityuptothebulk
licenseamountineachcategory.
IndividuallicenseexpirationdatescanbeconfiguredforanyDSSystemorBLM
configuredonaDSLicenseServer.
TheDSLicenseServerretainslogsandhistory.
Logtablescanbeprinted/exportedtofile.
Forfailoverpurposes,EmergencyDSLicenseServerscanbeinstalled.DSSystems/
BLMscanbeconfiguredtopointtotheseEmergencyDSLicenseServersincaseof
problemswiththePrimaryDSLicenseServer.

Asigra DS-Software Licensing 201


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-License Server Types
DS-License Server CLM
ACapacityLicensemustbepurchasedinordertorunDSLicenseServerCLM.The
licenseforCLM(CapacityLicenseModel)environmentsconsistsofaphysicalHASP
USBkeyandasoftwarelicensefile,bothprovidedbyAsigraInc.
DSLicenseServerCLMallowspurchaseofthefollowing:
StandaloneorN+1FullFeaturedDSSystemOnlineStoragelicense
StandaloneorN+1MobileDSSystemOnlineStoragelicense
StandaloneorN+1ConsumerDSSystemOnlineStoragelicense
StandaloneorN+1ReplicationDSSystemlicense(sitenumberlicenseandcapacity
assignment)
LocalOnlylicenseforFullFeaturedDSSystemsonly
BLMArchiverOnlineStoragelicense
ReplicationBLMArchiverlicense(sitenumberlicenseandcapacityassignment)
DSNOC
RemoteDSVDR(forFullFeaturedDSSystemsonly)
LocalDSVDR(forFullFeaturedDSSystemsonly)
SnapshotManager(forFullFeaturedDSSystemsonly)

DS-License Server RLM


ARecoveryLicensemustbepurchasedinordertorunDSLicenseServerRLM.The
licenseforRLM(RecoveryLicenseModel)environmentsconsistsofaphysicalHASP
USBkeyandonlineaccesstotheAsigraLicensingServer,whichmaintainsthelicense
informationfortheLicenseID.
DSLicenseServerRLMallowspurchaseofthefollowing:
OnlineStorageandRecoverylicense(applicabletoFullFeaturedDSSystemand/or
BLMs)
DRDrillCapacityforFullFeaturedDSSystemsandBLMs
LocalOnlylicenseforFullFeaturedDSSystemsonly
Replicationlicense(sitenumberlicenseandcapacityassignmentapplicableto
FullFeaturedDSSystemsand/orBLMs)
DSNOC
RemoteDSVDR
SnapshotManager

ASIGRA DS-License Server as a component of Asigra Cloud


Backup
TheASIGRADSLicenseServerisdesignedtorun24/7/365andmustalwaysbe
accessibleviaTCP/IPconnectionfromtherelevantinstallationsofDSSystemandBLM
inorderfortheseproductstoauthenticatetheirlicenses.

Asigra DS-Software Licensing 202


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Normally,theDSLicenseServerwillbeonthesameLANastheDSSystems/BLMs.
However,ifafirewallisplacedbetweentheLANholdingDSLicenseServer(s)andthe
IPWANconnection,thisfirewallneedstobeopentoallowDSSystemandBLMlicense
authenticationconnections.Thefollowingillustrationshowstherelevantport
informationfortheASIGRADSLicenseServer:

ForRecoveryLicenseModelenvironments,theDSLicenseServerRLMmustalways
have24/7onlineaccesstotheAsigraLicensingServer(viaport4417)inordertovalidate
itslicenseparameters.

License-Related Events (DS-License Server licenses)

Licensed Storage Capacity Exceeded


IfthestoragecapacityofaDSSystemhasexceededitsallocatedlicenselimit,current
backupactivitieswillbeallowedtofinish,butnonewoneswillbeallowedtostart.
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersmustdooneofthefollowing:
PreconfiguretheDSSystemlicensewithautoexpansion.DSLicenseServercan
automaticallyincreasethelicenseallocatedtotheDSSystem,assumingthereis
availablelicensecapacityintheDSLicenseServerlicensepool.

Asigra DS-Software Licensing 203


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
IncreasetheDSSystemsonlinequotafromtheDSLicenseServer.
IfyouhaveallocatedallthecapacityavailableforthisDSLicenseServer,you
musteitherreducetheallocationfromsomeoftheotherDSSystemsorcontact
AsigratoupgradetheDSLicenseServerslicensetoahigheroverallcapacity.
DecreasestorageusebydeletingfromDSSystemOnlineStorageand/ormigrating
datatoanotherDSSystem.

Date Expiry (DS-License Server licenses)


EachlicenseonaDSLicenseServercanhaveanexpirationdate(optional).Oncealicense
expires,allDSSystemandBLMactivitiesaredisableduntilthelicenseexpirydateis
reset.OnlyGUIconnectionsareacceptedwhenthelicenseexpirydatehaspassed.

Upgrading a DS-License Servers license (for CLM environments)


Customersmustobtaina*.c2vfilefromtheDSLicenseServerGUI(LicensesMenu>Key
Status).ThisfilemustbesenttoAsigraClientServices.
AsigraClientServiceswillsendbacka*.v2cfile,whichisthenewlicenseupdateandcan
beappliedfromtheDSLicenseServerGUI(LicensesMenu>LicenseUpdate).The
licensewillbeupdatedimmediatelywithouttheneedtorestarttheDSLicenseServer.

Upgrading a DS-License Servers license (for RLM environments)


CustomersmustcontactAsigrasClientServicesdepartment.Thenewlicense
parametersareautomaticallyreceivedbytheDSLicenseServerRLMwhenthelicense
changeisauthorizedandDSLicenseServerRLMestablishesaconnectiontotheAsigra
LicensingServer.

Asigra DS-Software Licensing 204


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Statistical Backup

About Statistical Backup


Statisticalbackuphelpscustomersestimatetheamountofstoragespacetheywillusein
DSSystemOnlineStorage.Statisticalbackupsetsarecreatedandrunjustlikenormal
backups,butinformationisnotsavedorsenttoDSSystem.Theyallowaccurate
informationtobegainedabouttheamountofdatathatneedstobestored.

How to Use Statistical Backup


Statisticalbackupsetsshouldbeconfiguredandscheduled,throughDSUser,foralldata
thecustomerexpectstostoreonDSSystemOnlineStorage.Customerscanchooseto
calculatethesizeoftheirsourcefilesand/ortocalculatetheamountofdatatobe
transferred(afterdeltaprocessing,compressionandencryptionfunctions).Since
statisticalbackupsdonoteliminatecommonfiles,thestoragelevelstheycalculateare
largerthanwhatwillactuallybeneeded(oncecommonfileeliminationisbeingused).
Becauseoftheeffectofdeltaprocessingonstoredandtransmittedsize,itisbesttorun
statisticalbackupsonaschedulethatrunsforatleasttwoweeks.Customersneedto
understandthattheycannotrestorefromthesestatisticalbackups,norcantheyconvert
themtoaregularbackupset.However,theClonefunctionallowsmostofthesettingsin
astatisticalbackupsettobecopiedforuseinaregularbackupset.
TheDailyAdminprocessupdatesstatisticalinformation.Statisticalinformationcanalso
beupdatedondemand.TheresultsofstatisticalbackupareshownintheDSUser
StatisticalSummaryreport.

Statistical Backup 205


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Analyzing the Results of Statistical Backup
TheStatisticalSummaryshowsseveralrecordsoftheamountofdatatransmitted(onefor
theinitialbackup,theothersforsubsequentbackupsofjustchangeddata).
Initial Backup Incremental

Initial Backup Size G1 G2 Gn-1

Required Storage

Thisinformationmayneedtobefurthermanipulatedtoestablishanaccurateestimate.
Incrementalstorageamountswillvarydependingonhowmanyonlinegenerationsthe
customerwantstoretain.
TheStatisticalSummaryisalsousefulforplanningtheoptimumscheduleforbackups,
sinceitcanshowhowmuchdataneedstobeprocessedandtransmittedatanygiven
time.Itmayalsohelpdeterminetheoptimumnumberofgenerations,sinceitwillreflect
thedegreeofchangeinanygivenbackupset.

Statistical Backup 206


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Mass Deployment

About DS-Client Mass Deployment


TheDSNOCAPI,automaticinstallationsandconfigurationsformtheAsigraCloud
BackupMassDeployment.TheMassDeploymentfeatureenablesEnterprise/Service
Providerstocreateabignumberofaccounts/DSClients,deploytheAsigraCloud
BackupDSClientsoftwareinsilentmodeandconfigurethesoftwareautomaticallyto
ensureminimumtimeconsumptionforcustomerswithsimilarinformation(DSClient
configuration,schedules,backupsets,andretentionrules).

How DS-Client Mass Deployment Works


DS-NOC API
TheDSNOCAPIisusedtoconnecttoDSNOCandperformlimitedsystem
managementtasksontheDSSystemsregisteredwiththatDSNOC.Customerscan
integratetheDSNOCintoanexistingwebsiteorapplication.Thisallowscustomersto
developacustominterfacetomanagetheDSSystemsregisteredwiththeDSNOCor
allowsthemtoexecuteabignumberofrepetitiveoperationsusingascript.TheAPIis
designedasaWebServiceontheDSNOCside.Anydevelopmenttoolthatsupports
WebServicescanbeusedtoconnectandusetheDSNOCAPI(seetheDSNOCAPI
DocumentationfolderontheinstallationDVDformoredetails).TheDSNOCAPIis
basedontheSOAPprotocol.SeeMassDeploymentUserGuideformoredetails.
Installation Templates
Inmassdeploymentscenarios,usersmaywanttoautomatetheDSClient/DSUser
installation.AsigraCloudBackupoffersthisflexibilitythroughtheXMLinstallation
configurationfilethatcanbegeneratedandedited.Theconfigurationfilecanhideany
screensoftheinstallation,andsetapredefinedvalueforanyparametersthatrequire
inputduringtheinstallation.SeeMassDeploymentUserGuideformoredetails.
DS-Client Generic Configuration
ADSClientconfigurationtemplatecanbecreated,usingastandardXMLfile,by
specifyingtheconfigurationparameters(seeConfigurationParametersforMass
Deploymentonpage208).TheDTDforthisfile,andsomeexamples,areavailablefrom
AsigraInc.intheMassDeploymentUserGuide.TheconfigurationfileisreadbyDS

DS-Client Mass Deployment 207


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ClientwheneverDSClientstartsuporevery10secondswhiletheserviceisrunningif
DSClientisconfiguredwithAllowAutoConfigenabled.Ifthefilewasalreadyapplied
andhasnotchanged,theDSClientwillnotapplyitagain.
SincetheconfigurationtemplateisastandardXMLformatfile,itcaneasilybecreatedby
thirdpartysoftware.TheconfigurationtemplatecanbeexportedfromtheDSUser,
basedonthecurrentconfigurationfromaninstalledDSClient.Existingcentralized
managementsoftwarecanusethismechanismtopushanyconfigurationupdates,which
arethenappliedtoDSClients.

Installation Templates
Overview
Parametersincludedintheinstallationtemplatearerelatedtotheparametersrequiredby
theDSClientinstallation(WindowsDSClientsonly).Theinstallationtemplatescanbe
obtainedeitherbycreatingthemmanuallywithanXMLeditorbasedontheprovided
DTDfile,orbyrunningtheinstallationfromthecommandlinewithadditional
parameters.
Dependingonthemethodusedtotriggertheinstallation,theDSClientinstallationis
abletouseastandardXMLfile.BasedontheparametersspecifiedintheXMLfile,
differentinstallationstepscanbeshownorhidden.IftheXMLconfigurationfilespecifies
thatallscreensarehidden,asuccessfulinstallationwillcompletewithoutanyuser
interaction.Ifanyerrorsareencounteredduringinstallationanduserinterventionis
required,thenthecorrespondinginstallationscreenisdisplayedtogetherwiththeerror
message.

Note:SeetheMassDeploymentUserGuidefordetailsaboutsupported
installationparametersondifferentDSClients.

Withinstallationtemplates,itispossibletosetupdefaultsfortheparametersrequired
duringtheinstallationortocompletelyhidetheinstallationscreens.LinuxandMacDS
Clientinstallationscanberunwithcommandlineparameters(installationtemplatesare
notsupportedorrequired).

Configuration Parameters for Mass Deployment

Overview
ParametersincludedintheconfigurationtemplatearerelatedtoDSClientgeneric
configuration,scheduleconfiguration,WindowsDSClientsupportedbackupsettypes,
LinuxDSClientsupportedbackupsettypes,aswellasretentionrules.

Note:SeetheMassDeploymentUserGuidefordetailsaboutsupported
featuresondifferentDSClients.

DS-Client Mass Deployment 208


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Client Generic Configuration
DSSystemconnectionparameters:customeraccountname,accountnumber,DS
Clientnumber,encryptedorunencryptedencryptionkey(s),IPaddresses
userandgrouproles
SNMPsettings
genericDSClientconfiguration:DSClientbuffer,LocalStoragebuffer,default
parameters,scheduleretrysettings,adminparameters

Schedule Configuration
creatingandupdatingschedules
allschedulingoptions,includingname,scheduledetails,scheduletasks.

Retention Rule Configuration


creatingandupdatingretentionrules
configureandupdateallretentionruleoptions

Windows DS-Client Supported Backup Set Types


FileSystembackupsetsforWindows
NASbackupsets
MicrosoftSQLServerBackupSets
MicrosoftExchangeServerBackupSets
EMailBackupSets
SystemiBackupSets
MSSharePointBackupSets
MySQLBackupSets
VSSawareBackupSets
GoogleAppsBackupSets
SalesforceBackupSets
MicrosoftOffice365BackupSets

Linux DS-Client Supported Backup Set Types


FileSystembackupsets
NASbackupsets
PostgreSQLbackupsets
MySQLbackupsets
Oraclebackupsets
DB2backupsets
Systemibackupsets
VMwareBackupSets
XenServerBackupSets
SybaseBackupSets

DS-Client Mass Deployment 209


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Mobile Client Supported Backup Set Types
FileSystembackupsetsforWindows

DS-Notebook Client Supported Backup Set Types


LocalFileSystembackupsetsfortheMacOS

DS-Client Mass Deployment 210


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Service Packs

About Service Packs


AftertheofficialreleaseofanAsigraCloudBackupversion,fixesornewfunctionality
/supporttospecificcomponentsofaproductcanbedeliveredwithServicePacks,rather
thanthroughadditionalreleases.AServicePackisasimplifiedupgradeinstallationthat:
belongstoaspecificreleaseversionoftheproductanddoesnotchangetheproduct
versionnumber
includesonlythosecomponentsthathavechangedsincetheofficialrelease(issuedfor
thewholeproductbutappliesonlytotheindividualproductsthatneedupgrades)
cannotbeusedtoinstallaproductbutonlytooperateonaninstalledproduct.
Forexample,theofficialrelease6.0containedallcomponentsofAsigraCloudBackup,
allatversion6.0.Subsequenttothatofficialrelease,6.0ServicePack1wasreleased.This
containedonlythosespecificcomponentsthathadchangedand,onceinstalled,allother
componentsremainedatversion6.0.Additional6.0ServicePacksupgradedother
elementsofAsigraCloudBackup.EachServicePackincludesallthecumulative
changessincetheofficialrelease,sothelatestServicePackcanbeappliedevenifearlier
ServicePackswerenot.Infact,anolderServicePackcannotbeinstalledoveranewer
one.
InstallationcanberunafterServicePackshavebeenapplied(forexample,toreinstall
filesnotincludedintheServicePack,likemanuals.TheServicePackchangeswillremain
inplace,butinordertoupgradeanynewdatabasesupportintheServicePack,the
ServicePackshouldbereapplied.
ServicePackscanbeappliedonlytotheversionforwhichtheyaredesigned(for
example,6.2ServicePack1cannotbeusedwithversion6.0).

Service Pack Numbering


ThereleaseversionofanASIGRAproductismadeupoftwodigits,forexample,7.0.
Componentsoftheproducthaveafourdigitnumbermadeupoftheproductnumber,a
ServicePacknumber,andaHotFixnumber.TheHotFixnumberforanofficialreleaseis
0,whichmeansthatcomponentswillinitiallyhave,forexample,thenumber7.0.0.0.
EachServicePackhasanumber,whichisusedtoupdatethecomponentsupgradedby

Service Packs 211


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
thatservicepack.Forexample,afterversion7.0ServicePack2isapplied,some
componentswillbenumbered7.0.2.0,whileotherswillremainat7.0.0.0.
ComponentnumbersappearintheAboutInfodialogineachcomponent.Inaddition,
DSSystemdisplaystheproductversionandServicePackofDSClientsintheDSClient
InfodialogandintheDSClientsVersionReport.

Inter-compatibility
SinceaServicePackmayaffectonlysomecomponents,theversionnumberof
componentsdoesnotneedtomatchinorderforthosecomponentstobecompatible.
Compatibilityisdeterminedbasedontheminimumrequirementsofthecomponent.
Foreverypairofcomponentsthatinteract,eachcomponenthasaminimumrequirement
thattheothercomponentinthepairmustmeet.Whenaconnectionisestablished
betweenthesetwocomponents,theclientapplicationverifiesbothsetsofminimum
requirements:clientsminimumrequirementsforserverandserversminimum
requirementsforclient.Ifanyofthevalidationsfailsthenthecomponentsarenot
compatibleandtheyarenotabletocommunicate.

Deploying a Service Pack to DS-Clients


ServicePacksforFullFeaturedDSClient(Windows,LinuxandMAC),DSMobileClient,
DSNotebookClient,DSUserandDSRecoveryToolsinstallationsareincludedinthe
DS-System\UpgradedirectoryontheServicePackDVD,andareinstalledinthe\Upgrade
subdirectoryofDSSystemasadditionalpackagesavailableforautoupgrade.ADS
ClientwiththesameproductversionnumberastheDSSystem(forexample,13.0)anda
lower(orno)ServicePackappliedwilldownloadandapplytheappropriateService
Pack.

Service Packs 212


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Hot Fixes

About Hot Fixes


AftertheofficialreleaseofanAsigraCloudBackupversionorServicePack,fixesto
specificcomponentsofaproductcanbedeliveredwithHotFixes,ratherthanthrough
additionalreleases.AHotFixisasimplifiedupgradeinstallationthat:
belongstoaspecificreleasedServicePackoftheproductanddoesnotchangethe
productversionnumber
includesonlythosecomponentsthathavechangedsincetheofficialrelease/Service
Pack(issuedforthewholeproductbutappliesonlytotheindividualproductsthat
needupgrades)
cannotbeusedtoinstallaproductbutonlytooperateonaninstalledproductwiththe
correspondingServicePackapplied*
Forexample,theofficialrelease7.0containedallcomponentsofAsigraCloudBackup,
allatversion7.0.HotFixesreleasedfor7.0oftheASIGRASoftwarewillonlybeapplied
tothosecomponentsthathavechanged.EachHotFixwillhaveanincrementalversion
number:7.0.0.1,7.0.0.2,etc.EachHotFixwillincludeallthecumulativechangessincethe
officialreleaseorServicePack(whicheverisnewer)andotherHotFixes,sothelatestHot
FixcanbeappliedevenifearlierHotFixeswerenot.
*ExceptforiOSDSClientandAndroidDSClient,whereaHotFixcanbeusedtoinstall
thesoftware.

Hot Fix Numbering


ThereleaseversionofanASIGRAproductismadeupoftwodigits,forexample,7.0.
Componentsoftheproducthaveafourdigitnumbermadeupoftheproductnumber,a
ServicePacknumber,andaHotFixnumber.TheHotFixnumberforanofficialreleaseis
0,meaningthatcomponentswillinitiallyhave,forexample,thenumber7.0.0.0.Each
HotFixhasanumber,whichisusedtoupdatethecomponentsupgradedbythatHotFix.
Forexample,after7.0HotFix1isapplied,somecomponentswillbenumbered7.0.0.1,
whileotherswillremainat7.0.0.0.
ComponentnumbersappearintheAboutInfodialogineachcomponent.Inaddition,
DSSystemdisplaystheproductversion,ServicePack,andHotFixofDSClientsinthe
DSClientInfodialogandintheDSClientsVersionReport.

Hot Fixes 213


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Inter-Compatibility
SinceaHotFixmayaffectonlysomecomponents,theversionnumberofcomponents
doesnotneedtomatchinorderforthosecomponentstobecompatible.Compatibilityis
determinedbasedontheminimumrequirementsofthecomponent.
Foreverypairofcomponentsthatinteract,eachcomponenthasaminimumrequirement
thattheothercomponentinthepairmustmeet.Whenaconnectionisestablished
betweenthesetwocomponents,theclientapplicationverifiesbothsetsofminimum
requirements:clientsminimumrequirementsforserverandserversminimum
requirementsforclient.Ifanyofthevalidationsfailsthenthecomponentsarenot
compatibleandtheyarenotabletocommunicatewithoneanother.

Deploying a Hot Fix to DS-Clients


HotFixesforFullFeaturedDSClient(Windows,LinuxandMAC),DSMobileClient,DS
NotebookClient,DSUserandDSRecoveryToolsinstallationsmustbemanually
included(placed)intheDS-System\Upgradedirectoryasadditionalpackagesavailablefor
autoupgrade.ADSClientwiththesameproductversionnumber(forexample,13.0)
andalower(orno)ServicePackappliedwilldownloadandapplytheappropriateHot
Fix.

Hot Fixes 214


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Asigra Software Modules

ThissectioncontainstopicsspecifictoAsigraSoftwaresmodules.

If you want ... Review...

toefficientlyaddresstheissueoffilecorruptionand AutonomicHealingModuleonpage
dataintegrityonDSSystem 217
tooffercustomerstheoptionoflocalbackups,for LocalStorageModuleonpage222
fasterrestores

tooffercustomerstheoptiontocontinuebackingup DSClientLocalStorageCacheonpage
locallyevenifconnectiontoDSSystemis 113
unavailable

tohelpcustomersidentifyandoptimizetheirdatato LANDiscoveryonpage225
bebackedup,eitherbeforeorafterimplementation

customerstobeabletobackup/restoreEMail DSRecoveryToolsModuleonpage228
messages,downtothelevelofasinglemessage,or
MicrosoftSharePointservers

aWebbasedinterfaceforEnterprise/Service DSNOCModuleonpage232
ProviderstoeasilymanageaccountsinDSSystem
andsetlevelsofaccessforusers
tohavecentralizedmonitoringofmultiple
DSSystems,DSClients,DSLicenseServers,DS
BillingServers,orBLMArchivers
toviewconfigurationandconfiguremultipleDS
Clients.

toallowcustomerstogetarchiveandrestoredataon Disc/TapeModuleonpage221
removablemedia

tohelpcustomersunderstandtheirdatastructure OnlineFileSummaryModuleonpage
andredundanciesforefficientbackup 231

215
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
If you want ... Review...

toofferanadditionalstorageoptiontocustomers BackupLifecycleManagement(BLM)
thatpermitsthestorageofaninfinitenumberof Topicsonpage236
generations

tousetheDSBillingModuleforinvoicing,etc. DSBillingonpage255

toofferscheduledcloningofVirtualMachinesin LocalDSVDRModuleonpage266
VMwareenvironmentsaswellasconverting
PhysicalmachinestoVMwareVirtualMachines

toofferscheduleddisasterrecoveryforVirtual RemoteDSVDRModuleonpage268
MachinesinVMwareenvironmentstoprovide
readytousebackupsofaVirtualMachineon
alternateVMwareinfrastructureincasefailoveris
requiredbyendcustomer

tobackupandrecoversalesforce.comdatabaseand SalesForce.comDSClientPlugInon
tables page270

tobackupandrecoverGoogleAppscalendars, GoogleAppsDSClientPlugInonpage
contacts,emails,sitesanddrive 271

totriggersnapshots,managesnapshots,delete SnapshotManagerModuleonpage274
snapshotsforNetAppviaDSClientGUIinterface

216
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Autonomic Healing Module

About the Autonomic Healing Module

Overview
Autonomichealingmeansthatacomputersystemrepairsitselfwithouthuman
intervention.TheAutonomicHealingmoduleaddressestheproblemsoffilecorruption
andincreasestheintegrityofDSSystem.ItcontinuallymonitorsDSSystemOnline
Storagefordatacorruption.Ifcorruptdataisfound,itcorrectsit,removesit,orreports
thatacorrectionisneeded.
TheAutonomicHealingmoduleneedstobelicensedandthenenabledforeachDS
Systemthatisgoingtouseit.

About File Corruptions


Inmediumorlargedataprocessing,filecorruptionsarealmostinevitable.Theymay
happenduetohardwarefailures,softwareapplications,filesystemproblems,
connectivityproblems,orinsufficientresources.Theymayalsoresultfromunpredicted
operations,methods,orbehaviors.

Detecting File Corruptions


Somecorruptedfilescanbedetectedbyprocesses,suchasSystemAdmin,thatcheckthe
headers/linksoffiles.However,suchprocessescheckonlyphysicalconsistency(validfile
headersandlinks).TheAutonomicHealingmodulegoesfurther,checkingthelogical
validityofdata(invalidnames,nameduplication,IDduplication,potential
reconstructionfailure,consistency,etc.).
AdminprocessesandAutonomicHealingcanbescheduled,orrunondemand.
However,AutonomicHealingcanbeconfiguredtorunallthetime,soanomaliescanbe
foundandfixedfaster(eithermanuallyorautomatically).
Finally,regularprocessesonlyidentifyproblems,theydonotresolvethem.Autonomic
Healingcanactuallysolveproblems,andmaintainsacompletelogofitsactivitiesso
thoseproblemsitcannotsolvecanbeinvestigatedfurther.

Autonomic Healing Module 217


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Running Autonomic Healing

How to Run Autonomic Healing


Ifitisconfigured,AutonomicHealingrunsallthetime,andstartswhenDSSystemdoes.
Itcanalsoberunmanuallyorscheduled.
AutonomicHealingcanbeconfigured,throughDSOperator,to:
suspendCDPbackupactivitiestoprocessbackupsets
processonlyselectedbackupsetsorallsets
processeachbackupsetonlyonce,ratherthanthroughrepeatedpasses(repeated
passesarethedefaultbehavior,andarerecommendedbyAsigraInc.)
haveprocessrunasfastaspossible,orlimittheI/O
runaspecificnumberofAutonomicHealingprocessessimultaneously(eachprocess
checksaseparatebackupset,sothemoreprocessesthatareconfigured,themore
backupsetscanbecheckedsimultaneously)
eliminateduplicateblocksofdatabetweendifferentgenerationsofthesamefileand
changemastergenerationstodeltagenerationswhenpossibleusingtheFile
Optimizationprocessthatisbeingrunautomatically.
forceDisasterRecoverymodeScanduringAutonomicHealingprocessforeach
backupset
AutonomicHealing(orSystemAdmin)cleansupanyrecycledfiles.

Note:SinceAutonomicHealingtypicallyrunsallthetime,ifchangesare
madetotheconfiguration,themodulewillneedtostopandstart
again.

IfAutonomicHealingrunsallthetime,itconcentratesonhighprioritybackupsets(see
AssigningBackupSetPrioritiesForAutonomicHealingonpage219).However,itwill
notprocessthesamebackupsettwicewithinasinglehour.Itwritesinformationtoa
monitoravailablethroughDSOperator,aswellastotheEventLog.
ThemodulefeaturesaspeedthrottlethatwillenableittoslowdownwhenDSSystem
isexperiencingahighloadofactivities.

Note:ThetotalspeedoftheAutonomicHealingmoduleislimitedbydisk
I/O.AslongasthediskI/Oisverybusy,addingmoreAutonomic
Healingprocessesdoesnothelp,withorwithoutthespeedthrottle.

Scheduling Autonomic Healing


Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanscheduletheAutonomicHealingtorunDaily,Weekly,
Monthly,ortostarteverytimetheDSSystemstarts.

Autonomic Healing Module 218


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
When Problems Are Found
WhenAutonomicHealingencountersacorruptedorotherwiseproblematicfile,itwrites
arecordintheEventLogandtriestofixtheproblem.IfanymodificationstoDSSystem
OnlineStorageweremade,itfirsttriestodetermineifthesefilescanberetrievedfroma
ReplicationDSSystem(ifconfigured)andifitcannot,thenitasksDSClienttoperform
resynchronizationoftheaffectedbackupset.
Iftheproblemcanbefixed(seeWhatAutonomicHealingCanFixonpage219),itwill
befixedandnoted.Ifitcannotbefixed(forexample,inthecaseofanomaliescausedby
thirdparties)AutonomicHealingrecordswillbemade,indicatingapossiblefixifoneis
available.

Assigning Backup Set Priorities For Autonomic Healing


Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanassignlow,medium,orhighprioritytobackupsets.
Themoduleitselfraisesthepriorityofabackupsetwhenproblemsarefoundwiththat
backupset,andlowersthepriorityofabackupsetthathasencounterednoproblems.

What Autonomic Healing Can Check


AutonomicHealingverifiesthefollowingtoidentifydatacorruption,damage,or
inconsistency:
onlinefileheaders:headerID,version,compressionandencryptiontypes,invalid
librarylinks,invalidfilenames,headersize
directorymetadatainDSSystemOnlineStorage:headerID,version,invalidnames,
headersize
librarylinksforcommonfiles
deltagenerationconsistency:filenamingconsistenciesacrossonlinegenerations,
sessionconsistenciesacrossgenerations
fileanddirectoryconsistenciesinDSSystemOnlineStorage:nameandID,directory
location
dataintegrityandrestorability(checksforlogicalcorruptionandlogicalconsistency)

What Autonomic Healing Can Fix


AutonomicHealingcanfixthefollowingproblems:
completelycorruptedfiles:deletesfilesaffectedandthosethatdependonthem(delta
generation)sothatnextbackupwillsendanewmastergeneration
inconsistentfileordirectoryIDs
inconsistentdirectorylocation
inconsistentfilenamewithindirectories
inconsistentfilenameacrossonlinegenerations
deltagenerationlinking/reconstructioninconsistencies
inconsistentlibrarylink
inconsistentbackupsessions(twogenerationsofthesamefileinthesamesession)

Autonomic Healing Module 219


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Autonomic Healing Manager
TheAutonomicHealingManagershowsallcustomers/DSClientsandtheirbackupsets,
andthestatusoftheAutonomicHealingprocess,foreachbackupset.Itshows:
overviewofthehealingstatusofallbackupsets
healingprogressandstatistics(checked/total:files,physicalsize,logicalsize,etc.)
problemsfoundandfixedsofar
whenAutonomicHealingstartedandcompletedorwasinterrupted,foreverybackup
set
check/setpriorityonbackupsetlevel
EventLogdetailsforeachbackupset.
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanalsoviewhistoricalinformation:
overviewofhistoricalhealingstatusofallbackupsets
historystatistics
problemsfoundandfixedineachhistoricalhealingperiod
historicalrecordsforeveryhealingperiodofeachbackupset,indicatingwhen
AutonomicHealingstartedandcompletedorwasinterrupted,
Thishistorycanbeclearedifnecessary,asDSSystemlogsarecleared.

Autonomic Healing Module 220


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Disc/Tape Module

Setting up Disc/Tape Module


TheDisc/TapemoduleneedstobelicensedandthenenabledforeachDSSystemthatis
goingtoofferitandforeachDSClientthatisgoingtouseit.
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersuseDSOperatortospecifythelocationofabufferto
temporarilyholdthefilescustomersrequesttobestoredonremovablemedia.They
configureDSSystemwiththeavailablemedia(CD,DVD,tape,ordisk).SincetheDisc/
Tapemodulecanautomaticallysplitdatatofitonmultiplemedia(ifneeded),thesizeof
eachmediatypeisalsoconfigurable.Forthediskmediatherearetwopossibilities:
limitedsizeandunlimitedsize.Whenunlimitedsizeisselected,theDisc/Taperequestis
generatedmultithreaded.

Use Disc/Tape requests as Disaster Restore


BecausethenewDisc/Taperequestscanbegeneratedmultithreaded,theycanbeusedas
aDisasterRestoreprocedureforcustomerswhoneedafastrestoreofabigamountof
data.ThedatathatneedstoberestoredcanbewrittentotheDisc/Tapebuffer(whichcan
bearemovabledisk)andcanbesenttothecustomerslocation.OnlyDSClientswith
correctencryptionkeyscanrestorethedata.

Handling Customer Requests for Disc/Tape


AcustomerusesDSUsertorequestadisc/tapeforaspecificmedia,andselectsthefiles
tobeputonthatmedia.DSSystemmirrorsallofthesefilestothebufferdirectory.
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersthencopythebuffertodisc,tape,CD,orDVDforshipment
tothecustomer.

Note:AslongasaDisc/Taperequestisnotfullycompleted,thebackupset
willbelockedforotheractivities.

Disc/Tape Module 221


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Local Storage Module

About Local Storage


TheLocalStoragemodulecanhelpaddresscustomerdisasterrestorerequirementsby
savingcopiesofthebackupfilesatalocalstoragelocation.Ifarestoreisneeded,thefile
canbequicklyrestoredfromthelocalenvironment,atLANspeed,withoutconnecting
throughIPWANtoDSSystem.
Localstoragecanbeconfiguredforspecificbackupsets,typicallyonescontainingcritical
data.

Note:Localstoragedoesnotapplyduringtheinitialbackupprocess.Any
backupsetsconfiguredforlocalstoragewillignorethesettinguntil
theinitialbackupistransferredtotheDSSystemOnlineStorage.

TheLocalStoragemoduleisavailableforthefollowingtypesofDSClients:FullFeatured
DSClient(Windows,LinuxandMAC)andDSMobileClient.Whenafileinabackupset
identifiedforlocalstorageiscreatedormodified,itissentbythebackupprocesstoboth
DSSystemandthelocalstorage.IfafilewaspreviouslybackeduponDSSystem,but
thereisnocopyofthefileonthelocalstorage(e.g.itwasbackedupbeforethebackupset
wasmarkedforlocalstorage),thebackupprocesssendsitonlytolocalstorage.Iffor
somereasonthefilecannotbesavedlocally,itisstillsenttotheDSSystemandanerror
islogged.

Setting up Local Storage Module


TheLocalStoragemoduleneedstobelicensedandthenenabledforeachDSClientthat
isgoingtouseit.Oncethisisdone,DSUserisusedtoconfiguretheLocalStoragepath.
TheDSClientserviceaccount(anadministrativeaccountprovidedatinstallation)used
toregistertheserviceshouldhavesufficientprivilegestowritetothelocalstorage.
Customersareresponsibleforensuringthatthelocalstorageissecureandaccessibleby
DSClient.

Local Storage Module 222


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
How Data is Stored on Local Storage
Datastoredonlocalstorageiscompressed,(optionally)encrypted,andstoredasregular
generations,withouteliminationofcommonfilesordeltaprocessingforthedatathatis
senttotheDSSystem.Anybackupsetsmarkedforlocalstoragearealsostoredinthe
DSSystemOnlineStorageinthenormalencrypted,compressedway,withmaster/delta
onlinegenerationsandcommonfileelimination.
Ifthelocalstoragediskfails,backupsetsshouldbesynchronizedwithlocalstorage(see
SynchronizationandLocalStorageonpage224).Thenextbackupwillthendoafull
backupoffilesonthelocalstorage.
Datastoredinlocalstorageremainsthereevenifthebackupsetusedtobackitupisno
longermarkedtobackuptolocalstorage,oreveniftheLocalStoragemoduleis
disabled.

Storing Multiple Generations on the Local Storage Buffer


DSClientcanbeconfiguredtokeepmorethan1generationontheLocalStorageforthe
databeingbackedupbythebackupset.Thisbackupsetmustbeconfiguredwitha
retentionrulethathastheLocalStorageRetentionoptionenabled(SeeAboutRetention
onpage55).TheDSClientwillsave(upto)thesamenumberofgenerationsonthelocal
storageasareprotectedonDSSystemOnlineStorageuntiltheRetentionRuleis
enforced.

Note:Master/deltaprocessingandcommonfileeliminationarenot
performedforthelocalstorage.Whenafilechangesandmultiple
generationsarestoredonthelocalstorage,thosegenerationsarefull
backupsofthechangedfiles.

Note:TheRetentionRulesforlocalstoragecanbedifferentthantheonesfor
onlinestorage,butcustomersshouldnotexpecttosavemore
generationsinlocalstoragethanonline.

Note:ForVSSawarebackups,dataintegrationrulesareappliedtoonline
storage,notlocalstorageincaselocalstoragesaveslessgenerations
thanonlinestorage.

How Data is Restored from Local Storage


Requestsforrestoreddataretrievethatdatafromlocalstorage.Iftherequestedfilesare
notavailableonlocalstorage,aconnectiontotheDSSystemwillbeneededsoasto
restorethosefilesfromDSSystemOnlineStorage.Specificissuesariseifcommunication
failsduringrestore:seeDuringRestorefromLocalStorageonpage159.

Local Storage Module 223


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Monitoring Local Storage Disk Space
Usingthismodulecanrequiresignificantavailablecapacity,dependingonthevolumeof
databeingstored.DSClientwillwriteeventstotheEventLogiflocaldiscspaceis
gettinglow,butlocalstorageerrorsdonotcauseDSClienttostop.

Data Deletion and Local Storage


DatadeletedfromDSSystem(inresponsetoaDSClientrequest)isalsodeletedfrom
localstorage.
Datadeletedfromsourcecomputersandidentifiedbyabackupprocessisdeletedfrom
localstoragebythebackupprocess,butremainsonDSSystem.
Forselfcontainedbackupsets,dataremainsinlocalstorageeveniffilesareremoved
fromsourcecomputersandidentifiedbythebackupprocess.

Synchronization and Local Storage


Customerscanchoosewhetherornottosynchronizethelocalstoragecontentswiththe
DSClientdatabaseandwithDSSystemOnlineStorage.Thissynchronizationensures
thatfilesfromlocalstoragearereflectedintherecordsoftheDSClientdatabase,andare
alsostoredintheDSSystemOnlineStorage.
Synchronizationisusefulinthefollowingsituations:
followingalocalstoragehardwarefailure
whendataisbelievedtobeinconsistent
whendatamayhavebeendeleted,inwholeorinpart,fromlocalstorage
whenbackupshavebeendoneforatimewiththelocalstorageoption,thenwithoutit,
thenwithitagain
Synchronizationdoesthefollowing:
deletesanyfilesinlocalstoragethatarenotinDSSystemOnlineStorage
marksanyfilesthatareinDSSystemOnlineStoragebutnotinlocalstorage(and
whichshouldbeinlocalstorage)intheDSClientdatabase:suchfilesareplacedin
localstorageatthenextbackup,iftheyarestillonthesourcecomputers.

Local Storage Module 224


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
LAN Discovery

About LAN Discovery


TheLANDiscoverytoolisusefulbothbeforeandafteracustomerbeginsusingAsigra
CloudBackup.
BeforethecustomerimplementsAsigraCloudBackup,thetoolcanbeusedtoanalyze
acustomersentireconcentrationofdataontheLAN.Thetoolgeneratesreportsthathelp
identifypossiblestorageinefficiencies,suchasstaleorredundantdata.Theresultshelp
bothEnterprise/ServiceProvidersandcustomersestimatethesizeofthecustomers
backupsolution.
OnceacustomerisusingAsigraCloudBackup,thetoolcanhelpthecustomerimprove
theirdatastoragedesign.OptimizingacustomersLANmakestheirbackupprocedures
bothmoreefficientandmorecosteffective.
TheLANDiscoverytoolprovidesusefulinformationbyidentifyingredundancies
(duplicatefiles),determiningthenumberoffilesthatchangeovertime,andcalculating
theamountofdatagrowth.LANDiscoveryreportspresentthisinformationinaclear
andusablemanner.
LANDiscoveryconfigurationandscanresultsarestoredinthedslanfiles database.

Note:LANDiscoveryfocusesonareasofdatagrowthandwaystohelp
customersoptimizedata.Toexamineandoptimizebackupneeds,use
statisticalbackup.

How LAN Discovery Helps Customers


UsingtheLANDiscoverytoolhelpscustomers:
increaseserveravailabilityandperformance
isolatestorageissuesbeforeconductingacostlybackup
reducebackupwindowtime
optimizenetworkdiskspace
determinewhichfilestobackup.

LAN Discovery 225


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
LAN Discovery Reports
ReportsfromtheLANDiscoverytoolcanbeviewedthroughDSUserorthroughtheDS
NOC(ifreportsareuploadedthere).Formanyreports,thenumberofresults(n)toreturn
needstobespecified.

Report Description

Access Liststopnlargestfileswhoseaccesstimeiswithinthespecified
interval,foreachshare.Intervalsareunder1day,under1week,
under1month,under1year,andover1year.Showspiechart
andtable.Tableshowsaccesstime(days,weeks,monthsor
years),numberoffiles,andsizeinMB.

AllDuplicate Listsallfilesthatareduplicatesofaspecifiedfile.

ExchangeServerSize Listsall.edband.pstfiles.

Extensions(DSOperator) ListsextensionsinuseontheLANoraspecificshareoftheLAN.
/FileTypeDistribution Includesapiechartaswellasatable.Tableshowsextension
(DSNOC) name,numberoffileswiththatextension,andtheirsizeinMB.
Canchoosewhichextensionstoincludeandthecolorofthepie
chart.

Growth Sortsfilesbygrowth(negativeandpositive)overtime.Can
choosereportperiod,intervalindays,whethertoshowallshares
orjustspecificshare,andwhethertoshowtotalornewfilesonly.

IndexofGeneratedFiles ForDSNOConly,providesahyperlinkedlistofallgenerated
reports.

LargeFiles Liststopnfiles,pluspercentagesizecomparedtoentireLAN.
Canreportononlyasinglescan.Reportshowsthesharename,
directory,nameandsizeoffile,numberoffilesduplicates,and
filesmodificationandcreationtime.

LargestDuplicates Liststopnlargestduplicatefiles,aswellastotalnumberof
duplicatefilesandpercentagethisnumberrepresents,aswellas
totalsizeofthesefilescomparedtotheentireLAN.

Ownership Liststotalstorageforeachownerofeachshare,aswellasthe
overalltotal.

ShareUsage Liststotalfilesandsizeforshares(allorspecificone).Shows
shareowner,size,numberoffiles,andsharename.

SQLServerSize Foreachcomputer,listshowmuchtotal,free,andusedspaceis
takenupbySQLServer.

ReportscanshowdatafortheentireLAN,orfromaspecificLANsharethatwas
scanned.Theycanbeoutputintext,Excel,orHTMLformat.Piechartsarealsoavailable.

LAN Discovery 226


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Setting up LAN Discovery
InDSUser,customersspecifywhattoscan(workgroups,domains,computers,or
networkssuchasMicrosoftWindowsNetwork,NetWare,orHummingbirdNFS)and
supplyalistofcredentialstouseforconnectiontotheseitems.Theyalso,onceshares
havebeendiscovered,decidewhattoscan.Thescanisstartedondemandorscheduled,
and,whencomplete,producesaLANFileSummary(seeLANFileSummaryonpage
227)andreports(seeLANDiscoveryReportsonpage226).Thescancanbeconfigured
toindicatethemaximumnumberofthreadstobeused,toaddressperformanceissues.

Note:Repeatedscansprovidemoreaccurateinformationthanasinglescan.

LAN File Summary


Whenthescaniscomplete,theLANFileSummaryshowsanoverviewofscannedfiles
ontheLAN.Moredetailsareavailablewhentheuserdrillsdown.Thedisplayincludes
filterstoallowanalysisofspecificgroupoffiles.
TheLANFileSummarycanshow,foraspecifiedtimeperiod(defaultis30days),
numbersandsizesof:
allfiles
duplicatefiles
duplicategroups
changedandnewfiles
unchangedfiles
unaccessedfiles
Filterscanbeusedtoshow:
fileschanged/unchanged,new,notaccessedoverlastndays
byextension
onlyfileswithduplicates
onlyfilesforaspecificshare

LAN Discovery 227


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Recovery Tools Module

About DS-Recovery Tools Module


TheDSRecoveryToolsModulecontainstwoservices:
DSMLR(MessageLevelRestore)serviceisforEMails
DSRecoveryToolsserviceisforMicrosoftSharePointServers

About DS-MLR (Message Level Restore)


TheDSMLRserviceenablescustomerstobackupandrestoreEMails,downtothelevel
ofasinglemessage.ItshouldbeinstalledoneachEMailserverthecustomerwouldlike
tobackup.

Note:DSClientalsoincludesbackupsetsthatcanbackupsomeEMail
serversthemselves(likeMicrosoftExchangeServer).

Best Practice: For Microsoft Exchange, it is recommended to do both a Microsoft


Exchange Server backup and, for selected users, use DS-MLR to back up E-Mails.
DSMLRsupportsExchange,Outlook,Lotus,andGroupWise.Itallowscustomersto
backupandrestore:
EMails(handledasindividualmessages,notnecessarilywholemailboxes)
publicandprivatefolders
attachments
ItincludesapowerfulfiltertoselectivelybackupandrestoreEMailelements.Only
authorizedusersareallowedtorestoremessages.
AswithanyotherAsigraCloudBackupbackup,EMailsareencryptedandstoredin
DSSystemOnlineStorage.
TheDSMLRmoduleneedstobelicensedandthenenabledforeachDSClientthatis
goingtouseit.

DS-Recovery Tools Module 228


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
What DS-MLR Does
DSMLRsearchesfornewEMailsbasedonauserdefinedfilter.IttransformstheEMail
intoadatastreamandpassesthisstreamtoDSClientinordertobackituptoDS
System.EMailsaresavedasindividualobjects.
Whenarestoreisrequested,DSMLRrestorestheEMailstransmittedfromDSClient
intothetargetfolder(eithertheoriginalfolderoradifferentone).

Note:PermissionsneedtobetakenintoaccounttoensurethatDSMLRis
eithergranted,orcangrantitself,appropriatepermissionstoaccess
theitemstobebackedup.Forexample,MSExchangeprofilesareon
theExchangeserver,soDSMLRneedstheReceiveAsprivilegefor
thatserver.

What DS-MLR Backs Up

MS Exchange/ IndividualEMailsfrommailboxesandpublicfolderscanbebackedup
Outlook andrestored.BackupincludesEMails,notes,tasks,appointments,
contactsandactivitiesfromtheusermailboxes,anddocumentsfromthe
publicfolders.

Lotus Domino/ IndividualEMailsfrommailboxes,calendarsandtodolistscanbe


Notes backedupforLotusDominoServers.ForLotusNotesClients,
individualEMails,calendars,todolistsandjournals/contactscanbe
backedup.Otheritems,suchasaddressbooks,canbebackedupusing
theLotusDominoDatabaselevelbackuporbyusingafilesystem
backupset.

GroupWise IndividualEMailsfrommailboxescanbebackedupandrestored.
BackupincludesEMails,notes,tasks,appointments,notifications,and
phonemessagesfromusermailboxes.

About DS-Recovery Tools Service


TheDSRecoveryToolsserviceenablescustomerstobackupandrestoreMicrosoft
SharePointServersorMicrosoftSharePointFarms.Itshouldbeinstalledoneachserver
thecustomerwouldliketobackup.

What DS-Recovery Tools Service Does


DSRecoveryToolsservicesearchestheMicrosoftSharePointserverorMicrosoft
SharePointServerFarms.Ittransformsthebackupitemsintoadatastreamandpasses
thisstreamtoDSClientinordertobackituptoDSSystem.Eachitemthatisaddedtoa
backupsetwillbestoredindividuallyonDSSystemOnlineStorage.Eachindividual
backedupitemcanberestored(independently)intoaMSSharePointServer.

DS-Recovery Tools Module 229


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Upgrading DS-Recovery Tools: DS-MLR / MS SharePoint Agent
DSRecoveryToolsandDSMLRserviceupgradescanberunmanuallyorwithauto
upgradeprocess.Formanualupgrades,runtheDSRecoveryToolsinstallationdirectly
onthemachinewheretheserviceisinstalled.
Forautoupgrade,theDSRecoveryToolsautoupgradepackagesmustbeintheDS
ClientsUpgradeLibrary.ThesepackagesarenormallydownloadedbyDSClientsif
theyareavailablefromtheDSSystem(initsUpgradefolder).

DS-Recovery Tools Module 230


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Online File Summary Module

About the Online File Summary Module


CustomersneedtomaintainanintimateunderstandingofthedatacontainedonDS
SystemOnlineStorage.Usingasophisticatedsystemofcustomgeneratedreporting,the
OnlineFileSummarymodulecosteffectivelyandaccuratelycrossreferencesand
analyzesdataalreadyresidentontheDSSystem.Thisimprovesthemanagementof
backupsets.Ithelpsidentifyfileduplication,newfiles,andfilechanges,andallows
optimizationofbackupsetstoremoveredundant(duplicate)data.

Inaddition,theOnlineFileSummarymodulemaybeusedtoretrieveinformationabout
commonfiles(allorjustasinglefile),backupsetsizes,anddatamodificationtimesfrom
DSSystem.
TheOnlineFileSummarymoduleisenabledbydefaultforeligibleDSClient
installations.

How the Online File Summary Module Works


ThismoduleisapplicableonlyforDSClientswithMSSQLdatabases.
EachbackupsetisscannedandalistofthefilesonDSSystemOnlineStorageis
produced.ThroughDSUser,customerscanviewsummaryordetailedinformationfor
eachbackupset.

Online File Summary Module 231


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-NOC Module

About DS-NOC
TheAsigraCloudBackupDSNOC(NetworkOperationControl)isaJ2EE(Java)
applicationthatallowsaccesstooneormoreDSSystems,DSClients,BackupLifecycle
Management(BLM)Archivers,DSLicenseServersandDSBillingSystemsthrougha
webbasedinterface.DSClientscanconnecttoDSNOCandsendreportingand
configurationinformationtoDSNOC.DSNOCisdesignedforthreetypesofusers:
ServiceProviders,SalesGroups(andtheirSalesRepresentatives),andEndUsers(ofthe
CloudBackupservice).
DSNOCcanbeinstalledonanyplatformthatsupportsPostgreSQL,JavaJRE,and
ApacheTomcat,allthreeofwhichareneededtorunDSNOC(seetheInstallationand
Backup/RestoreSupportMatrixandtherelevantDSNOCInstallationGuidesectionsfor
moredetails).

DS-NOC Module 232


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
TheDSNOCcanbeusedto:
checkthestatusofDSSystem
checkthestatusofDSLicenseServers
checkthestatusofDSClients
checkthestatusofDSBillingServers
checkthestatusofBLM
remotelymonitorDSSystemactivitiesthroughtheDSSystemActivityLog,Event
LogandAuditTrail(theselogscanalsobesavedasPDForCSVfiles)
remotelymonitorBLMactivitiesthroughtheBLMArchiverActivityLog,BLM
ArchiverEventLogandBLMArchiverDataDestructionLog(theselogscanalsobe
savedasPDForCSVfiles)
remotelyaccessmostDSSystemreports,suchasbackupsetreport,andsoon(these
reportscanalsobesavedasPDForCSVfiles)
remotelyaccessmostBLMArchiverreportssuchasBLMArchiverStorageUsage,
BLMArchiverBackupSets,andBLMArchiverDestructionCertificates(thesereports
canalsobesavedasPDForCSVfiles)
remotelymonitorDSBillingactivitiesandviewDSBillingReports

DS-NOC Module 233


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
dynamicallyconfigurelimitedaccessrightstodifferentuseraccounts
withoutusingDSOperator,createnewcustomeraccountsandevaluation/chargeable
DSClients,associatingthemwithsalesreps(internal,VARorreferral)andbilling
scales
withoutusingtheBLMGUI,requestRestorableimages,downloadthem,request
destructions,andviewdestructioncertificates.
uploadAsigraInc.softwareordocumentation,oranyothersoftwarethatthe
Enterprise/ServiceProviderchooses
provideabrandedinterfacefordifferentsalesrepsandprovideasourcefor
downloadingmultiplebrandedAsigraInc.software
changethelookandfeeloftheAsigraCloudBackupDSNOCbasedoncustomCSS
andbetterDSNOCmanagementoptions
uploadLANDiscoverysharereport
browsebackupsets
sendEMailnotificationsrelatedtoDSNOCactivitiesonDSSystemandEMail
reportsorlogsasattachments
defineServiceLevelsandcreateDSClientsontheDSSystembasedontheService
Levelconfiguration
downloadcorrespondinginstallationtemplatesforDSClientWindows
createandviewcustomreports
monitorBLMArchiversandsendEMailnotifications
monitorDSClientsandsendEMailnotifications
checkDSClientconfiguration,backupsetsconfiguration,retentionruleconfiguration
andscheduleconfigurationonDSClients(supportedforFullFeaturedDSClientson
Windows,LinuxandMac,DSMobileClientsandDSNotebookClients)
updateDSClientconfiguration,backupsetsconfiguration(forsupportedbackupsets
only),retentionruleconfigurationandscheduleconfiguration
accessStatisticalSummaryreportsfromDSClients
createandmaintainDSClientEventFilters
viewalivemonitoringDashboard.

Customer Account Setup/Web Registration Options


ForanyDSSystemregisteredwithDSNOC,Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanspecifyif
userswillbeabletocreatecustomeraccountsorDSClientsusingtheavailableweb
interface.
Auniquenumberiscreatedduringaccountcreation.ACRIfileisgeneratedforthenew
DSClientandisusedduringDSClientinstallationorconfiguration.
TheDSNOCmodulecansendaconfigurableEMailnotificationtoEnterprise/Service
Providers,VAR/Referrals,andcustomerswhenacustomeraccountiscreatedthroughit.
Forcustomers,thenotificationhastheCRIfileattached.

DS-NOC Module 234


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-NOC Monitoring Dashboard
TheDSNOCMonitoringDashboardshowsDSLicenseServer(CLMandRLM)
summaryinformation,storagetrend,andDSLicenseServerusage.Someinformation
displayedisdifferent,dependingoniftheDSLicenseServerisCLMorRLM.
DSNOC,inconjunctionwiththerestoftheAsigrasoftwarecomponents,tracksand
displaysinformationaboutRLMenvironments,suchas:

RLM Recovery Tracker


DisplaysthepreviousandcurrenttermsRecoveryPerformanceScore(calculatedfor
aselectedperiodorterm).
Displaysachartwitharatiooftotalbackupcapacitytorecoverycapacityduringthe
selectedperiod.
Displaysachartwiththetopfourrecoveries,byreason.
Displaysachartwiththetopfourrecoveries,bydatasource.

RLM Recovery Details


ShowsahistoryoftheRecoveryPerformanceSummary.
Displaysachartwiththebackuptorecoveryvolumeovertime.
Displaysachartwiththebackuptorecoveryvolumebydatasource.
Displaysachartwiththetopbackupandrecoveryvolumesbyindustry.

RLM DR Drill
ShowsinformationabouttheDRDrillCapacitypurchased,allocatedandused.
DisplaysasectionwithbestpracticesforDRDrills.
DisplaysachartwiththebackuptoDRDrillpercentage.
DisplaysachartwiththetopfourDRDrillrequests.

Waiver
Showsthe10largestrecoveryeventsandthelargestone,whichisautomatically
excludedfromtheRecoveryPerformanceScorecalculation.
DisplaysasectionexplainingthevalueoftheWaiver.

Backup Activities
TheDashboardincludesaBackupActivitiestab,whichprovidesanataglanceviewof
thecompletionstatusofallbackupactivitiesandachartshowingthenumberofbackup
activities.

DS-NOC Module 235


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics

About this Section


ThissectionintroducesBackupLifecycleManagement(BLMArchiver)andits
componentparts.ForinformationonestimatingsizesforvariousBLMcomponents,see
SizingAsigraCloudBackuponpage187.

What BLM Does


TheAsigraCloudBackupBLMProductrelatestolongtermdataarchiving
functionalityintheAsigraCloudBackupsoftware.
ThepurposeoftheBLMproductis:
toenablecosteffectivelongtermdatastorage,
toallowtosearchforarchiveddata(dataindexing),
toalloweasyrestorationofarchiveddata,and
tomanagedatadestruction.BLMcanfreeuptheDSSystemOnlineStoragespace
occupiedbystalefiles,reducingthecostofprotectinginactivefilesonline.
TheBLMProducthandlesmovingorcopyingofdatafromtheonlinestorage(DS
System)totheBLMArchive.ThetransferofdatafromthesourcetotheDSSystem(and
keepinglocalcopies,ifconfigured)canbeaffectedbytheBLMArchivingprocesses.

Available BLM Configurations

BLM Archiver
BLMArchiversoftwarethatacceptsDSSystemconnectionstoarchivedataandBLM
GUIorDSNOCconnectionstosearchandretrievethearchiveddata,orrequestdata
destruction.ForBLMArchiverlicensesauthenticatedfromaDSLicenseServer,theBLM
replicationcapabilityisincluded.

Replication BLM Archiver


BLMArchiversoftwarerunningwithaReplicationlicense,thatacceptsBLMArchiver
connectionstoreplicateexistingarchiveddata,andBLMGUIorDSNOCconnectionsto
searchandretrievethearchiveddata,orrequestdatadestruction.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 236


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
How BLM Works
BLMArchiveractuallyconsistsoffiveelements:
theBLMArchiver,withanassociatedGUI,whichmanagestheprocessofhandling
BLMfunctions,indexesarchiveddataand,ifrestorerequestsarereceived,generates
thenecessaryrestorepackages.
theBLMStagingBuffer,wherearchivedataistemporarilyheldandaccumulated
whentransferredfromDSSystem.
theConsolidatedBLMArchive,whichholdsarchivedatapermanently,afterbeing
processedbyBLMArchiveranddataismovedordestructionoccurs.
theBLMArchiverCloudStorage,whichholdsarchivedatapermanentlyoruntildata
destructionoccurs.
theBLMRestorableImageBuffer,whichholdsdatarequestedtoberestoredfrom
archive,soitcanbecopiedtomediaandshippedtoacustomerlocationorsoitcanbe
downloadedthroughDSNOC(webbasedinterface).

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 237


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
About BLM Replication
InordertobeabletoreplicateBLMArchiverdata,theBLMArchivermusthavethe
Replicationfunctionalityenabled.ThisfunctionalityisincludedinboththeProduction
andReplicationBLMlicensesthatauthenticatetheirlicensewithaDSLicenseServer.
AProductionBLMArchiverlicenseallowsincomingconnectionsfromDSSystemsfor
dataarchiving.Itcanalsobeconfiguredtosendorreceivereplicatedarchiveddata
withinaBLMReplicationGroup.
AReplicationBLMArchiverlicensedoesnotallowincomingconnectionsfromDS
Systemsfordataarchiving;itonlyallowsincomingBLMArchiverconnectionsfordata
replication.AReplicationBLMArchivercanbeswitchedtoaproductionBLMArchiver
byswitchingthelicensetypefromReplicationtoProductionintheDSLicenseServer
andreconfiguringtherequiredDSSystemsandDSNOCstopointtoit.
Replicationisperformedatthearchivepackagelevel.Foreachbackupsetyouchooseto
replicate,thereplicationprocessistriggeredbasedontheBLMArchiversconfigured
schedule.Ifascheduleisnotconfigured,replicationwillnotrun.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 238


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Data Categories Handled by BLM
Data Category Description How Handled

stalegenerations oldonlinegenerationsoffilesthatwerechanging deletedfromDSSystem


atonepoint,butarenotchanginganymore:the OnlineStorageormovedto
latestgenerationappearstobethefinalone,so BLMArchiveStorage,
theoldergenerationsarenotlikelytobeneeded eitherbasedonscheduleor
again ondemandrequests
definedbasedonthenumberofgenerationsor
thegenerationage,oracombinationofboth

obsolete onlinegenerationsofafilebeingreplacedbya movedtoBLMArchive


generations newonlinegeneration Storagebeforetheobsolete
generationisremovedfrom
DSSystemOnlineStorage

deleteddata datadeleteddeliberately,eitheronthesource deletedfromDSSystem


computers(inwhichcaseitmustberecoverable OnlineStorageormovedto
butusuallyisnotneededagain)orfromDS BLMArchiveStorage,atthe
SystemOnlineStorage(viaadeletedbackupset timewhenthedatadeletion
oranyDSClienttriggereddelete). activityruns

archivedsource filesthathavebeenarchivedonthecustomer deletedfromDSSystem


data sidebyathirdpartyILM/HSMsolutionthat OnlineStorageormovedto
determined,basedonitspolicies,thatthefileis BLMArchiveStorage
staleandnotcritical
alsocouldbefileswiththeDSClientoffline
fileflagset

oldfilesthatdonot Onlinebackedupdatathatdoesnotchangeand copiedtoBLMArchive


change doesnotrequireonlineaccessfromtheDS Storageandreplacedon
Client. DSSystemOnlineStorage
withaBLMArchiverstub.

pointintime createdbasedonaDSClientschedule,tocreatea copiedtoBLMArchive


copiesofbackup snapshotofabackupsetatagivenpointintime Storage,eitherbasedon
sets scheduleorondemand
requests

BLM Configuration
BLMcanbeinstalledonLinuxandWindows64bitOperatingSystems.Anynumberof
DSSystemscanberegisteredwithaBLMArchiverandcanarchivedatatothatBLM
Archiveratanygiventime.TheDSSystemsthatwillarchivedatatotheBLMmusthave
theBackupLifecycleManagementmoduleenabledintheDSSystemlicense.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 239


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
BLM Database

BLM Database Contents


Platform Database Type Database Database Contents
Name

Windows PostgreSQL blm TheMainBLMArchiverdatabase


(PostgreSQL)doesnotcontainanyindexing
Unix PostgreSQL blm
information.ItonlycontainstoplevelArchive
Package(location,uniqueID),DSSystem/
Account/DSClientauthenticationinformation
andlogginginformation.Allactualindexing
(fileinformation,directoryinformation,
sessioninformation)iscontainedinthe
ArchivePackagesembeddedindexing
database.

BLM Database Backups


TheBLMDatabasedumpisperformedonLinuxandWindowsBLMArchivers
accordingtotheschedulespecifiedbytheBLMAdministrator.OnWindowsOperating
Systems,additionalconfigurationmayberequiredifthePATHenvironmentvariable
doesnotcontainthepathtothe/bindirectoryofthePostgreSQLinstallation.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 240


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
BLM Interfaces

Overview of Interfaces
Enterprise/ServiceProvidersinteractwithBLMinavarietyofways:
throughtheBLMGUIinterface
throughtheDSNOC
throughDSOperator
InformationaboutBLMisavailableinlogsandreports(LogsandReportsonpage242).

BLM GUI Interface


TheBLMGUIallowsEnterprise/ServiceProvidersto:
register/unregisterBLMArchiverswithaDSLicenseServer
register/unregisterDSSystemswithaBLMArchiver
lock/unlockaDSSystemregisteredwithaBLMArchiver
register/unregisterBLMArchiverswithDSBilling
performarchivesearchesbasedondifferentcriteria
requestandgeneraterestorableimages
deleterestorableimages
create/editschedules
create/editscheduletasksandtriggersforthetasks
viewreports:GlobalListofBackupSets,StorageUsage,DestructionCertificates,
ArchiverPackages
viewlogs:ActivityLogs,EventLogs,DestructionLogs
configurepre/postactivities
requestdestructionofdataandconfirmdestructionrequests
runpackageoptimization
enable/disableBLMReplication
add/deleteBLMstaging,consolidationorBLMCloudstoragelocations
changeBLMArchiverbranding
activate/deactivatedeletelockonacustomer/DSClient

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 241


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Logs and Reports
LogsandreportsareavailablethroughBLMGUIandDSNOC.

Logs
BLMlogsinclude:

ActivityLog* UsefulforexaminingtheactivityontheBLMArchiverService/
daemon.
Showsthelengthoftheconnections,adescriptionoftheactivity,
theamountofdatastoredandprotected,whetherornotany
errorsoccurred,andotherinformation.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

EventLog Arecordofnetworkactivity,errormessages,andother
informationitemsrelatedtoBLMactivitiesorotherinternal
processesoftheBLMArchiver.

DestructionLog Arecordofallcompleteddestructionrequests,destructiontime
andtype,numberoffilesdestroyed,theprotectedandstored
sizeofthosefilesfortheselectedArchivePackage(s).

RecoveryLog ForRecoveryLicenseServerenvironmentsonly.
Arecordofallrestorableimagegenerationprocesses,including
thosethatcounttowardstheRecoveryPerformanceScore
calculationandDRDrillrecoveries,whichusethepurchasedDR
Drillrecoverylicensecapacity.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.
Showsbackupsetinformationandtherecoverysizerecordedfor
eachrecoverysessionID.

Reports
BLMreportsinclude:
Report Description

GlobalListofBackup Alistofbackupsets,withadditionalinformationaboutDSSystem,
Sets accountandDSClientnumbertowhicheachbackupsetbelongs,
numberofpackages,protectedsizeandstoredsize.Displayedin
portraitorlandscapeformatandsortedbasedondifferentcriteria.

StorageUsage AreportatDSSystem,account,DSClientorbackupsetlevel.
Displaysinformationaboutstoredandprotectedsizesandadditional
informationabouttheDSSystemfromwhichthedatacame.

BLMDestruction AreportatDSSystem,account,DSClientorbackupsetlevel.Shows
Certificates destructioncertificatesthatweregeneratedintheselectedperiodof
timeasaresultofaDestructionRequest/ConfirmDataDestruction.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 242


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Report Description

ArchivePackages AlistofDSSystems,accounts,DSClientnumber,archivepackageID
andarchivepackagestatus,numberoffilesperpackage,protected
size,storedsize,creationandclosingtimeandnumberoflibraryfiles.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 243


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
BLM Online Storage
BLMArchiverreceivesdatadirectlyfromtheDSSystem(itcannotreceivedatadirectly
fromDSClients)orfromotherBLMArchiverswhenreplicationisinprogress.Thesame
dataprocessing(receive,indexing,andstorage)appliesforbothdatacopyanddata
move(datamoveissimplydatacopy+deleteontheDSSystemside).BLMArchivercan
beconfiguredwithExtensibleStoragelocationsforbothstagingbufferand
consolidationbuffer.TheBLMArchivercanimmediatelyusestorageaddedtothe
stagingorconsolidationbuffers.Athirdstoragetype,calledCloudStoragecanbe
defined.TheBLMArchivercanonlyhaveoneCloudStoragelocationdefinedatatime.
TheBLMArchiverusesadiskarea(filesystem)calledastagingbuffertoaccumulate
dataastheDSSystemissendingit.Thestagingbuffercontainsseparatepackagesfor
everybackupsetforwhichBLMRequestsareperformed.EveryArchivePackage
containsthefollowingdata:
actualfiledata:storedina1:1format(samenumberoffilesasstoredontheDS
System)inanumericdirectorystructure.
embeddedindexingdatabase:anindexingdatabasethatcontainsinformationabout
everythingcontainedinthatArchivePackage.
Extrametadata:likedirectoryinformation(name,POSIXsettings)backupsetinfo,
datasessioninformation.Thisinformationcanbeused(alongwiththeactualfiledata)
torecreatetheembeddedindexingdatabasefromscratch(synchronizationprocess
isavailabletocompletelydropandrecreatetheBLMindexingdatabaseforaspecific
ArchivePackage).
ReplicationofBLMArchiverdataconsolidatesthedataautomaticallyandsavesit
directlytotheconsolidationbufferoftheReplicationBLMArchiver.

Triggering archive operations


ArchiveoperationscopydatafromtheDSSystemonlinestoragetotheBLMArchiver
basedonrequestsoriginatingfromtheDSClient(eitherondemandorscheduled)or
fromtheDSOperator(ondemandonly).Dependingonthetypeofrequest,datafrom
theDSSystemmaybeleftdeletedfromonlineafterthecopy(datamovetoBLM
Archiver)oritcanbemaintainedonlineaswell(datacopytoBLMArchiver).
ArchiveoperationscanbetriggeredfromtheDSClient/DSUserorfromtheDS
Operator.TherearedifferentreasonswhyBLMArchiverrequestsaremade,andeach
canhaveadifferentrequestmethod.
Everyarchiverequestwillhavealabelsetforthatparticulararchivingsession.The
labelisenteredbytheuserforondemandrequests,anditisautomaticallygeneratedfor
scheduledactivities.AutomaticallygeneratedlabelsappearintheformScheduled
<activity_type>, initiated by schedule '<schedule_name>'.

Point-in-time copies
ApointintimecopyofbackupdatawilltriggeracopyofthedatafromtheDSSystem
OnlineStoragedatatotheBLMArchive.
Apointintimecopycanbedoneusingthreedifferentmethods:

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 244


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
OndemandfromtheDSClient:usingtheDSUserGUI,pointintimecopiesofall
dataoraselectionofdata(file(s)/singledirectory/multipledirectories)canbe
requested.
ScheduledfromtheDSClient:BLMpointintimecopiescanbescheduledfromthe
DSClient.
ScheduledfromtheDSClient:datamovebasedonfileagetoBLMArchivercanbe
scheduledusingtheretentionactivityfromtheDSClient.
OndemandfromtheDSOperator:usingtheDSOperatorGUI,BLMpointintime
copiescanberequestedforacustomselectionofdata(file/generationgranularity).If
completedirectoriesareselected,anoptionisavailableforincludingLatest
generationorallgenerationsintheBLMArchive.
ApointintimecopywilllockthebackupsetforreadingontheDSSystemside.This
meansotherreadwriteactivities(backupanddelete)cannotbeperformedonthese
backupsets.OntheDSClientside,theDSClientisabletoperformonlyoneactivityona
backupsetatatime.ThismeansthatifaBLMrequestisinitiatedfromtheDSClient,
otheractivitiesonthisbackupsetcannotbeperformedbytheDSClient.Iftherequestis
triggeredbytheDSOperator,theDSClientcanstillperformreadonlyactivitieslike
restore,synchronizationandDisc/Taperequest.
BLMpointintimerequestsareactivitiesontheDSClientsideaswell,andcanbe
monitored/stoppedthroughtheDSUserGUI.DuringtheBLMrequest,theDSClient
maintainsaconnectiontotheDSSystemanddisplaysprogressinformation.

Delete Push
Bydefault,ifnoretentionsettingsareapplied,theDSSystemwillalwaysmaintainat
leastthelatestgenerationofeachfilethatresidesonthesourcemachines.Deletepush
willonlyoccurfortheoldestgenerationofabackupfilethathasreacheditsmaximum
generationnumber,aseachsubsequentnewgenerationisbackedup(see:Generation
push(infinitegenerations)onpage246).
IfusingRetention,thedifferenttypesofretentionselectedwilldeterminewhatgets
pushedfromDSSystemOnlineStoragetotheBLMArchiver.WhenaTimebased
onlineretentionisconfigured,theDSSystemwillalwaysmaintainatleastthelatest
generationofeachfilethatresidesonthesourcemachines.Ifyouwishtopushall
generationsofafiletotheBLMArchiver,thentheArchiveolddatatoBLMretention
mustbeused.
Foranyotherfile(oldgenerations,dataremovedfromsource),theenduserhasthe
optionofkeepingitonline(donothing),deleteitcompletelyormoveittotheBLM
Archive(copyittotheBLMarchiveanddeleteitfromonline).
Eventhelatestgenerationoffilescanbedeletedormovedtoarchivebyondemand
requests.However,ifallgenerationsofafilearedeleted,theDSClientwillnothavea
referenceofthisfileanymoreandthefileislikelytogetbackedupagainduringthenext
backupsession.Toavoidthesesituations,youcanusetheArchiveolddatatoBLM
retentionoption,whichallowsDSSystemtostoreaBLMplaceholderontheDSSystem
OnlineStorageinordertoidentifyfilesthatdonotneedtobebackedupagain.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 245


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
TheDSClientcanexcludefilesfrombackupbasedontimeruleexclusions,however
performingmanualdelete+usingtimeexclusionrulesisarepetitivemanualprocessand
isnotconsideredtypicalusageoftheBLMArchiver.
Asstatedpreviously,anydeleteoperationhastheoptionofeitherdeletefromon
lineorcopytoBLMandthendeletefromonline.Thefollowingdelete/movetoBLM
scenariosexist:
OndemandBackupSetRemoval:removingthecontentsofanentirebackupsetfrom
theDSSystemOnlineStorage
OndemandSelectiveDeleteofdata:theendusercanselectcustomdatatobedeleted
basedonsomecriteria(backuptime,numberofgenerations,individualdirectory/file
/generationselection).
Likeanydeleteprocess,theoptionsavailablearedeletefromonlineor
movetoBLM(whichtranslatestoacopytoBLMandthendeletefromon
line).
OndemandAssistedDelete:removalofacustomselectionofdatathattheDSClient
foundtohavebeenremovedfromthesource.
ScheduledDeleteofdataremovedfromthesource:theabilitytoscheduleautomatic
removalofdatafoundtoberemovedfromthesource(afteranumberofdays).All
generationsoftheseremovedfilescanbedeleted.
ScheduledDeleteofObsoleteGenerations:abilitytoremovestalegenerationsoffiles
(generationsthatwerebackedupalongtimeago).Notethatthelatestgenerationof
thesefilesisalwaysmaintained(onlyoldnoncurrentgenerationsaredeleted).
ScheduledDeletebasedonHSMplaceholderdetection:theWindowsDSClienthas
theabilitytodetectHSMPlaceholdersthatuseMicrosoftHSMplaceholderformat.
WhensuchaplaceholderisbackedupontheDSSystemstorage,thescheduleddelete
canbeconfiguredtoremoveanyothergenerationthatwasbackedupontheDS
System.
ScheduledDeletebasedonfileage.
ScheduledDataParkbasedonpackageage,numberoffiles,storedorprotectedsize.
ScheduledorOndemandenforceRetentionprocessonbackupsets

Generation push (infinite generations)


InfinitegenerationsrelatestotheabilityoftheDSClienttokeepallbackedup
generationsoffilesbymovinganygenerationsthathavetobereplaced(bynewfile
versions)totheBLMArchiver.

Data receiving and reduction


TheDSSystemwillsenddatatotheBLMArchiveranditistheBLMArchiversjobto
storethisdataintheBLMArchive.
Dataisalwaysstored&indexedinanArchivePackageinthestagingbuffer.Atany
pointintime,therecanbeonlyoneactiveArchivePackageforeachbackupset(calledan
openArchivePackage).IfnoopenArchivePackageexistsinthestagingbuffer,the
BLMArchiverwillautomaticallycreateanewone.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 246


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
GlobalsettingsattheBLMArchiverLevelcanallowArchivePackagestodependon
otherArchivePackages(toincreasestoragespacesavings).Thismustbeexplicitly
selectedwhentheArchivePackageismade(requestedfromDSUserorDSOperator
withtheReferencePreviousArchivePackagesoption).Bydefault,theArchive
Packageisindependentofotherdata.

Archive Packages that are independent of other data


IfdatainanArchivePackageisindependentofotherdata,thismeansitcontainsalldata
thatisrequiredforarestore.Assuch,thefollowingappliestothedatathatissenttothe
BLMArchiver:
Libraryfiles(commonfileelimination)aresenttotheBLMArchiveraslibrarylink+
libraryfile.IncaseasingleArchivePackagecontainsseverallinkstothesame
libraryfile,thelibraryfileissentandstoredonlyonceandeachlinkissentandstored
individually.ThismeanstheBLMArchiverwilltakeadvantageofcommonfile
eliminationaslongasasinglebackupsetlinkstothesamelibraryfilemultipletimes.
Ifseveralbackupsetslinktothesamelibraryfile,eachArchivePackage
correspondingtothesebackupsetswillmaintaintheirowncopyofthelibraryfile
(sinceeachArchivePackageisindependentofothers).
Blocklevelincrementalfiles(master/delta)aresentasmaster/deltatotheBLM
ArchiveraslongastheBLMArchivercontainstherequiredmastertoreconstructthe
file.IncasetheBLMArchiverdoesnotcontainarequiredmaster,insteadofsendinga
deltafile,theDSSystemwillsendareconstructedmastertotheBLMArchiver.When
deletingmultiplemaster/deltagenerationsofthesamefile,theDSSystemwillsend
theminsuchanorderastotakemaximumadvantageofmaster/delta(i.e.doasfew
reconstructionsaspossible).
Resendingdata:theDSSystemwillsenddatatothesameArchivePackageonly
once.Thismeansthatifanarchivingsessionisinterruptedandthenthesamedatais
requestedbytheDSClient/DSOperatortobesentagaintotheBLMArchiver,the
BLMArchiverusesitsindexingtodeterminethatthefileisalreadystoredinthe
archiveandnoactualfiledatawillbetransmittedtotheBLMArchiver.

Archive Packages depend on other data


IfBLMArchiverisconfiguredtostoreArchivePackagesthatdependonotherArchive
Packages,thefollowingrulesapply:
Libraryfiles(commonfileelimination)aresenttotheBLMArchiveraslibrarylink+
libraryfile.IncasemultipleArchivePackagesofthesamebackupsetcontainlinks
tothesamelibraryfile(oridenticallibraryfiles),thelibraryfileissentandstoredonly
onceandeachlinkissentandstoredindividually.ThismeanstheBLMArchiverwill
takeadvantageofcommonfileeliminationaslongasasinglebackupsetlinkstothe
samelibraryfilemultipletimes.Ifseveralbackupsetslinktothesamelibraryfile,
eachArchivePackagecorrespondingtothesebackupsetswillmaintaintheirown
copyofthelibraryfile(sinceeachArchivePackageisindependentofothers).
Blocklevelincrementalfiles(master/delta)aresentasmaster/deltatotheBLM
ArchiveraslongastheBLMArchivercontainstherequiredmastertoreconstructthe
file.IncasetheBLMArchiverdoesnotcontainarequiredmaster,insteadofsendinga

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 247


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
deltafile,theDSSystemwillsendareconstructedmastertotheBLMArchiver.When
deletingmultiplemaster/deltagenerationsofthesamefile,theDSSystemwillsend
theminsuchanorderastotakemaximumadvantageofmaster/delta(i.e.doasfew
reconstructionsaspossible).

Note:ThisisthesamebehaviorasforArchivePackagesthatareindependentof
otherdata.

Master/deltafilesthatarealreadystoredinanotherArchivePackageforthesame
backupsetwillnotberesentagainbytheDSSystemtotheBLMArchiver.TheBLM
Archiverwilllinktothepreviousgeneration(s),asneeded,basedontheBLM
Archiverconfiguration.
Resendingdata:theDSSystemwillsenddatatothesameArchivePackageonly
once.Thismeansthatifanarchivingsessionisinterruptedandthenthesamedatais
requestedbytheDSClient/DSOperatortobesentagaintotheBLMArchiver,the
BLMArchiverusesitsindexingtodeterminethatthefileisalreadystoredinthe
archiveandnoactualfiledatawillbetransmittedtotheBLMArchiver.

Note:ThisisthesamebehaviorasforArchivePackagesthatareindependentof
otherdata.

Data accumulation period and consolidation


DataaccumulationisdoneinthestagingbufferoftheBLMArchiver.Thestaging
bufferservesasatemporarystoragefordataandindexingpriortoconsolidation.Data
consolidationmeanspackingallfilesfromanArchivePackageintooneormorelarge
files(themaximumfilesizeisconfigurable)andupdatingtheindextocontainthe
locationofindividualfileswithintheindex.
TheconsolidationbufferisaseparatefilesystemusedbytheBLMArchiver.Whenthe
BLMArchiverisinstalledandconfigured,thetwopathshavetobespecified:staging
bufferandconsolidationbuffer.
InorderforanArchivePackagetobeconsolidated,itsstatusmustchangefromopento
closed.Thisisdoneautomaticallywhen:
UsenewArchivepackageisselectedduringanarchiverequest(scheduledoron
demand).ThiswillcausethepreviouslyopenArchivePackagetobeclosedandanew
ArchivePackagewillbecreated.
RunningaconsolidationontheBLMArchiverService(eitherondemandor
scheduled)cancloseandconsolidateselectedArchivePackages.
Dataconsolidationdoesnotneedtobecompletedpriortoperformingadditional
archivingoperations.EachArchivePackagehasauniqueIDandaseparatestoragepath
ineitherthestagingbufferortheconsolidationbuffer.ThismeansthatwhiletheBLM
ArchiverServiceisbusyconsolidatinganArchivePackageforonebackupset,theDS
SystemcansendadditionalarchivedatatoadifferentopenArchivePackage.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 248


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Oncedataisconsolidated,anditisunlikelytheBLMArchiverServicewilleveraccessthe
dataagain(unlessarestoreisneeded),suchsituationsallowsfortheuseofaThirdParty
HSMsolutionforfurthermediacostsavings.

Restoring Data
DatarestoreisdonethroughtheDSClient(dataisencryptedandonlytheDSClientis
abletodecryptitandrestoreit).TheDSClientdoesnotcommunicatedirectlywiththe
BLMArchiverandarchiveddatamustbebroughteitherinwholeorinparttotheDS
Clientmachineforrestore.
ThetwostatesofthedatathatcanberestoredfromtheBLMArchiveare:
Indexeddata:thisisdatathatismanagedbytheBLMArchiver(ineitherstaging,
consolidated,orCloudstorageform).DatathatismanagedbytheBLMArchivercan
bebrowsedandfiles/directoriescanberestoredindividually(foradescriptionof
restoremethodsRestoringindexeddataonpage249andRestoringontheshelfdataon
page250).
Onshelfdata(optional):thesearecopiesofconsolidatedBLMdatathatarenot
managedbytheBLMArchiver.FromtheperspectiveoftheBLMArchiver,thisdatais
destroyedandisnotavailableanymore.Howeverthedataresidinginthesecopies
canberestoredbyusingtheDSClient(theDSClientcanbepointedtoaconsolidated
imageandperformaBLMRestore).

Note:Thedataintheconsolidatedpackagemustberesolved(itmustnotpointto
anyotherpackages).

Restoring indexed data

Restore data selection


Indexeddataistypicallyrestoredinpartonly.Whilereceivingdataforarchiving,the
BLMArchiverwillindexfilesandmaintainthefollowinginformationaboutanyfilethat
wasstoredinaparticularBLMArchiver:
backupsessioninformation(sessionstarttimeandsessionlabel)
directoryandfilename
filestreamsize,backuptime,filewritetime
emailinformationifapplicable(from,to,subject,CC,BCC,attachments...)
Systemiobjectnamesifapplicable
Therearetwomajorwaysofselectingthedataforrestore:
Browse:allowstheusertobrowsefordatausingastandardexplorerstyleviewofthe
data.Thiscanbeusediftheexactlocationofafile/directoryisknown
DataSearch:allowstheusertoinstructtheBLMArchivertosearchforfiles/directories
thatmeetspecifiedcriteria(name,sizes,session,...).TheBLMArchivercansearchone
orseveralArchivePackages,anddisplaystheresultstotheenduser.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 249


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
BothdatabrowseanddatasearchareoptionsavailablethrougheithertheBLMArchiver
GUI(JavabasedGUI)orthroughtheAsigraCloudBackupDSNOC.
TheAsigraCloudBackupDSNOCdoesnothaveanyspeciallicenserestrictionswhen
connectingtoaBLMArchiver.NotoolormodulemustbeenabledontheBLM
ArchiverinorderfortheDSNOCtobeusedwiththeBLMArchiver.

Generating Restorable images


Oncethefilesrequiredforrestorearefound(byeitherbrowseorbythesearch),theend
usercancreatearestorableimageandadditemstothisimage.
Arestorableimageisadefinitionofwhatdataisrequiredforrestore.Asingle
restorableimagecangatherdatafromoneormoreArchivePackagesofthesamebackup
set(fromeitherthestagingbuffer,theconsolidationbuffer,orBLMCloudStorage).
Oncearestorableimagedefinitioniscomplete(alldatathatneedstoberestoredhasbeen
selected),theenduserhastheoptiontowriterestorableimagetoabuffer.TheBLM
Archiverwillusetheindexestolocatetheactualfiledataandwillwritethedatatothe
specifiedbuffer.
TheDSClientmusthaveaccesstotherestorableimageinordertoperformtheactual
restoreofthedata.IfusingtheBLMGUI,thedatacanbeshippedtothecustomer.If
usingtheDSNOC,thecustomercandownloadthefile(s)representingtherestorable
image.

Performing the restore


TheactualrestoreisperformedusingtheDSClient.TheDSUserGUIisusedtoselect
thelocationoftherestorableimage,andthentheRestorefromBLMWizardis
displayed.
Therestorewizardallowsoptionssimilartothoseavailablewhenperformingonline
restores:selectalldataorindividualfiles/generations,specifyrestoreoptions(ACL,
compressionetc.)andrestorelocation(eitheroriginaloralternatelocation).

Restoring on-the-shelf data


DatathatisnotmanagedbytheBLMArchiverandisinconsolidatedstatecanstillbe
restoredbytheDSClient.Thelimitationisthattheentireconsolidatedpackagemustbe
broughttotheDSClientinordertoperformarestore.SincetheBLMArchiverisnot
awareofontheshelfdata,theabilitytobrowseorautosearch(usingeithertheDSNOC
ortheBLMArchiverGUI)isnotavailable.
OncetheentireconsolidatedimageisbroughttotheDSClientlocation,customerscan
restoreeithertheentirepackageorselectivedata.
SincetheindexinginformationisnotavailableforThirdPartyontheshelfdata,theonly
datasortingavailableforsuchpackagesisbytime.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 250


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Automation and interaction with Third-Party software
Pre/Post functionality in the BLM Archiver
TheBLMArchiverallowsforcustompre/postprograms/scriptstoberunbeforeorafter
variousactivitiesonArchivePackagesarecompleted.Thefollowingisalistofsupported
pre/posttriggers:
Ondataconsolidation:aprogramtriggeredbeforeandafterdataconsolidationis
performed
Ondataaccessinconsolidationbuffer:aprogramistriggeredbeforeandafterdatain
theconsolidationstorageisaccessed
Ondatadestruction:aprogramistriggeredbeforeandafterapackageisdestroyed
Foreveryprepostaction,thetriggeredprogramcanbepassedoptionalarguments
containing:
Pathofdirectory/filethatthisactionrelatesto(e.g.pathtotheArchivePackage
directoryorfilethatisgoingtobeaccessed)
DSSystem,accountnumberorDSClientnumbertowhichtheprocessedpackage
belongs
Exampleusageforpre/postactivities:
implementinganHSMstylefreeingofdiskspacebyusingpostconsolidationand
dataaccesspre/post
triggeringthedestructionofsecondarydatacopiesafterpackagedestruction
creatingsecondaryontheshelfcopiesofdatabeforedatadestruction

Using Third-Party HSM products


TheBLMArchiverwillnotaccessdataintheconsolidationbufferunlessarestore/
synchronization/filedelete/destroy/ParktoCloudactivityisrequestedbytheenduser
(assumingtheBLMArchiverisnotconfiguredwithbackreferencingandall
ConsolidatedArchivePackagesarestandalonepackages).Thisallowsimplementinga
ThirdPartyHSMdatamovementtoalternatemediaontheBLMArchiverConsolidation
buffer(usingproductslikeSAMFS,LegatoDiskXtender,TivoliTSM,ADICStorNext,
Veritasetc.).
OnceanHSMsolutionisdeployed,pre/postscriptsmayalsobeoptionallyusedto
controltheHSMproduct.

Using Third-Party snapshot capabilities with BLM Requests


WhenperformingBLMpointintimecopiesofdata,theBLMneedstohaveaccesstoa
copyofthedataasofthetimethecopywasrequested.Inordertopreventthedatafrom
changingwhiletheBLMRequestisinprocess,theDSSystemcanusetwoseparate
methods:
UseStorageLocking
UseThirdPartyreadonlysnapshotsofdata

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 251


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
BLM Point-in-time copies with backup set locking
ThismethodisthedefaultbehavioroftheDSSystemwhenBLMpointintimecopiesare
received.ItdoesnotrequireanyspecialThirdPartyfunctionality.
TheBLMpointintimeCopyrequestsareperformedinthefollowingsteps:
1 DSClientrequeststheBLMpointintimecopy.DSSystemLockstheBackupsetas
soonastherequestisreceived.
2 DSSystemreadsthedatafromtheonlinediskandsendsittotheBLMArchiver.
3 DSSystemunlocksthebackupsetoncethearchivingactivityisfinished.

BLM Point-in-time copies with Third-Party snapshots


Thismethodminimizesthetimethebackupsetislocked.ItusesThirdPartydata
snapshotcapabilitytocreateareadonlycopyofthebackupsetdata.Oncethecopyis
completed,thebackupsetisunlockedandtheBLMpointintimecopyisperformed
fromtheReadonlycopyofthedata.
TheusageofThirdPartysnapshotscanbesetatrequesttimeifBLMRequestsaredone
usingtheDSOperator.ForBLMRequestsfromDSClient,thedefaultrequestmethod
canbesetusingtheAdvancedParameterssettingsintheDSOperator(eitherlocking
orThirdPartysnapshotscanbechosen).
TheBLMpointintimeCopyrequestsareperformedinthefollowingsteps:
1 WhentheDSClient/DSOperatorrequestsaBLMpointintimecopy,theDSSystem
willlockthebackupset.
2 TheDSSystemcreatesatextfilecontainingasnapshotrequest(whatdirectoriesit
requiressnapshotsfor)thedirectorieswillbetheonescorrespondingtothebackup
sets(oneforeachstoragelocationintheDSSystemExtensibleStorage).
3 SnapshotcopyiscreatedbytheThirdPartyapplicationandDSSystemisnotified(by
creatinganewtextfilecontainingthepathtothedirectorysnapshotsanddeletingthe
oldfilescontainingthesnapshotrequest).TheDSSystemunlocksthebackupsetas
soonasitdetectsthesnapshothascompleted.
4 BLMpointintimecopyisdonebytheDSSystemfromthesnapshotcopy(without
backupsetlock).Otherread/writeactivities(likebackupanddelete)canbeperformed
ontheprimarydata(DSSystemOnlineStorage)withoutaffectingtheBLMpointin
timeCopyprocess.
5 TheDSSystemnotifiestheThirdPartyapplicationthatthesnapshotisnotneeded
anymorebydeletingthetextfilecontainingthesnapshotpaths.
TheBLMintegrationwithaThirdPartysnapshotapplicationisdoneusingafilebased
interface:
Theprimarystoragerootwillcontainanadditionalfoldercalledblm_pitc.This
folderisusedtostoresnapshotrequestsandresponses.
Whenasnapshotneedstobeperformed,theDSSystemwillcreateafilenamed
sreq_?.txt(where?representsauniqueidentifierassociatedwitheacharchive
request).ThisfileisUTF8encoded(incasethestoragerootsuseUnicodecharacters)
andcontainsseverallinesoftheform:<ID> <PATH>

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 252


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Where<ID>representsauniquestorageIDandthe<PATH>isapathforwhichthe
DSSystemrequiresareadonlycopytobemade.
Afterthis,theDSSystemwillwaitforanewfiletobecreated,namedsresp_?.txt
(where?isthesameuniqueIDthatwasusedfortherequestfile).Theformatofthis
fileisthesameastherequest:<ID> <PATH>
Where<ID>isthesameuniqueIDasintherequestfileand<PATH>isthepath
wherethereadonlycopywascreated.Theresponsefilemustcontainthepathsin
exactlythesameorderastherequestfileandtheDSSystemmusthavesufficient
credentialstoaccessthereadonlycopyofthedata.
AssoonastheDSSystemdetectsthatthefilesreq_?.txtwasdeleted,itwillunlock
thebackupset,parsetheresponsefile,andprocesstheBLMrequestfromtheread
onlycopyofthedata.OncetheBLMProcesshascompletedsuccessfully,theDS
Systemwilldeletethesresp_?.txt(signalingtotheThirdPartyapplicationthatthe
correspondingsnapshotisnolongerneeded).

Request and confirm data destruction


Datadestructionisdoneeitherondemand(fromtheBLMGUIorfromtheAsigraCloud
BackupDSNOC)oronascheduledbasisbytheBLMArchiver.
Requestdestruction:auseroraschedulemarksanArchivePackageasrequestedfor
destruction.Informationmustbecompletedcontainingthereasonandtheuserwho
requestedtheoperation.Thescheduleddestructionwillrecordtheschedulename.In
additiontotherequestinformation,thedestructiontypemustalsobeselected:
Simplefiledelete:willperformadeleteoperationofthefilesondisk.
Overwritewithrandomdata:willoverwriteallthedatawithrandomdataand
thenitwilldeletetheactualfiles.
Overwritewithrandomandinversedata:willoverwritewithrandomdataand
withtheinverseoftherandomdataandthenitwilldeletetheactualfiles.
Confirmdestruction:isbeingperformedbyanauthorizeduser.Oncearequestis
confirmed,theactualdestructionwillstart.

Destruction certificates
TheDestructionLogcontainsalistofanydatadestructionactivitiesperformed.It
includestherequestinformation,whoauthorizedit,andatwhatdate/timeitcompleted.
TheDestructionLogisavailablefromtheBLMArchiverGUI.
ThislogcanalsobeviewedontheDSSystemside(throughtheDSOperator),anda
hardcopycanbeprintedusingtheDSOperatorGUI,resultinginadestruction
certificatewhichconfirmsthatdataontheBLMArchiverdiskwasdestroyed.

Billing Integration
ChargesrelatedtoBLMcanbeautomaticallyaddedtoDSClientinvoices,basedonthe
protectedsizeorstoredsizeontheBLMArchiver,orbasedonaflatfee.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 253


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Tape Converter (Import Data to BLM Archiver)
WindowsDSClientscanconvertexistingtapedata(inMicrosoftTapeFormat)toa
formatthatcanbeimportedtotheBLMArchiver.
Oncethetapebackupset(s)havebeenselected,DSClientconvertsthetapedatatoa
formatthattheBLMArchivercanuse.Converteddataisplacedinauniquefolder,and
mustbeshippedtotheBLMArchiverlocation.Atthisstage,thedatamustbeimported
totheBLMArchiver.StepbystepinstructionsarefoundintheDSClientUserGuide
andBLMArchiverOperatorManual.

Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Topics 254


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Billing

About this Section


ThissectioncontainstopicsspecifictoDSBilling.
ThissectionintroducesDSBillinganditscomponentparts.Fordetailsonhowto
implementDSBilling,seetheDSBillingInstallationGuideandDSBillingOperator
Manual.

DS-Billing as a component of Asigra Cloud Backup

DS-Billing 255
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
What DS-Billing Does
DSBillingmaintainsandgeneratesbillinginformationandbillingreportsforoneor
moreDSSystemsandBLMArchivers(registeredwiththeDSBillingModule).Some
highlightsoftheDSBillingfunctionalityareasfollows:
RegisterDSSystemsandBLMArchiverswiththeBillingmodule.
CreatenewcustomersandDSClientsonselectedDSSystems.
Lock/unlockcustomers.
Deactivate/reactivateDSClients.
DeleteDSClientandcustomeraccounts.
Create,editanddeleteadditionalcharges,billingplans,billingcycles,promotions,
billingscales(forDSSystemOnlinedata,BLMArchiverarchivedata,Recovery
LicenseModeldata,andLocalOnlydata),etc.
Create,editanddeletesalesgroupsandsalesgroupcommissions.
ConfigureEMailnotificationsfromDSBilling,chooserecipientsandscheduleEMail
sendtimes.
EnableanddisabletoolsforDSClients.
Viewbackupsetstatistics.

Note:BackupsetstatisticsareretrievedfromtheDSSystemdatabaseandthen
storedintheDSBillingdatabase.

ViewDSBillingevents.
Viewreportsandclearlogs.
InitiateDSBillingmachineshutdown.
ScheduleEMailingofDSBillingreports.
Configureallbillingparameters,includingDisc/Taperequests.
ViewandprintDSBillingreportsandlogs.
ConfigureDSBillingtoconnecttoDSSystemandBLMArchiversperiodically.(These
applicationsneverinitiateaconnectiontotheDSBillingModule.)

DS-Billing 256
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-Billing Components Diagram

TheDSBillingserviceistheactualapplicationthatrunsinthebackground.It
maintainsbillinginformation,generatesbillingreports,triggersschedules,etc.
TheDSBillingGUIisthegraphicaluserinterfaceusedbytheEnterprise/Service
Providertoconfigurebillingparameters.
TheDSBillingDatabaseholdsallthedataforthebillingmodule,includingbilling
plans,billingscales,etc.

DS-Billing Database

DS-Billing Database Contents


Platform Database Type Database Name Database Contents

Windows MSSQLServer dsbilling configurationinformation,


statistics,reports,logs,
Unix PostgreSQL dsbilling
invoices,etc.

DS-Billing Database Backups


DSBillingdoesafulldatabasebackupeveryday.Itdumpsitsdatabasetoafolderevery
day:
onceanhourforWindowsDSBilling
onceadayforLinuxDSBilling
andeverytimetheDSBillingserviceisrestarted(30minutesafterrestart)
ThisfolderisconfiguredduringtheDSBillingModuleInstallationorfromthe<Database
DumpPath>fieldoftheDSBillingConfigurationfile(dsbilling.cfg).

DS-Billing 257
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ForDSBillingrunningwithaMicrosoftSQLServerDatabaseinstance,incremental
databasedumpsareperformedeveryhour,andtheyareappendedtothefulldatabase
dumpthatexistsinthedatabasedumppath.

Note:ProtectingtheDSBillingdatabaseismandatoryfordisasterrecoveryofDS
Billing.

DS-Billing Interfaces
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscaninteractwithDSBillingthrough:
theDSBillingGUI
theDSNOCmodule
EMailnotifications
InformationaboutDSBillingisavailableinlogsandreports.SeeDSBillingLogsand
Reportsonpage259.
OnWindows,theDSBillingservicecanbestoppedandstartedusingtheDSBilling
ServiceManagerorfromtheWindowsServices.

DS-Billing GUI
DSBillingGUIallowsEnterprise/ServiceProvidersto:
Managecustomeraccounts/DSClients(addandedittheaccountsonthe
correspondingDSSystem)andmanagetheirinformation(contact,sales
representative,location,storagequota,bandwidththrottling,storagehistory,billing,
DSTools,connectionparameters,etc.).
LockcustomeraccountsorindividualDSClients.
Deactivate/reactivatethem,ordeleteaDSCliententirelyfromtheDSSystem.
ViewactiveprocessesontheDSBillingserver.

Note:ProtectingtheDSBillingdatabaseismandatory,inordertobeabletoperform
disasterrecoveryoftheDSBillingmodule.

RegisterDSSystemsandBLMArchiverswiththeDSBillingmodule.
CreatenewcustomersandDSClientsonselectedDSSystems.
Lock/unlockcustomers.
Deactivate/reactivateDSClients.
DeleteDSClientsandcustomeraccounts.
Create,editanddeleteadditionalcharges,billingplans,billingcycles,promotions,
billingscales(forbothDSSystemsandBLMArchivers,andLocalOnlystorage),etc.
Create,editanddeletesalesgroupsandsalesgroupcommissions.
ConfigureEMailnotifications,chooserecipientsandscheduleEMailsendtimes.
EnableanddisabletoolsforDSClients.
Viewbackupsetstatistics.

DS-Billing 258
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Note:BackupsetstatisticsareretrievedfromtheDSSystemdatabaseandthen
storedintheDSBillingdatabase.

ViewandclearDSBillingEventsandLogs.
ViewandprintDSBillingReports.
InitialDSBillingmachineshutdown.
ScheduleEMailingofDSBillingreports.
Configureallbillingparameters,includingDisc/Taperequests.
ConfigureDSBillingtoconnecttoDSSystemsandBLMArchiversperiodically.

Note:Inallitsfunctions,DSBillinginitiatescommunicationtoDSSystemsand
BLMArchivers.TheseapplicationsneverinitiateaconnectiontotheDS
BillingModule.

DS-Billing Logs and Reports


DSBillinglogsandreportsareavailablethroughtheDSBillingGUI,aswellasthrough
theDSNOC.
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscancleanthelogsmanuallyusingtheClearDSBilling
Logsfeature.BeforeremovinganylogsfromtheDSBillingdatabase,DSBillingsavesa
copyofthelogstoindividualfilesonthe<DatabaseDumpPath>locationspecified
duringtheDSBillingmoduleinstallation.

Logs
DSBillingLogsinclude:

ActivityLog UsefulforexaminingtheactivitiesontheDSBillingservice/
daemon.
Showsthelengthoftheactivity,descriptionoftheactivity,and
whetherornotanyerrorsoccurred.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

AuditTrail ArecordofallchangesmadetotheDSBillingdatabase.Shows
whomadethechange,thetimeofthechangeandwhatthe
changewas.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

CurrentActivityMonitor AlistofactivitiescurrentlyrunningonDSBillingservice/
daemon.

EventLog Arecordoferrormessages,informationmessagesorwarning
messagesrelatedtoDSBillingactivitiesorotherDSBilling
internalprocesses.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

DS-Billing 259
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
RecoveryLog ForRecoveryLicenseServerenvironmentsonly.
Arecordofallrecoveryactivities,includingrecoveriesthat
counttowardstheRecoveryPerformanceScorecalculationand
DRDrillrecoveries,whichusethepurchasedDRDrillrecovery
licensecapacityforselectedDSSystems.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.Theremaybeadelaybeforethis
logisupdatedbecausetheDSBillingmusthaveretrievedthe
informationfromtheDSSystemsandBLMArchivers.
Showsbackupsetinformation,typeofrecoveryandtherecovery
sizerecordedforeachrecoveryactivity.

DRDrillRequestLog ForRecoveryLicenseServerenvironmentsonly.
ArecordofallDRDrillRequeststhathavebeenregisteredwith
thisDSBillingserverfromeitheraDSSystemorBLMArchiver.
AlsoaccessibleviaDSNOC.Theremaybeadelaybeforethis
logisupdatedbecausetheDSBillingmusthaveretrievedthe
informationfromtheDSSystemsandBLMArchivers.
Showsbackupsetinformation,thedrillperiod,theDRDrill
quotathatwasdeductedfromthecorrespondingDSSystemor
BLMlicense,andtheactualrecoveryamountusedduringthe
drill.

Reports
DSBillingreportsinclude:
Report Description

AdditionalCharges Generatedmonthlytoshowtheadditionalchargesbilled,usingthe
currencyoftheDSBilling.Additionalchargesaremanagedusing
theDSBillingGUIBusinesstab.Thereportscanbeprintedfora
specificSalesGrouporforallSalesGroups.
Bydefault,italsolistsDSClientsthatdonothaveadditional
charges.YoualsohavetheoptiontoexcludetheseDSClientsfrom
thereport.

BillingPlans Showsthemonthlybillingforaparticularbillingplan,orallbilling
plans,orforaparticularbillingcycle.Thebillingplanscanbeeither
Check,PreAuthorizedDraw,VISA,MASTERCARD,orAMEX.

ConsolidatedInvoice DSSystemautomaticallygeneratesaninvoiceataccountlevelforall
DSClientsunderthataccount(iftheaccounthasbeenconfiguredfor
ConsolidatedInvoices).
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

DS-Billing 260
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Report Description

DSClientInvoice DSBillingautomaticallygeneratesaninvoiceforeachDSClientthe
daywhentheDSClientsBillingCycleends.Theinvoicecanbe
generatedatDSClientlevel(DSClientInvoice)orataccountlevel
(ConsolidatedInvoice)oratbackupsetlevelorDSSystemlevelor
SalesGrouplevel.
Thereportheadershowsthename,addressandlogooftheservice
provider,aswellasthereporttitle,reportnumberanddatewhenit
wasgenerated.Belowthereportheaderareshowncustomername,
billingaddress,DSClientnumber,andotherdetails.Totherightof
thecustomerinformationareshownthebillingperiod,POnumber,
SalesGroupandSalesRepresentativeandduedateforpayment.
TheUsageSummarycomparesthepreviousinvoicesstorage
amountswiththoseofthecurrentinvoice.TheDescriptionsection
showsabreakdownofquantity,description,unitpriceandtotals.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

GlobalListof ShowsthemonthlystorageforeachDSClientontheDSSystem.
Customers ShowsDSClientInformationandtheStoredSize,ProtectedSizeand
NativeSizefortheDSClientontheDSSystemaswellastheStored
SizeandProtectedSizefortheDSClientontheBLMArchiver.This
reportcanalsobeconfiguredtodisplayaspecificbranding.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

SalesGroup ThisreportshowsthesalesgeneratedbyaparticularSalesGroup.If
theselectedSalesGroupisconfiguredtoshowcommissions,this
reportwillincludeabreakdownofthecommissionsgeneratedby
eachSalesRepresentative.
TheSalesRepresentativename,ChargePlanandLocation,
Reference/Invoice#,NetamountandtheCommission(ifapplicable)
appearinthereport.SalesRepresentativeSubtotals,aGrandTotal
andtheTotalcommissionsowedtothesalesrepresentativesarealso
partofthereport.
YoucanfiltertheSalesGroupreportby:
Year
Month
Thisreportcanalsobeconfiguredtodisplayaspecificbranding.
AlsoaccessibleviatheDSNOC.

StorageUsage ThisreportissortedbySalesGroup,DSSystem,Customer,DS
Clientandshowsthecurrentprotectedsize,storedsizeandnative
size,aswellastheBLMprotectedsizeandBLMstoredsizefora
particularSalesGroupbasedonyourselection.Itcanalsobe
generatedforallSalesGroups.
YoucanincludeSalesGroupsubtotals,customersubtotals,andthe
totalDSClientstoragesizeinthisreport.

DS-Billing 261
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Report Description

BackupSets ThisreportcanbefilteredbyDSSystems,CustomerAccountsand
DSClients.Thisreportdisplaysthestoredsize,protectedsizeand
nativesizeforeachbackupsetonaDSSystemaswellasthestored
sizeandprotectedsizeforeachbackupsetonBLMArchiver.
Thisreportcanalsobeconfiguredtodisplayaspecificbranding.

MonthlyReports Thisisagroupofreportsthatcanbefilteredbasedonamonth,time
period,oraspecifiedbillingcycle.ItcanincludeInvoiceReports
(youcanchoosetoexcludereferenceinvoicesandemptyinvoices
andreferenceinvoices),billingplanreport,additionalchargesreport
(youmaychoosetoexcludeinvoicesthatdonotincludeany
additionalcharges),creditreport,andsalesgroupreport(youmay
choosetoexcludesalesgroupswithoutcommissions).
Thesereportscanbegeneratedwithaspecificbranding.

DSClientExpiry ThisisareportthatcanshowtheDSClientsthathavealready
expired,ortheDSClientsthatwillexpirewithinaspecifictime
period.
Thesereportscanbegeneratedwithaspecificbranding.

Notifications

Event Viewer
TheeventvieweroftheOperatingSystem(EventVieweronWindows,/var/logs/
messagesonLinux)showscriticalerrorsoreventswhenaDSBillingservice/daemonis
stoppedorstarted.

Handling Customer Accounts and DS-Clients


AllEnterprise/ServiceProvidersneedtosetupcustomeraccountsand/orDSClientson
theDSSysteminordertoinstallandperformactivitieswithaDSClient.Thebilling
informationfortheseaccountsandDSClientsmustbesetupandmanagedthroughthe
DSBillingSystem.
OntheDSBillingSystem,accounts/DSClientscanbeassociatedwithbillingparameters.

Note:IfBLMArchiverisused,invoicescanincludechargesfortheBLMArchive
data.

CustomeraccountsandDSClientscanbecreatedthroughtheDSOperatorGUIdirectly
ontheDSSystemorthroughtheDSBilling.Whencreatingthemdirectlythroughthe
DSOperatorGUI,nobillingparametersareassociatedwiththeseaccounts/DSClients.
Settingupcustomeraccounts/DSClientswithbillingparametersinvolvesthefollowing
steps:

DS-Billing 262
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
1 AllowtheDSSystemtoregisterwithaDSBillingSystem(thissteponlyneedstobe
performedonce).
2 RegistertheDSSystemonaDSBillingSystem(thissteponlyneedstobeperformed
once).
3 Configureallbusinessparameters(seeBusinessParametersonpage263)andbilling
parameters(seeBillingParametersonpage263)ontheDSBillingSystem.
4 SetupcustomeraccountsandDSClientsusingtheDSBillinginterface.Youwillbe
abletoassignthecustomerandDSClientbillinginformationthroughtheDSBilling
GUI.

Business Parameters
TheDSBillingSystemusesthefollowingbusinessparameters.Althoughdefaultvalues
exist,theseparametersshouldbeconfiguredbeforecreatingcustomeraccounts:
Billingplans
CommissionstobeusedforsalesmadethroughSalesGroups
Taxratestobechargedtocustomers
SalesGroupsandSalesRepresentativestobeassociatedwiththecustomer/DSClient
Currencytobeusedforallinvoicesandfinancialcalculations
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanmakesalesthroughthirdparties,eitherinsteadoforin
additiontotheirInHousesalesforce.Therearetwotypesofthirdpartysalesgroups:
VARs:organizations,orthesalesdivisionoftheEnterprise/ServiceProvider,whosell,
install,andserviceAsigraCloudBackupforcustomers.
Referrals:thosewhocontracttosellAsigraCloudBackupservices,mainlythough
leadgeneration,butdonotinstallandserviceDSClients.
Enterprise/ServiceProviderscansetupasmanyVARs,referrals,andinhousesales
representativesasnecessary.AsigraInc.offersVARspecificbrandingformodules,fora
feeandtheDSBillingmodulecanbebrandedbytheEnterprise/ServiceProviderin
housewithouttheneedtocontactAsigraInc.
EachSalesGroup/SalesRepresentativecanbeassociatedwithaspecificcommissionrate.
AmonthlyreportoneachSalesGroupssalesisavailable.Inordertoapplybilling
parameterstoacustomer/DSClient,itmustbeassignedtoaspecificSalesRepresentative
(eitherinhouseorthirdparty).

Billing Parameters

Introduction
Beforecreatingcustomeraccountsthatwillbebilled,theDSBillingsystemmustbe
configuredwiththefollowingbillingrelatedparameters:
billingscalestobeusedtochargecustomers(seeBillingScalesonpage264)
servicechargestobechargedtocustomers(seeServiceChargesonpage265)
billingcycles
chargeplans

DS-Billing 263
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Billing Scales
Billingcanbecalculatedbasedon:
protectedsize(inMB/GB)theamountofcustomerdatabeingprotected
storedsize(inMB/GB)theamountofcustomerdatabeingstored(afterdelta
processing,compression,encryptionandeliminationofcommonfiles)
nativesize(inMB/GB)theamountofcustomerdatabeingprotectedforthelatest
generationofalldataforthatspecificbackupset
aflatfee
capacity(forLocalOnlyscales)
BasedonRecoverySize(forRLMenvironments)
BasedonStoredSizeandRecoveryPerformanceScore(forRLMenvironments)
IncludingDRDrillsizeorexcludingit(forRLMenvironments)
Chargingbasedonstoredsizemeanschargingfortherealamountofdatastoredonthe
DSSystemOnlineStorageforthatDSClient.
Chargingbasedonprotectedsizemeanschargingfortheoriginalfilesizeofeveryonline
generationkeptonline.Thesizeoforiginal(protected)dataislargerthanforstoreddata,
becauseoftheeffectsofcompression,deltaprocessingandcommonfileelimination.
Chargingforthenativesizemeanschargingfortheoriginalfilesizeofthelatestonline
generationkeptontheDSSystemOnlineStorage.Becauseofonlinegenerationrecycling,
ifbillingisbasedonstoreddata,therewillbeanapparentdifferencebetweenwhat
showsontheinvoiceandthefilesizethecustomermayseeonthesourcecomputers.
Inaddition,storedsizeandtheprotectedsizecanbecalculatedinoneofthreeways:
basedontheamountofstorageinuseattheendofthebillingcycle.
basedontheaveragedailystorageduringthebillingcycle.
basedonthepeak(highest)storageamountduringthebillingcycle.
Forprotectedorstoredsize,Enterprise/ServiceProviderssetadollarvaluetobecharged
foruptoaparticularnumberofMBs/GBs,andanextrapricetobechargedforeach
additionalMB/GB.Forexample,chargesmightbesetupasfollows:
forupto5,000MB,charge$200andthen$.055foreachMBabove5,000MB
forupto10,000MB,charge$395andthen$.050foreachMBabove10,000MB
forupto50,000MB,charge$1950andthen$.045foreachMBabove50,000MB
forupto100GB,charge$2000andthen$.080foreachGBabove100GB
Thelowestcostisautomaticallychosen.Forexample,saychargeswere:
$5forupto10MBand$1extraforeachMBabove
$10forupto100MB,and$0.1foreachMBabove
Acustomerusing11MBwouldpay,underthefirstcalculation,$6($5+$1),or,underthe
secondcalculation,$10($10+$0).Sincethefirstcalculationresultsinthelowestcostfor
thecustomer,thatiswhatthecustomerischarged.
Additionally,filtersbasedonthebackupsettypescanbeconfiguredinordertobeableto
chargedifferentratesfordifferenttypesofdata.

DS-Billing 264
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ChargingbasedonRecoverySizemeanschargingbasedontheamountofthatthatwas
recoveredinthebillingperiod.AbaseamountofdataandpriceperMBorGBplusan
additionalpriceperMBorGBifthebaseamountisconfigured.Forexample,ifa
customerhasrecovered1GBofdatainthelastbillingperiod,thiscustomerwouldbe
chargedforthis1GBofdatabasedonthebillingscalerules.
ChargingbasedonStoredSizeandRecoveryPerformanceScoremeanschargingforthe
amountofdatastoredattheendofthebillingperiod,averageofthebillingperiodor
peakofthebillingperiod,usingthepricesconfiguredfordifferentRecoveryScores.
RecoveryPerformanceScoreiscalculatedbydividingtherecoveryamountfortheterm
bytheaveragestoredamountfortheterm.ThetermlengthisconfiguredintheGlobal
OptionsscreenoftheDSBillingGUI.
WhenchargingbasedonStoredsizeandRecoveryPerformanceScore,theDRDrillSize
canbeincludedintherecoverysize,chargedseparatelyorexcluded.

Service Charges
Servicechargesspecifywhatfeestochargefordifferentservices,suchasinstallation,etc.
Chargescanbesetupperunit(forexample,foreachDisc/Tapemodulerequest)orasa
fixedprice(forexample,abasiccostforinstallationservices).Enterprise/Service
Providerscanalsosetthefrequencyofcharges(onetimeormonthly).
Chargescanbeadded,modified,orremovedanytimebeforetheinvoiceisgenerated.
ChargesrelatedtotheuseoftheDisc/Tapemoduleareautomaticallyaddedtoinvoices.

Generating Invoices
DSBillingautomaticallygeneratesinvoicesattheendofabillingcycle.Theycanbe
printedformailing,orexportedtoExcelformatforimportingintotheEnterprise/Service
Providersaccountingsystem.
IftheInvoicesareviewedfromtheMonthlyReports,theycanbeexportedinExcel
format,tabseparatedvaluesformat,andHTMLformat.
Ifinvoicescontainmistakesorinvaliddata,theycanberegeneratedusingtheDSBilling
GUIinterface.
InvoicescanbegeneratedforaDSClient,anaccount,abackupsetorevenforaSales
Group.

Note:Invoicescanbecustomizedthroughbranding.

DS-Billing 265
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Local DS-VDR Module

About the Local DS-VDR Module


TheLocalDSVDRmoduleenablesprotectionofVMwareVirtualmachinesinESX
environmentsbycloningthemtoanotherhost/datastoretoprovideastandbyfailoverfor
thatvirtualmachine.
ItalsoenablesprotectionofphysicalmachinesbyconvertingthemtoVMwareESX
VirtualMachineswiththehelpoftheVMwareConvertertooltoprovideastandby
failoverforthatphysicalmachineinaVMwareinfrastructure.
TheLocalDSVDRmoduleneedstobelicensedforeachDSSystemthatisgoingtooffer
it,andthenenabledforeachDSClientthatisgoingtouseitbyallocatingacount
(numberofVirtualMachinesthatcanbecloned).

About Virtual Machine Cloning


VirtualMachineshostedinaVMwareESXinfrastructurecanbeclonedtoanotherhost/
datastoreusingascheduledoramanualpredefinedpolicytoprovideastandbyVMfor
failoverincaseofdisasters.TheVirtualMachinessnapshotscanalsobeclonedandbe
availableforthestandbyVM.
OneormoreVMscanbeclonedwiththesameLocalDSVDRbackupset.

About Physical Machine Conversion to Virtual Machine


PhysicalmachinescanbeconvertedtoVMwareVirtualMachinesusingtheVMware
ConverterTooltoprovideastandbyVMforfailoverincaseofdisasters.Theprocesscan
bescheduledorrunondemand.OnePhysicalMachinecanbeconvertedwiththesame
LocalDSVDRbackupsetatonepointintime.

Local DS-VDR Backup Sets


ThesebackupsetsdonotsenddatatoDSSystems.
VMCloningcanbeconfiguredusingtheVMwareVADPbackupsets(withtheUse
LocalDSVDRoption).PhysicaltoVirtualConversioncanbeconfiguredusingthe
PhysicaltoVirtualbackupsettype.

Local DS-VDR Module 266


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
ThenumberofgenerationsforabackupsetrepresentsthenumberofVMswaitingin
standbymodeincaseofdisastersforthesameVirtual/PhysicalMachine.Whenthis
maximumnumberisreached,theoldestVMisoverwritten.Atimestampisaddedtothe
VirtualMachinenameswhentheclone/conversionprocessistriggered.

Setting up Local DS-VDR Module


TheLocalDSVDRtoolneedstobelicensedandthenenabledforeachDSSystemthatis
goingtoofferitandforeachDSClientthatisgoingtouseit.EachDSSystemretrievesits
totalLocalDSVDRallocationfromitsDSLicenseServer.
TheLocalDSVDRservicemustbeinstalledandaccessiblebyaFullFeaturedDSClient
whencreating,editing,ordeletingaLocalDSVDRbackupset.Thisisaseparate
installationfoundontheAsigraReleaseDVD.
DSClientisregisteringitshardwareinformationtotheLocalDSVDRTool.OneDS
ClientcanconnecttooneLocalDSVDRToolatanypointintime.

Running Local DS-VDR Activities


BackupsetsmustbeconfiguredinordertorunLocalDSVDRactivities:eitherfor
cloningactivitiesorforphysicaltovirtualconversionactivities.
TheLocalDSVDRbackupsetscanberunonascheduleorondemandbasis.The
schedulecanbeconfiguredtorunDaily,Weekly,Monthlyorasmanytimesasrequired
usingscheduledetails.

Local & Remote DS-VDR Overview Diagram

Asigra Local & Remote DS-VDR for Virtual Disaster Recovery Solution
Snapshot Image based V-V & Convert P-V

VMware Environment for


VMware Environment for VDR Solution
VDR Solution
Local DS-VDR Win
VMware Converter
Server & Client

Vir
Local DS-VDR tua
Proxy Vir lM
tua ac
lM hin
ac es
Physical Server & hin
VMware Converter es
Agent DS-Client, DS-User
Win/Linux

Remote DS-VDR VMware Host


Linux
VMware Host VMware vCenter
VMware Production
Environment

VMware vCenter
Vir Remote DS-VDR
tua Linux
lM
ac
hin
es

Replication Replication
WAN or LAN

VMware Host
DS-System Extensible DS-License
DS-Client Linux, DS-System N+1 Storage Server
DS-User Win/Linux N+1 DS-Operator
DS-Operator

Extensible
VMware vCenter Storage

Local DS-VDR Module 267


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Remote DS-VDR Module

About the Remote DS-VDR Module


TheRemoteDSVDRmoduleenablesrestoresofVirtualMachinesthathavealreadybeen
backedupbyaDSClienttoDSSystem(withCBTandincrementalforever)toaVMware
ESXinfrastructure,inordertobereadyforfailoverindisasterrecoveryscenarios.
OnlyVMsbackedupatVMlevelcanberestoredviaRemoteDSVDRTool.TheRemote
DSVDRfunctionalityisnotsupportedforVMwareVADPbackupsetsbackingupVMs
atdisklevel.

Setting up Remote DS-VDR Module


TheRemoteDSVDRmoduleneedstobelicensedforeachDSSystemthatisgoingto
offerit,andthenenabledforeachDSClientthatisgoingtouseitbyallocatingacount
(numberofbackupsetsthatcanbeconfiguredforRemoteDSVDR).
Inaddition,youmustruntheRemoteDSVDRinstallationRPMpackage(foundonthe
AsigraReleaseDVD)onthetargetLinuxcomputerwhereyouwanttheservice/daemon
torun.

Running Remote DS-VDR Activities


TheRemoteDSVDRVirtualMachinerestoreprocesscanbescheduledorrunon
demand.Scheduledprocessescanbeconfiguredtoautomaticallyrestorethelatest
generationofVMsintheVADPbackupset.Manualprocessescanselectivelyrestorea
specificgenerationofaVMintheVADPbackupset.AfterVMsarerestored,theRemote
DSVDRToolcanbootthemupandkeepthemashotstandbysorcanleavethem
shutdown,butreadilyavailabletouseindisasterrecoveryscenarios.VMscanbe
poweredonviaapriorityordertoaccommodatescenarioswhensomeserversneedtobe
startedaheadofotherservers(e.g.thedomaincontrollershouldbepoweredonpriorto
anMSExchangeServer,etc.).
AnEMailnotificationcanbesentattheendoftheRemoteDSVDRactivity.Itwill
includeasummaryofthestatusoftheVMs:DSSystemname,VMnamesandrestore
status(success,failure).

Remote DS-VDR Module 268


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Local & Remote DS-VDR Overview Diagram

Asigra Local & Remote DS-VDR for Virtual Disaster Recovery Solution
Snapshot Image based V-V & Convert P-V

VMware Environment for


VMware Environment for VDR Solution
VDR Solution
Local DS-VDR Win
VMware Converter
Server & Client

Vir
Local DS-VDR tua
Proxy Vir lM
tua ac
lM hin
ac es
Physical Server & hin
VMware Converter es
Agent DS-Client, DS-User
Win/Linux

Remote DS-VDR VMware Host


Linux
VMware Host VMware vCenter
VMware Production
Environment

VMware vCenter
Vir Remote DS-VDR
tua Linux
lM
ac
hin
es

Replication Replication
WAN or LAN

VMware Host
DS-System Extensible DS-License
DS-Client Linux, DS-System N+1 Storage Server
DS-User Win/Linux N+1 DS-Operator
DS-Operator

Extensible
VMware vCenter Storage

Remote DS-VDR Module 269


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In

About the SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In


TheSalesForce.comDSClientPluginenablesFullFeaturedWindowsDSClientsto
backupandrestoresalesforce.comdata.Salesforce.comdatacanbebackedupat
databaselevelortablelevel.Specifictablescanbeselectedandbackupcanberunonlyon
them.
Whenrestoringsalesforce.combackupsets,theentiredatabasecanberestored,andits
schemaorselectedtablesfromthedatabasecanberestored.
Ifanysalesforce.combackupsetdatabasedumpsexistlocallyontheDSClientmachine,
thentheendusercanpointtoanexistingdumpandrestoretheselecteditemsfromitto
theirsalesforce.comcloud.

Setting up Cloud To Cloud (Salesforce.com) Backup Sets


TheSalesForce.comDSClientPlugIninstallationmustberunontheDSClientmachine
inordertobeabletocreateSalesforce.combackupsets.Asalesforce.comusernameand
passwordandsecuritytokenarealsorequiredforauthenticationtoeachsalesforce.com
accountdatabase.

Running Cloud To Cloud (SalesForce) Activities


Salesforce.comdatacanbebackedupbyscheduleorondemandwithaWindows
FullFeaturedDSClient.Backupscanbescheduledasoftenasneeded(daily,weekly,
monthlyormultipletimesduringtheday,week,ormonth).

SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In 270


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In

About the Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In


TheGoogleAppsDSClientPluginenablesFullFeaturedWindowsDSClientstobackup
andrestoreGoogleAppsdata.GoogleAppsbackupsetssupportbackupandrestoreof
contacts,calendar,sites,drive,andGmail.

Setting up Cloud To Cloud (Google Apps) Backup Sets


TheGoogleAppsDSClientPlugIninstallationmustberunontheDSClientmachinein
ordertobeabletocreateGoogleAppsbackupsets.AGoogleAppsaccountmustexistto
bebackedup.
TheDSClientandtheDSUserGUIinstanceusedtoconfiguretheGoogleAppsbackup
setmustbeabletoconnecttotheGoogleAppsdomain(i.e.haveanInternetconnection).
YoucanalsoconfiguretheDSClienttoconnecttoGoogleAppsviaaproxyserver(from
DSUser:Setupmenu>Configuration>Connectionstab).
Therearesomeextensiveconfigurationsandauthenticationcodesrequiredtoperform
thistypeofbackup.SeetheDSClientUserGuideKnowledgeBasearticleBackupfrom
theCloud(GoogleApps)fordetails.

Running Cloud To Cloud (Google Apps) Activities


GoogleAppsdatacanbebackedupbyscheduleorondemandwithaWindows
FullFeaturedDSClient.Backupscanbescheduledasoftenasneeded(daily,weekly,
monthlyormultipletimesduringtheday,week,ormonth).

Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In 271


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In

About the Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In


TheMicrosoftOffice365DSClientPluginenablesFullFeaturedDSClientforWindows
tobackupandrestoreMicrosoftOffice365Exchange,MicrosoftSharePointandMicrosoft
OneDrive.
MicrosoftOffice365backupsetssupportbackupandrestoreofthefollowingitems:
Office365MSExchange2013
Mailboxes,Folders,Emails
Contacts,ContactGroups
Calendarevents
Tasks
Office365MSSharePoint2013
Sitecollections,sites
Lists
Webs
Documents(documentsarebackedupaspartofalistbutcanberestored
individually)
Office365MSOneDrive2013
ADocumentLibraryundereachuserspersonalsite
Office365backupsetscanbecreatedeitherforMSSharePointOnlineorforMS
ExchangeOnlinebutnotforbothitemsinthesamebackupset.OneDriveisasubsiteof
MicrosoftSharePoint.

Setting up Cloud To Cloud (Microsoft Office 365) Backup Sets


TheMicrosoftOffice365DSClientPlugIninstallationmustberunontheDSClient
machineinordertobeabletocreateMicrosoftOffice365backupsets.AMicrosoftOffice
365accountmustexisttobebackedup.
DSClientandtheClassicDSUserGUIinstanceusedtoconfiguretheMicrosoftOffice
365backupsetmustbeabletoconnecttotheMicrosoftOffice365domain(i.e.havean
Internetconnection).

Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In 272


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
YoucanalsoconfiguretheDSClienttoconnecttoMicrosoftOffice365viaaproxyserver
(fromDSUser:Setupmenu>Configuration>Connectionstab).

Running Cloud To Cloud (Microsoft Office 365) Activities


MicrosoftOffice365datacanbebackedupbyscheduleorondemandwithaWindows
FullFeaturedDSClient.Backupscanbescheduledasoftenasneeded(daily,weekly,
monthlyormultipletimesduringtheday,week,ormonth).

Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In 273


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Snapshot Manager Module

About the Snapshot Manager Module


TheSnapshotManagerModuleenablesuseofNetAppAPIsandSnapVaulttoinitiate
NetAppsnapshotsanddatatransferusingSnapVaultbetweendifferentNetApp
volumes/qtrees.
ConfigurationusingtheSnapshotManagerisdonethroughtheDSUserGUI.Whenthe
dataprocessistriggered,nodataflowsthroughtheDSClient.Thedataishandledsolely
betweenthesourceanddestinationNetAppdevices.
Thesnapshotsanddatatransfercanbetriggeredondemandorbyschedule.The
scheduledprocesscanbeconfiguredtorunintheAMorPM,fromSundaytoSaturday.
Retentionrulescanbecreatedtohandlethesnapshotslifecycle.

Setting up Snapshot Manager Module


TheSnapshotManagermoduleneedstobelicensedforeachDSSystemthatisgoingto
offerit,andthenenabledforeachDSClientthatisgoingtouseit,anditalsorequires
validNetAppSnapVaultlicenses.

Snapshot Manager Module 274


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Appendices

Thissectioncontainsaglossarythatoffersdefinitionsoftermsandlinkstomoredetailedcontent
(GlossaryandLinksonpage276)andanindex(Indexonpage288).

275
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Glossary and Links

This term... Means this... For more details, see...

A
accountkey Encryptionkeyprovidedbycustomerat EncryptionMethodson
installationtime;usedtoencryptcommonfiles page117
forallDSClientsinthatcustomeraccount.

accountlibrary Librarycontainingafilecommontoseveral CommonFileElimination


DSClientswithinthesamecustomeraccount. onpage153

activity OperationsofDSClientorDSSystem. DSClientActivitieson


page125
DSSystemActivitieson
page66

ActivityLog LogofDSClient,DSSystem,orBLMArchiver DSClientActivitieson


activities. page125
DSSystemActivitieson
page66

agentlessDSClient Softwaredoesnotneedtobeinstalledonsource
computersinordertoperformbackupsand
restores.Thisisafundamentalfeatureof
DSClient.

autoupgrade ProcessofautomaticallyupgradingaDSClient UpgradingDSClienton


toanewerversionorServicePack. page129
ServicePacksonpage211

AutonomicHealing SeeAutonomicHealingmodule.

AutonomicHealing Modulethataddressesissuesoffilecorruption AutonomicHealing


module andincreasestheintegrityofDSSystemOnline Moduleonpage217
Storage.

Glossary and Links 276


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

B
BackupLifecycle SeeBLM. BackupLifecycle
Management Management(BLM)Topics
onpage236

backupset Groupofitemsthatdefinealltheparameters DSClientUserGuide


forthebackup:backupitems(directories,files, SettingupandManaging
applications)tobebackedup,backupoptions, Backupsonpage98
schedules,connectionstoshares/databases,and
authentication.CreatedthroughDSUsersNew
BackupSetWizard.

bandwidththrottle Maximumthroughput(inKB/second)between CustomerAccountson


aparticularDSClientandDSSystem. page61

blocklevel AsigraCloudBackupsprocessofdividing HowBackedupDatais


filesintodatablockstoidentifywhatshouldbe Handledonpage139
backeduporrestored.

BLM TheBackupLifecycleManagement(BLM) BackupLifecycle


ModuleisasolutionthatworkswithDSClient, Management(BLM)Topics
DSSystem,andaBLMArchivertoextendthe onpage236
optionsforcustomersbackedupdata.In
additiontoarchivingdatafromDSSystem
OnlineStoragetolesscostlymedia,thisModule
givescustomersadditionaloptionsforcopying,
removing,anddestroyingdata.

BLMArchiver ThelicensedpartofAsigraCloudBackup BackupLifecycle


softwarethatreceivesandprocessesrequests Management(BLM)Topics
fromDSSystemorDSNOCmodule. onpage236
Runsasaserviceordaemon,andstarts
automatically.

BLMGUI DedicatedJavaUserinterfacefortheBLM BackupLifecycle


Archiver. Management(BLM)Topics
onpage236

C
clientlibrary Librarycontainingafilecommontoasingle CommonFileElimination
DSClient. onpage153

Glossary and Links 277


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

commonfiles Filesthatareidentical(incontent,notinfile CommonFileElimination


name)andexistinmultiplelocations: onpage153
ononeofthecustomerssourcecomputers
(withinoracrossthatcustomersDSClients)
acrossthesourcecomputersofseveral
customers.
TheycanbecommontoaDSClient(client
library),severalDSClientsforthesame
customer(accountlibrary),orseveralcustomers
(publiclibrary).

compressed Resultofapplyingacompressionalgorithm. CompressionMethodson


page115

compression Useofacompressionalgorithmtoreducethe CompressionMethodson


sizeoffiles. page115

CRIfile CustomerRegistrationInformationfile,
containingcustomeraccountinformation
(accountnumber,customernumber,DSSystem
IPaddress),usedwheninstallingDSClient.

customer Entity(company,department,etc.)accessing
backupandrestoreservice.Musthaveatleast
oneDSClient;mayhavemorethanone.Each
customerhasasinglecustomeraccount.

customeraccount Entitythatcontainsinformationusedfor CustomerAccountson


billing,dataidentification,andsecurity page61
purposes.Enterprise/ServiceProviderscanset
upaccountsmanuallyorletVARs/customers
setuptheirownaccountsusingtheDSNOC
module.Eachcustomerhasoneaccount.

D
DailyAdmin ADSClientAdminprocessthatrunsdaily. DSClientAdministration
onpage120

datablock Portionoflargefile;usedsobothbackupand HowBackedupDatais


restorecanbedonebasedontheelementsthat Handledonpage139
makeupafile,nottheentirefile.Ifanydata
changesinablock,thewholeblockisbacked
up.

deltageneration Atypeofonlinegenerationthatcontainsonly HowBackedupDatais


thechangesinafilesincethepreviousbackup. Handledonpage139

deltaprocessing TheuseoftheDSDeltaalgorithmtodoblock HowBackedupDatais


levelprocessingoffilesthatqualifyformaster Handledonpage139
generation/deltagenerationprocessing.

Glossary and Links 278


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

digitalsignature Itemgeneratedfromthefilecontentduring RestoringBackedupData


backupandusedintherestoreprocessto onpage106
ensuretheintegrityofthedatabeingrestored.

disasterrestore Processofrecoveringlargequantitiesofdata DSClientMaintenanceon


afteradisaster. page128

DisasterRecovery SpecialDSSystemmode(setmanually)to
mode ensuredataconsistencyacrossstoragelocations
afterrecovery.

Disc/Tape SeeDisc/Tapemodule.

Disc/Tapemodule Usedtopreparebackedupfilestobemovedto Disc/TapeModuleonpage


removablemediaforarchiveoremergency 221
restorepurposes.

DSClient FreepieceofsoftwareavailabletoEnterprise/ AboutDSClientonpage20


ServiceProvidercustomersandusedtoprotect IntroductiontoDSClient
customerdata. onpage73
Usedtoidentifydatatobebackedupandto ImplementingDSClienton
restoredata.Initiatesallcommunicationwith page182
DSSystem.Runsasaserviceordaemon,and
startsautomatically.

DSClientAdmin Automaticadministrativeprocessesdesignedto DSClientAdministration


makeDSClientselftuningandself onpage120
maintaining.

DSClientbuffer Temporarylocationusedinsituationswhere DSClientBufferonpage


DSClientsconnectiontoDSSystemisslower 111
thanDSClientsconnectionwithintheLAN.
Alsousedasthedatabasedumplocationfor
specifictypesofbackupsandfortemporary
storageofrestoreddata.

DSBilling Serviceordaemonthatmaintainsthebilling DSBillingonpage255


databaseforregisteredDSSystemsandBLM DSBillingOperatorManual
Archivers.
DSBillingInstallationGuide

DSBillingGUI UserinterfaceforDSBillingusedtoconfigure DSBillingOperatorManual


customeraccountsandservices. DSBillingInstallationGuide

DSClientdatabase Database(s)usedtostoreDSClient DSClientDatabaseson


configurationinformation,backupsetdetails, page74
andotherinformation.

DSClient Optionsavailableforoperatingsystems, ImplementingDSClienton


implementation componentplacement,etc.forDSClient. page182

Glossary and Links 279


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

DSClient PartoftheDSClientUserGuidethatprovides DSClientUserGuide


KnowledgeBase detailedinformationaboutspecific
circumstancesandfeatures.

DSClientmachine ComputerholdingtheDSClientsoftware
whereallbackupprocessingiscarriedout.

DSClient EMail,fax,pager,broadcast,oreventmessages IntroductiontoDSClient


notifications concerningaparticularoccurrence. onpage73

DSClientService UsedtostartandstopDSClient.
Manager

DSDirector TheDSSysteminanN+1DSSystem DSSystemN+1onpage38


configurationthatisthegridssynchronization
point.

DSLicenseServer Serviceordaemonthatvalidatesthelicense ASIGRADSLicenseServer


quotasforregisteredDSSystemsandBLM onpage201.
Archivers.

DSMLR SeeDSRecoveryToolsmodule DSRecoveryToolsModule


onpage228.

DSNOC NetworkOperationsControl(NOC)allows DSNOCModuleonpage


customeraccountstobesetup,andinformation 232
tobeviewed,usingtheWeb. DSNOCInstallationGuide

DSOperator UserinterfaceforDSSystemusedtoconfigure DSOperatorManual


customeraccountsandservices. DSOperatorInstallation
Guide

DSRecoveryTools Modulethatcontainsservicesthat: DSRecoveryToolsModule


module enablecustomerstobackupandrestoreE onpage228
Mails,downtothelevelofasinglemessage
(DSMLRservice).
enablecustomertobackupandrestore
MicrosoftSharePointservers(DSRecovery
Toolsservice).

DSSize Theactualstoredsizeoffiles,afterdelta FileSizeCalculationson


processingandcompression. page151

DSSystem ThelicensedpartofAsigraCloudBackup AboutDSSystemonpage


softwarethatreceivesandprocessesrequests 19
fromDSClient. IntroductiontoDSSystem
onpage26
DSSystemN+1onpage38
ImplementingDSClienton
page182

Glossary and Links 280


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

DSSystem Optionsavailableforoperatingsystems, ImplementingDSSystem


implementation componentplacement,modules,etc. onpage176

DSSystemdatabase DatabaseonDSSystemthatholds IntroductiontoDSSystem


configuration,billing,andcommonfiles onpage26
information.

DSSystem EMailoreventmessageconcerningaparticular IntroductiontoDSSystem


notifications occurrence. onpage26

DSSystemOnline Storagelocationwherebackedupdataisstored DSSystemOnlineStorage


Storage inonlinegenerations,incompressedand onpage42
encryptedformat.

DSSystemService UsedtostartandstopDSSystemservice.
Manager

DSUser UserinterfaceforDSClient.Usedtoconfigure DSClientUserManual


DSClientandtodefinebackupsetsand DSClientInstallationGuide
schedules.Offersfriendlyinterfaceforall
operationstheuserneeds.

E
encrypted Filethatcanbeaccessedonlybycustomerswho EncryptionMethodson
havethecorrectencryptionkey. page117

encryption Processofensuringafilecannotbereadby EncryptionMethodson


someonewhodoesnothavetheright page117
encryptionkey.

Enterprise/Service OrganizationusingDSSystemforinternal
Provider purposes,backingupandrestoringcorporate
data.
or
Organizationdeliveringservicestocustomers,
hostingDSSystem(s),managingcustomer
accounts,andprovidingfrontlinesupport.

eventviewer Theeventvieweroftheoperatingsystem
(EventVieweronWindows,/var/logs/
messagesonLinux).Showscriticalerrorsor
eventswhileapplicationsarefunctioning.

extensiblestorage Supportforadditionalstoragepathsforstoring DSSystemOnlineStorage


backedupdata. onpage42

G
Grid SeeGridDSClient.

Glossary and Links 281


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

GridDSClient AconfigurationofseveralDSClientcomputer WindowsDSClient


installationsworkingtogetherwithacommon InstallationGuide
setofDSClientdatabasestobalancethe
processingloadinahighavailability
environment.

I
ILM/HSM InformationLifecycleManagement/ ILM/HSMIntegrationon
HierarchicalStorageManagement.ILM/HSM page130
concernsthemanagementofdataasitpertains
tostorage,withstoragepoliciesthatdetermine
whereinformationisstoredasitages.

initialbackup Process,coordinatedbetweentheDSClient AboutInitialBackupon


LANAdministratorandtheEnterprise/Service page21
Provider,tobackupalargeamountofdata
throughadirectLANconnection.Performed
viadirectLANconnectiontoaportabledisk
(thatcanbeshippedtotheDSSystemsite).

Installationand APDFfileavailablefromAsigraInc.,outlining
Backup/Restore thematrixofsupportedplatforms,databases,
SupportMatrix andversionsforAsigraCloudBackup.
IncludedonreleaseDVDs(contact
support@asigra.comforacopy).

invoice AutomaticallycreatedforDSClientor CustomerAccountson


customerbyDSBillingandaccessedthrough page61
DSBillingGUI.

IPWAN WANthatsupportstheIPprotocol.Usedfor
communicationbetweenDSSystemand
DSClientaswellasbetweenindividualDS
Softwarecomponents.

L
LANDiscovery Usedtoanalyzecustomerdatapriortoand LANDiscoveryonpage
afterimplementation,optimizingthebackup 225
environment. DSClientUserGuide

library Locationwherecommonfilesarestored. CommonFileElimination


onpage153

license LegalarrangementwithAsigraInc.foruseof AsigraDSSoftware


theDSSystemsoftware. Licensingonpage201

licensefile SoftwarelicenseissuedbyAsigraInc.

Glossary and Links 282


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

licensed DirectAsigracustomerwhoalreadyhasalegal AsigraDSSoftware


arrangementwithAsigraInc.foruseofthe Licensingonpage201
DSSystemsoftware.

LocalDSVDR LocalDSVDRisatoolthatallowsDSClientto LocalDSVDRModuleon


managecloningofVMwareVirtualMachines. page266

LocalStorageCache Featurethatsavesbackupdatatothelocal DSClientLocalStorage


storagecacheifconnectionfromDSClientto Cacheonpage113
DSSystemislostduringbackup.

LocalStorage Savesacopyofbackedupdatalocally,for LocalStorageModuleon


module fasterrestores. page222

LocalStoragepath Localpathusedtostoredatabeingsenttothe LocalStorageModuleon


LocalStoragemodule. page222

M
MainNode TheDSClientinaGridDSClientconfiguration GridDSClientonpage93
thatisthegridssynchronizationpoint.

massdeployment FeaturethatallowsgroupsofDSClientstobe DSClientMass


automaticallyconfiguredwithsimilar Deploymentonpage207
information.

mastergeneration Atypeofonlinegenerationthatcontainsthe HowBackedupDatais


entirecontentsofafileataspecificpointin Handledonpage139
time.

MessageLevel SeeDSRecoveryToolsmodule DSRecoveryToolsModule


Restore(DS onpage228
RecoveryTools
module)

Glossary and Links 283


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

modules Modulesneedtobelicensed.Thelicense AutonomicHealing


enablesthemoduleforDSSystem.Enterprise/ Moduleonpage217
ServiceProviderscanfurtherenablethemodule Disc/TapeModuleonpage
forspecificDSClientswhoshouldhaveaccess 221
toit.
DSSystemN+1onpage38
AutonomicHealingmodule
LocalStorageModuleon
Disc/Tapemodule page222
N+1DSSystem DSRecoveryToolsModule
LocalStoragemodule onpage228
DSRecoveryToolsmodule OnlineFileSummary
OnlineFileSummarymodule Moduleonpage231
DSNOCmodule DSNOCModuleonpage
232
BackupLifecycleManagementmodule
BackupLifecycle
Replicationmodule
Management(BLM)Topics
LocalDSVDRmodule onpage236
RemoteDSVDRmodule DSSystemOnlineStorage
SnapshotManagermodule Replicationonpage51
LocalDSVDRModuleon
page266
RemoteDSVDRModule
onpage268
SnapshotManagerModule
onpage274

monitorDSSystem MethodsusedtoensureDSSystemisoperating IntroductiontoDSSystem


smoothly. onpage26

N
N+1DSSystem SeveralDSSystemsworkingtogether,witha DSSystemN+1onpage38
commondatabaseandacommonDSSystem
OnlineStorage.

notifications SeeDSClientnotificationsorDSSystem
notifications.

O
OnlineFile Crossreferencesandanalyzesdatabackedup OnlineFileSummary
Summarymodule byDSClient,improvingthemanagementof Moduleonpage231
andoptimizingbackupsets.

onlinegeneration VersionofafilekeptinDSSystemOnline HowBackedupDatais


Storage.Numberofonlinegenerationsis Handledonpage139
determinedbycustomer.Threetypesofonline
generations:regulargeneration,delta
generation,andmastergeneration.

Glossary and Links 284


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

onlinegeneration Methodusedtoimprovebackupspeedby HowBackedupDatais


recycling avoidingtheneedtoreconstructonline Handledonpage139
generations.

orphanedbackup AnybackupsetsthatexistonDSSystemOnline SettingupandManaging


sets Storagewithnocorrespondinginformationin Backups
theDSClientdatabase.

orphanedlibrary AlibrarywhoseassociatedDSClientor
customeraccountnolongerexists.

outofsync AbackupsetwhoseDSClientdatabase SynchronizingDSClient


informationisnotsynchronizedwiththe withDSSystemonpage165
contentsofDSSystemOnlineStorage.

P
portableDSSystem DSSysteminstalledonacomputerthatcanbe
takentoacustomerspremises.Usedforinitial
backupanddisasterrestore(uptoversion6.0).

privatekey Encryptionkeyprovidedbycustomerat EncryptionMethodson


installationtime,usedtoencryptallfilesfora page117
particularDSClient.

publiclibrary Librarycontainingfilescommontomorethan CommonFileElimination


onecustomer. onpage153

R
recycledgeneration Filegenerationthatisgivenanegativenumber HowBackedupDatais
and,eventually,willbeassembledwithother Handledonpage139
recycledgenerationstomakeanewmaster
generation.

referral ThirdpartythatEnterprise/ServiceProviders CustomerAccountson


contractwithtosellAsigraCloudBackup page61
servicesontheirbehalf,mainlythroughlead
generation.

register ProcesswherebyDSClientsendsunique RegistrationLayer


identifiertoDSSystem. Protectiononpage157

regulargeneration Atypeofonlinegenerationthatcontainsthe HowBackedupDatais


entirecontentsofafileataparticularpointin Handledonpage139
time.

RemoteDSVDR RemoteDSVDRisatoolthatallowsDSSystem RemoteDSVDRModule


totakeabackedupVMwareVADPsets onpage268
VirtualMachinefromDSSystemonlinestorage
andrestoreittoaVMwareESXinfratructure.

Glossary and Links 285


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

Replication Modulethatenablestwo(ormore)DSSystems DSSystemOnlineStorage


tohostindependentcopiesofDSClientbackup Replicationonpage51
sets,eachontheirrespectiveDSSystemOnline SecondaryBackup(Backup
Storage. oftheBackup)onpage179

replicationgroup TwoormoreDSSystemsconfiguredasagroup
forReplicationpurposes.AnyDSClientthatis
sharedwillhaveallofitsbackupsetsreplicated
oneachDSSysteminthegroup.

Restorability Methodusedtovalidatethatcriticalfilescanbe RestorabilityValidationon


Validation restored,withoutconsumingDSClient page171
processingandstoragespace.

S
secondarybackup BackupofDSSystemOnlineStorage. SecondaryBackup(Backup
oftheBackup)onpage179

selfcontained Backupsetthatrequiresnoconnectionto SettingupandManaging


backupset DSSystem(datastoredlocally). Backupsonpage98

SNMP MethodofintegratingAsigraCloudBackup SNMPIntegrationonpage


withenterprisenetworkandsystems 169
managementsolutions.

sourcecomputers Computerscontainingdatatobebackedup.

standalone ForDSSystem,asingleDSSystemorseveral
DSSystemsoperatingindependently(as
distinctfromN+1DSSystem).
ForDSClient,asingleDSClientorseveralDS
Clientsoperatingindependently(asdistinct
fromGridDSClient).

statisticalbackup Backupsruntocollectinformationonthesizeof StatisticalBackuponpage


storageneededforaparticularcustomer. 205
Backedupdataisnotsaved.

storagehistory Methodofcalculatinghowmuchstoragespace CustomerAccountson


isbeingused(forbilling). page61

storagequotas Limittheamountofdatathatcanbestoredon CustomerAccountson


DSSystemOnlineStoragebyaparticular page61
customeraccountand/orDSClientwithinthat
account.

streamsize Sizeoftheactualdatabackedupbythe FileSizeCalculationson


DSClient. page151

Glossary and Links 286


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
This term... Means this... For more details, see...

synchronization Processofensuringdataintegritybetweenthe SynchronizingDSClient


DSClientdatabaseandDSSystemOnline withDSSystemonpage165
Storage.

SystemAdmin Processrunautomaticallythatchecks DSSystemAdministration


DSSystemforfilecorruptionandother onpage58
problems,andgathersstatistics.

T
trashfolder Foldercontainingfilesmarkedfordeletionand DSSystemAdministration
thatweremovedfromtheiroriginallocation. onpage58
Itemsinthisfoldercanonlybemanually
deleted.

V, W
VAR Organizationwithsalesrepresentatives(orthe CustomerAccountson
salesdivisionoftheEnterprise/ServiceProvider page61
company)thatsellsandservicesAsigraCloud
Backup.TheVARwillsell,install,andservice
AsigraCloudBackupatthecustomers
locations.

VDR VirtualDisasterRecovery modulesonpage284


TwoVDRmodulesareoffered:
LocalDSVDR
RemoteDSVDR

WeeklyAdmin ADSClientAdminprocessthatrunsweekly. DSClientAdministration


onpage120

Glossary and Links 287


Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Index

A viewing (DS-System) 30, 242, 259


access Activity Distribution graph 31
network protection 157 activity load for DS-Client 199
time for file, reporting 226 Activity Log
to DS-System Online Storage 42 BLM 242
to DS-User 74 defined 276
to source computers, how secured 118 DS-Billing 259
account key DS-Client 78, 84, 88
defined 276 DS-Client, activities in 125
setting up 118 DS-System 30
verification 158 DS-System, activities in 66
account library Additional Charges Report (DS-Billing) 260
defined 276 AES 117
deleting 155 agentless, defined 276
explained 154 Analyze activity 126
activities Android DS-Client
concurrent on DS-Client 199 explained 8990
defined 276
Application Auto Upgrade
DS-Client 125
DS-System 66 activity, DS-Client 125
during DS-Client Admin 123 Application Auto Upgrade activity 66
log (BLM) 242 application-opened files, backing up 102
log (DS-Billing) 259 Archive Packages report 243
log (DS-Client) 78 archived source data 239
log (DS-Mobile Client) 84
Asigra Cloud Backup, introduction 1624
log (DS-Notebook Client) 88
log (DS-System) 30 assisted delete 54
monitor (DS-Client) 78 Audit Trail
monitor (DS-Mobile Client) 84 DS-Client 78
monitor (DS-Notebook Client) 88 DS-System 30
monitor (DS-System) 30 auto upgrade
monitoring (DS-System) 30, 242, 259 defined 276
number of threads for N+1 194 explained 129, 230
of DS-Client Admin 121
Auto Upgrade activity 66
restricted during synchronization 165
triggering notification (DS-Client) 81 Autonomic Healing module

Index 288
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
defined 276 orphaned, identifying 122
explained 217220 out of sync - see out of sync backup sets
log 30 report, DS-Client 79
report, DS-System 32
B scheduling 99
backup self-contained and Local Storage 224
activity on DS-System 66 self-contained, defined 286
activity, DS-Client 125 self-contained, explained 101
application-opened files 102 statistical data about 122
choosing files for 225 verifying 122
common files 154 Backup Sets (DS-Billing) 262
completely locked files 102 Backup Status Report 32
confirmation 166 Backup Trends Report 79
consecutive 139 Backup Users Report 79
database dump method 100
Backup/Restore Report
errors during 104
explained 98105 DS-Client 79
initial, explained 21 DS-System 32
interrupted 22 bak folder
limiting 101 directory structure 48
locked files 102 uses for 28
on-demand 76 bandwidth
open files 102 estimating 188
overview of 2123 server backup, calculating 191
permissions 100 user computers backup, calculating 192
process 22
bandwidth throttle
running databases 102
statistical - see statistical backup defined 277
streams 100 explained 64
system-only files 102 bare metal restore 108
to Local Storage 222 Billing - see DS-Billing
use of buffer 112 Billing Plans Report (DS-Billing) 260
use of local storage cache 113 BLM
what can be handled 98
explained 236254
window, reducing 225
BLM Archiver 237
Backup Group Report 78
BLM Archiving
Backup Items Report 78
activity on DS-System 66
Backup Lifecycle Management - see BLM
BLM Cloud Storage 237
backup sets
BLM Destruction Certificates report 35, 242
creating 99
defined 277 BLM Request
delete 55 activity on DS-System 66
explained 99 activity, DS-Client 125
how handled in Local Storage 223 BLM Restorable Image Buffer 237
local-only, explained 101 BLM Restore
management 231 activity, DS-Client 125
optimizing 231
BLM Staging Buffer 237
options 100
orphaned, defined 285 block-level processing
orphaned, explained 104 defined 277

Index 289
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
explained 140 initial backup and 153
illustration of 141 invalidating libraries 155
broadcast notifications, DS-Client 81 moving between libraries 154
buffer public library 154
size for 153
defined 279
viewing libraries 155
DS-Client - sizing 185
where stored 154
explained 111112
why identify 153
role in backup process 112
communication
C to DS-System 157160
Cancel Convert with IP WAN, DS-Client 184
with IP WAN, DS-System 178
activity, DS-Client 125
with source computers 183
CDP
communication failure
backup sets it applies to 132
during restore from Local Storage 159
explained 132134
reasons for 158
interrupted 133
recovering from 159
restrictions on 132
trigger policies 133 completely locked files, backing up 102
check only synchronization 166 compressed files, compressing 115
clean libraries function compression
activity 66 algorithms 115
common files 116
clean library function
defined 278
explained 155 explained 115116
Clean local-only trash how done 115
activity, DS-Client 125 of compressed files 115
clean logs function why done 115
activity 66 concurrent activities
client library DS-Client 199
defined 277 recommended limits to 195
delete 155 configuration
explained 154 DS-System 176
Cloud Database Upload files, N+1 180
activity, DS-Client 125 Local Storage module 186
message service 185
clustering DS-System database 179
N+1 180
common files source computer 185
account library 154 configuration layer protection 157
backup process 154
confirmation of backup 166
cleaning up libraries 155
client library 154 Connection activity, DS-Client 126
compression 116 Connection between Director and Leaf was lost
contents of 153 processes notification 36
database record 154 connections
defined 278 lost before confirmation, results of 167
disabling 156 reason for failure 158
elimination, explained 153156 recovering from failure during backup 159
exception 153 recovering from failure during restore 159
explained 153
Consolidated BLM Archive 237
how handled 153

Index 290
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Consolidated Invoice Report (DS-Billing) 260 dsdelta 74
Continuous Data Protection - see CDP dslanfiles 74, 75
Convert DS-System 27
DS-System, estimating size of 197
activity, DS-Client 126
deactivating DS-Client 54
CPU usage during restore 107
del folder
credentials 73
explained 53
CRI file
delayed master generation 146
defined 278
in DS-NOC 234 delete
using 175 account library 155
Current Activity Monitor activity, DS-Client 126
activity, DS-System 66
DS-Client 78
assisted 54
DS-Mobile Client 84
backup sets 55
DS-Notebook Client 88
client library 155
DS-System 30
DS-Client 54
Custom Reports 35 for CDP 134
custom reports from DS-System Online Storage, assisted 54
DS-Client 80 from DS-System Online Storage, backup sets
customer account 55
defined 278 from DS-System Online Storage, scheduled 54,
explained 6165 55
locking 28 from DS-System Online Storage, selective 55
number 24 scheduled 54, 55
setting up 62 selective 55
storage quotas 64 Delete Snapshot Transfer
using DS-Client without 21 activity, DS-Client 126
customers delta amount 151
defined 278 delta generations
migrating 124 defined 278
notifications for 81 explained 140
delta processing
D
defined 278
Daily Admin explained 140
activity, DS-Client 126 DES 117
activity, DS-System 66
Detailed Log, DS-Client 78
defined 278
explained 120 digital signature
daily DS-System administration 58 defined 279
during restore 106
data block, defined 278
explained 106
data storage design, improving 225 validity of 106
data, optimizing 225 Disaster Recovery mode
databases explained 70
DS-Client 75 disaster restore
dsclient 74
activity 66
DS-Client, estimating size of 200
defined 279
DS-Client, Linux 75
DS-System 70
DS-Client, Windows 74
effect of 123

Index 291
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
explained 108 notification of 123
parallel processes 70 skipping synchronization 123
Disaster Restore mode synchronization during 123
defined 279 Weekly Admin 120
Disc/Tape module dsclient database 74
activity, DS-System 67 DS-Client databases
configuration 181 cleaning 122
customer requests 221 cleaning and dumping 75
defined 279 configuration 184
enabling 221 defined 279
explained 221 discrepancies with DS-System Online Storage
setting up 221 165
Disc/Tape Request explained 74
Linux 75
activity, DS-Client 126
preparing dump 121
Disc/Tape Restore recovering failed 128
activity, DS-Client 126 size 200
discrepancies between DS-System Online Storage sizing 75
and DS-Client database 165 synchronization 75
disk space transferring dump 123
Local Storage, monitoring 224 types 184
usage, monitoring 47 Windows 74
DR Drill Request Log DS-Client Expiry (DS-Billing) 262
DS-Billing 260 DS-Client Invoice Report (DS-Billing) 261
DS-Billing DS-Client machine
defined 279 defined 280
explained 255265 recovering from failed 128
DS-Billing GUI DS-Client Monitoring module
defined 279 configuration 186
DS-Client 182 DS-Delta
configuration, explained 182186 and block-level processing 140
defined 279 use of 140
explained 7381 dsdelta database 74
Knowledge Base 280 DS-Director
locking 28 defined 280
mass deployment, explained 207210 explained 39
notifications, defined 280 failure of 40
number per DS-System standalone 177 functions of 40, 95
overview 17 dslanfiles database 74, 75
role of 73
DS-License Server 280
Service Manager 280
statistics 58 DS-MLR - see DS-Recovery Tools module
DS-Client Admin DS-Mobile Client
connection to DS-System 121 explained 8285
Daily Admin 120 DS-NOC
defined 279 defined 280
explained 120124 reports 234
interacting with other activities 123 DS-NOC Module
Local Admin 120 configuration 181, 186

Index 292
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
explained 232235 for N+1 180
DS-Notebook Client retiring locations 47
explained 8688 secondary backup 179
size 179
DS-Operator
DS-System service, starting 58
defined 280
N+1 41 DS-System standalone
uses 28 number of supported clients 177
DS-Recovery Tools module operating systems 176
defined 280 DS-User
explained 228230 access to 74
how works 229 defined 281
dsserver database 27, 257 Grid 95
location 183
DS-Size
DS-VDR Usage Report 33
defined 280
explained 151 duplicate files, reporting 226
DS-System
E
configuration, explained 176180
email attachments, backing up and restoring 228
defined 280
explained 2637 email folders, backing up and restoring 228
for disaster restore 108 email messages, backing up and restoring individu-
overview 17 ally 228
Service Manager 281 email notifications
DS-System Admin configuration (DS-Client) 185
defined 287 configuration (DS-System) 180
explained 5860 DS-Client 81
DS-System database DS-System 35
backups 28 email server, installing software on 228
clustering 179 emergency
common file libraries table 154 message (DS-Client) 75
contents of 27, 257 snapshot 109
defined 281 empty trash
dump 58 activity 67
location 179
Enabled DS Tools Report 33
recovering disk 71
size 197 encryption
supported 179 about 117
dssystem database 27, 257 AES 117
authentication 158
DS-System notifications
communication 158
defined 281 defined 281, 285
explained 35 DES 117
DS-System Online Storage explained 117119
adding locations 48 security 118
defined 281 types of key 118
deleting from (by DS-Client) 54 why DS-Client does 117
deleting from (by DS-System) 53 encryption keys
discrepancies with DS-Client database 165 account 118
estimating size 187 client 118
explained 4254 managing 119

Index 293
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
storage of 118 reconstruction, results of 167
types of 118 source computer, recovering 109
verification 118 file
enterprise network management systems, integra- access time, reporting 226
tion with 169 calculating number per site 190
Enterprise Service Provider, defined 281 count, calculating 192
error # 1450 200 descriptors used by DS-System 195
errors during backup 104 discovering frequency of change 225
reporting duplicate 226
estimating size requirements 187200
reporting on extensions 226
event reporting on large 226
messages, DS-System, from modules 36 type, effect on processing 140
notifications, DS-Client 81 file corruptions
Event Log dealing with 217
BLM 242 detecting with Autonomic Healing module 217
DS-Billing 259 detecting with DS-System Admin 58
DS-Client 78 File Level Restore
DS-Mobile Client 84
about 135
DS-Notebook Client 88
DS-System 30 File Level Restore - see FLR
event viewer file optimization function
defined 281 activity 67
DS-Client 81 file size
DS-System 35 calculations 151
Exchange Server size, reporting 226 changes in 151
exporting data effect on processing 140
example 151
DS-Client 80
recorded 151
extensible storage transmitted 151
adding storage locations 48 firewalls
defined 281
for DS-Client 184
how works 43
for DS-System 178
levels 43
opening 160
recovering from failure 70
retiring storage locations 47 FLR
why use 43 explained 135
extensions, reporting on 226 free space
extra directory information on database drive notification 35
estimating size of 193 on storage drive notification 35
explained 50 frequency of file change, discovering 225
full backup, comparison to 21
F full scan 59
failed full synchronization 166
DS-Client database, recovering from 128
DS-Client machine, recovering from 128 G
DS-Director 40 generations - see online generations
Grid DS-Client Leaf Node 95 Global List of Backup Sets Report 242
Grid DS-Client Main Node 95
Global List of Customers Report 34
Grid DS-Client node 95
N+1 node 40 Global List of Customers Report (DS-Billing) 261

Index 294
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In explained 21
about 271 Installation and Backup/Restore Support Matrix 282
explained 271 insufficient system resources 200
Running Cloud To Cloud Activities 271 interfaces
Setting up Cloud To Cloud Backup Sets 271
DS-Client 76
Grid DS-System 28
DS-User 95 interrupted
Main Node 94
backups 22
number of active nodes 95
synchronization, results of 167
redundancy 95
invoices
Grid DS-Client
defined 282
adding hardware to 95
for BLM 253
advantages of 93
defined 282 iOS DS-Client
explained 9395 explained 9192
monitoring of 95 IP WAN
replacing hardware in 95 defined 282
Grid DS-Client Leaf Node issues for communication by DS-System 178
failure of 95
Grid DS-Client Main Node L
failure of 95 LAN contents, discovering 225
Grid DS-Client nodes, explained 93 LAN Discovery
Group Admin activity 67 defined 282
GroupWise, message-level restore 229 LAN Discovery tool
explained 225227
H reports 226
hardware cookie 157 LAN File Summary 227
Healing History log 30 LAN Resource Discovery
heartbeat traps 169 activity, DS-Client 126
hot fixes, explained 213214 large files, reporting on 226
HSM - see ILM/HSM last backup/sync time discrepancy, results of 167
library, defined 282
I license
ILM/HSM defined 282
and DS-Client 130 expiry notification 35
defined 282 explained 201204
deleting files moved by 130 if capacity exceeded 203
how works 130 if expires 204
implementation what is licensed 201
steps for customers 174 Load Statistics for DS-Client 199
steps for Enterprise Service Provider 174 Load Summary 205
incremental backup, comparison to 21 Load Summary graph
incremental forever backup, explained 21 DS-Client 80
initial backup DS-System 31
activity 67 Local Admin 120
and common files 153 Local Cache Copy
defined 282 activity, DS-Client 126

Index 295
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
Local Cache Monitor M
activity, DS-Client 126 Main Node
Local DS-VDR defined,Grid DS-Client Main Node
defined 283 defined 283
Local DS-VDR module explained 94
about 266 mass deployment
about Virtual Machine cloning 266 configuration parameters 208
backup sets 266 defined 283
explained 266267 explained 207
Physical machine conversion to Virtual Machine how works 207
266 master generation
running 267 defined 283
setting up 267 delayed 146
Local Storage Cache explained 140
defined 283 potential 146
local storage cache rebuilding 143
reconstruction 143
explained 113114
re-sending 140
role in backup process 113
maximum sessions 199
Local Storage module
media, storing data on 221
and DS-System Online Storage 222
communication problems during restore 159 memory
configuration 186 and CPU requirements, DS-Client 200
defined 283 DS-System low on 170
deleting from 224 load on DS-System 31
explained 222224 Message Level Restore (DS-Recovery Tools mod-
how backup sets handled 223 ule)
monitoring disk space 224 defined 283
restoring data from 223 GroupWise 229
security of 222 how works 229
setting up 222 Lotus Domino/Notes 229
synchronization 224 MS Exchange 229
using 222 permissions 229
local storage path 222 message service configuration
local-only capacity DS-Client 185
report 34 DS-System 180
Local-Only Capacity report 34 MIB file 170
location of DS-Client software 184 Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In
locked files, backing up 102 about 272
locking accounts or DS-Clients 28 explained 272273
logs Running Cloud To Cloud Activities 273
Setting up Cloud To Cloud Backup Sets 272
BLM 242
DS-Billing 259 migration
DS-Client 78 activity 67
DS-System 30 customer 124
Lotus Domino/Notes, message-level restore 229 to N+1 27
LZOP 115 MLR - see DS-Recovery Tools module
modules
Autonomic Healing Module 217220

Index 296
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
defined 284 free space on database drive 35
Disc/Tape 221 free space on storage drive 35
DS-Billing 255265 license expiry 35
DS-NOC 232235 N+1 formation process succeeded 36
DS-Recovery Tools 228230 Remote DS-VDR restore activity has finished 36
Google Apps DS-Client Plug-In 271 storage capacity 35
Local DS-VDR 266267 Storage lock for Snapshot 36
Local Storage 222224 storage quota 35
Microsoft Office 365 DS-Client Plug-In 272273 number
Online File Summary 231 of DS-Client machines, estimating 199
Remote DS-VDR 268269 of DS-Clients 196
SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In 270 of files per site, calculating 190
Snapshot Manager Module 274 of supported clients (DS-System standalone)
monitoring 177
Local Storage disk space 224 numbering
Monthly Reports (DS-Billing) 262 of online generations 142
MS Exchange message level restore 229 of recycled generations 143
MS SQL Server 2005 Express database
DS-Client 75 O
MSDE database obsolete generations 239
DS-Client 75 on-demand backup limit reached, results of 167
on-demand backups 76
N Online File Summary module
N+1 activity, DS-Client 126
adding hardware to 41 defined 284
advantages of 38 explained 231
configuration files 180 online generation recycling
defined 284 defined 285
DS-Director 39 example one 144
DS-Operator 41 example two 146
explained 3841 turning off 151
log 31 online generations
monitoring of 41
and CDP 133
number of active nodes 40
creation sequence 142
redundancy 40
defined 284
replacing hardware in 41
delta 140
N+1 formation process succeeded effect of setting number 140
processes notification 36 explained 142
network master 140
access protection 157 number of 143
disk space, optimizing 225 numbering 142
growth, predicting 225 over-writing 143
nodes, explained 38 recycled, removing 151
recycling 143
normal synchronization 165
regular 140
notification removing recycled 151
Connection between Director and Leaf was lost types of 139
36 online storage - see DS-System Online Storage
DS-Client Admin 123
open files, backing up 102

Index 297
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
operating systems R
DS-Client 183 recommended total number of DS-Clients 191
DS-System standalone 176 reconstruction of master generation 143
operator notifications, DS-System 36 recovery
optimizing activity, DS-Client 126
data 225 activity, DS-System 67
network disk space 225 testing 171
orphaned backup sets - see backup sets, orphaned validating 171
orphaned library, defined 285 Recovery Log
out of sync backup sets BLM 242
defined 285 DS-Billing 260
how handled 165 DS-System 31
why occur 167 recycled generations
defined 285
P example one 144
pager notifications example two 146
DS-Client 81 explained 143
numbering 143
passwords, access, security of 118
removing 151
permissions turning off 151
for DS-User access 74 recycling online generations 143
for Message Level Restore (DS-Recovery Tools
redundant data
module) 229
Message Level Restore 229 discovering 225
restoring 107 handling 231
in files 140
placeholders, ILM/HSM 130
referrals
point-in-time copies of backup sets 239
defined 285
pool memory, DS-Client 200
register DS-Client 76
portable DS-System
registration
defined 285
using in initial backup 21 activity, DS-Client 127
potential master generation 146 registration layer protection 157
pre- or post-processing, for firewall opening 160 regular generation
processes defined 285
increasing number of 194 regular generations
protected size per site, calculating 190 explained 140
protection regular scan 59
communication encryption 158 Remote DS-VDR
configuration layer 157 defined 285
encryption authentication 158 Remote DS-VDR module
network access 157 about 268
registration layer 157 explained 268269
public library running 268
defined 285 setting up 268
explained 154 Remote DS-VDR Restore activity 67
Remote DS-VDR restore activity has finished
Q processes notification 36
quotas - see storage quotas

Index 298
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
removable media 221 activity, DS-System 68
Replication delete options 55
explained 5153 scheduled 54
replication Retire Storage activity 68
defined 286 running databases, backing up 102
Replication Delete activity 67
S
replication group
Sales Group Report (DS-Billing) 261
defined 286
SalesForce.com DS-Client Plug-In
Replication Send - Repair activity 68
about 270
Replication Send activity 67 explained 270
report Running Cloud To Cloud Activities 270
activity, DS-System 68 Setting up Cloud To Cloud Backup Sets 270
reports scan
BLM 242 DS-System, frequency 59
DS-Billing 260 DS-System, type of 59
DS-Client 78 scheduled delete 54, 55
DS-NOC 234 scheduled retention 54
DS-System 32
secondary backup
Users DS-Clients 234
defined 286
requests for disc/tape 221
explained 179
requires registration option 157
security
resource usage, DS-System 194
DS-Client 73
restorability validation DS-Client, internal 74
activity, DS-Client 127 selective delete 55
activity, DS-System 69
self-contained backup set - see backup set, self
defined 286
contained
explained 171172
how works 172 server
preconditions 171 availability, increasing 225
Restorable Volume Report 80 backup bandwidth, calculating 191
performance, increasing 225
restore
Service Manager
activity, DS-Client 127
activity, DS-System 68 DS-Client 280
CPU usage 107 DS-System 281
explained 106110 service packs, explained 211212
from Local Storage 223 setting up
multi-directory 107 accounts 62
overview 23 DS-Client 62
special backup set types 107 share
speed of 107
ownership, reporting 226
to different operating system 107
usage, reporting 226
with buffer 109
with CDP 134 shared access to DS-System Online Storage 38
Retention SharePoint server, backing up and restoring 229
explained 5557 SharePoint server, installing software on 229
retention single data storage location, disadvantages of 43
activity, DS-Client 127 size

Index 299
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
DS-size 151 processes notification 36
DS-System database 197 storage quotas
estimating for product 187200 defined 286
of DS-Client databases 75 explained 64
of DS-System Online Storage 179 notifications 35
of files 151 report 34
of files in DS-System Online Storage 31 results of approaching 64
protected data size 151
Storage Quotas report 34
stream size 151
storage requirements, estimating 188
Snapshot Manager module
Storage Scan activity 68
explained 274
setting up 274 Storage Statistics activity 68
Snapshot Transfer Storage Summary graph
activity, DS-Client 127 DS-Client 80
DS-System 31
SNMP
Storage Trend graph 31
configuration, DS-Client 185
configuration, DS-System 180 Storage Usage report 34, 242
defined 286 Storage Usage Report (DS-Billing) 261
notifications, explained 169170 storage, online - see DS-System Online Storage
notifications, setting up 170 stored sizes, calculating 192
source computers stream size
access to 118 defined 286
configuration 185 explained 151
DS-Client communicating with 183 synchronization
SQL Server size, reporting 226 activity, DS-Client 127
stale generations 239 activity, DS-System 68
standalone DS-System, defined 286 check only 166
statistical backup defined 287
defined 286 DS-Client databases 75
explained 205206 during disaster recovery 167
how to use 205 explained 165168
results 206 full 166
in DS-Client Admin 123
statistical data about backup set 122
in DS-Client Admin, skipping 123
Statistical Summary 206 interrupted 167
statistics for DS-Client, updating 58 local storage 224
stop level normal 165
effect of reaching 47 releasing backup sets 165
message for DS-System Online Storage 47 restrictions during 165
stop service system 166
types of 165
message, DS-Client 75
unconfirmed files only 166
storage why needed 167
backup of 179 with Local Storage 224
capacity notification 35 System Admin activity 68
history, defined 286
System Autonomic Healing activity 68
history, setting 65
issues, identifying 225 System Backup activity 68
per share 226 System Backup Process Monitor 31
Storage lock for Snapshot System Compression activity 69

Index 300
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
system synchronization 166 defined 287
System Validation activity 69 version numbering 211212, 213214
system-only files, not backing up 102 Version report 33
systems management systems, integration with Virtual Machine Replication
169 about 136
explained 136137
T Virtualization
tape conversion and DS-Client 96
activity, DS-Client 127
test recovery processes, disadvantages of 171 W
threads used by DS-System 194 warning message
trademarks 2 DS-Client 75
transfer loads on DS-System 31 Weekly Admin
transferring dump 123 activity, DS-Client 127
transmit amount 151 activity, DS-System 69
traps explained 120
backup 169
Z
DS-Client 169
DS-License Server 170 ZLIB 115
DS-System 169
event 169, 170
heartbeat 169
setting up 170
trash folder
defined 287
tuning
DS-Client 200
DS-System 194

U
unconfirmed files only synchronization 166
upgrading Asigra Cloud Backup 211212, 213
214
upgrading DS-Client 129
upgrading DS-Recovery Tools - DS-MLR / MS
SharePoint Agent 230
upgrading DS-User Interfaces 129
user access 73
user computers backup bandwidth, calculating 192
user notifications 36
users and groups 73

V
validating restored data 106
value propositions of Asigra Cloud Backup 16
VARs

Index 301
Enterprise/Service Provider Product Overview and Implementation Guide
Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.

Potrebbero piacerti anche