Dell Netvault Backup Interview Questions
| Question |
| How does Dell Netvault Backup work ? |
| Answer |
| NetVault Backup is based on client-server architecture. NetVault Backup Server provides the job management, media management, device management, client management, reporting, notifications & logging functions, takes care of backup and restoration on target devices. |
| Question |
| Explain retention on netvault compared with nbu or tsm ? |
| Answer |
| In Netvault two retention periods are there :- 1)Generation-based – This specifies the number of Full Backups that are retained for the same data set. It can only be used for Full Backups. 2)Time-based – This specifies the length of time a backup is retained. The retention period can be specified in number of days, weeks, or years and used for all backup types. Where in NetBackup retention depends on different retention levels. And in TSM retention depends on multiple parameters like retonly,retextra,version exists, version delete. |
| Question |
| Currently in our infra we are running One Exchange Server with AD client. We are unable to take Online BMR Backup? Why? |
| Answer |
| BMR online plug-ins wont support for Exchange server with AD client. In order to take backup of this client :- 1)BMR offline plug-in is required 2)Downtime during backup operation |
| Question |
| What are Offline and Online Plugins? |
| Answer |
| Online plugins are used to take the backup when servers are running( for eg Database online backup) where as for offline plug-ins downtime is required in order to take backup (for eg BMR backup) |
| Question |
| Which license is required to configure LAN free backup in NetVault for SAN backup |
| Answer |
| NVBU smart client license is required to achieve SAN backup. |
| Question |
| How can we integrate disk as Backup Target? |
| Answer |
| Disk target device act as VTL (virtual tape library) in Netvault, hence we would be adding disk path as Virtual drive, robot and media. |
| Question |
| For Cluster Based Backup Is there any additional License Required? |
| Answer |
| NetVault Backup Plugin File System Cluster License is required for the clustered file system backup. For other cluster applications, respective application cluster license is required. |
| Question |
| If Backup Server crashed How to recover? |
| Answer |
| In order to recover the crashed backup server :- 1)Make the backup server hardware ready 2)Install the OS 3)Install Netvault backup server software 4)Integrate the tape library 5)Scan the catalog media 6)Recover the Netvault DB. |
| Question |
| How can we achieve SAN Backup ? |
| Answer |
| To achieve SAN client backup :- 1)Install the Netvault client software on client machine 2)Add the SMART CLIENT license in Netvault backup server 3)Zone the tape library and make it visible at the client OS end 4)Configure the client as SAN in Netvault backup server |
| Question |
| NetVault Backup Server/client supported platforms ? |
| Answer |
| As Netvault backup server it supports only windows and Linux platform, older Netvault version was supporting Solaris. As Netvault backup client it supports windows,linux,mac os,solaris,AIX and HP-UX. |
| Question |
| How to Upgrade Netvault Server to Latest version ? |
| Answer |
| Before upgrading the Netvault backup server :- 1)Ensure Netvault license to be renewed to latest one 2)Take the backup of netvault database Once the above pre-requisites met:- |
| Question |
| Is it possible to restore only Backup Policies in Netvault? We don’t want to recover entire DB? |
| Answer |
| yes its possible restore only backup policies, while recovering Netvault database select only schedule manager and media manager, start the recover process. |
| Question |
| What is backend Database is running in Netvault? |
| Answer |
| POSTgreSQL database will be running as backed DB in Netvault. |
| Question |
| How can we check License Utilization in NVBU? |
| Answer |
| To check the license utilization :- Go to NetVault GUI -> Choose domain management -> select properties -> click on capabilities tab on properties window. |
| Question |
| What is the License model avail in Netvault? |
| Answer |
| Two licensing model available :- 1)Traditional licensing model 2)Capacity based licensing model |
| Question |
| We have purchased Capacity Based License 2 TB from Dell. How can check the utilization of TB? |
| Answer |
| From Netvault GUI we cannot view the whole TB utilization where as we can view the number of licenses utilization as quantity based. |
| Question |
| What is Virtual Client in NVBU? |
| Answer |
| Virtual client is created when you install a cluster-aware plug-in. Virtual client is nothing but the cluster virtual name,All nodes in a cluster are grouped together to form a virtual client. |
