This module focuses on NetWorker media pools.

We look at how NetWorker uses pool

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 1
 This lesson covers the use of NetWorker media pools to filter save sets to a set of volumes.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 2
 A pool is a NetWorker resource that represents a set of volumes. A volume is associated with
a pool when it is labeled.
Pools automatically separate data by data type. As illustrated in the slide, there are two types
of pools – Backup and Backup Clone pool – that are used by NetWorker to segregate one
type of data from another. For example, a save set being backed up can only be written to a
volume belonging to a Backup pool, and when a save set is cloned, the new clone copy of the
save set can only be written to a volume in a Backup Clone pool.
Backup pools are used by the NetWorker server to match a save set being backed up to a set
of volumes, based on the save set characteristics.
The following aspects of pool management are discussed on the following pages:
• Pool selection criteria
• Pool attributes
• Creating a label template
• Creating a pool

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 3
 When determining which pool of volumes to write a save set to, NetWorker first compares
certain characteristics of the save set to corresponding attributes of all configured backup
pools. These characteristics are NetWorker group name, the name of the client generating the
save set, the name of the save set, and the level of backup being performed. NetWorker
attempts to match these criteria to pool attributes in the order shown in the slide.
If a save set matches all criteria of more than one pool, then the order of evaluation dictates
which pool is used. A match on Groups takes precedence over a match on Clients, a match on
Clients takes precedence over a match on Save sets, and a match on Save sets takes
precedence over a match on Level.
If a save set characteristic explicitly matches one pool (the characteristic matches the pool
attribute value) and implicitly matches another pool (the pool attribute value is empty), the
pool explicitly matched is used.
If the save set characteristics do not match all specified criteria within a pool resource, the save
set cannot be sent to that pool. If there is no pool that has one or more attribute values that
explicitly match the save set characteristics, NetWorker sends the save stream to a volume in
the Default pool. The Default pool has no values for any of the Groups, Clients, Save sets, or
Levels attributes, thereby implicitly matching the characteristics of all save streams. The default
pool is typically used as a pool of last resort and it is recommended that it not be used for
production backups. It is better to specifically configure pools for the data that they will hold
and leave the default pool for troubleshooting and testing only.
Note: The matching of save set characteristics to pool characteristics is done only when
backups are performed. Clone data must be explicitly directed to a specific Backup Clone pool.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 4
 Pools, other than Default, should be used when you want to store a particular type of data
on a different set of volumes from other types of data. Suggested uses of pools are listed on
the slide.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 5
 This slide, as well as the following two slides, displays several pools and their resource
attribute values. The slides demonstrate how the NetWorker server matches a save set to
the appropriate pool.
In this example, the save set being backed up is from a client in the NetWorker group sales.
This excludes it from Pool B and Pool C because they accept only save sets from group legal.
The client generating the save set is clarinet, which excludes the save set from Pool A which
only accepts save sets from client oboe or tuba.
The only pool remaining is Default, which never excludes any save sets and therefore can
accept any save set not explicitly matching another pool.
Note: If values are specified for multiple attributes, all of those attributes must match the
corresponding save set characteristics. This is referred to as a “logical AND.”
If multiple values are specified for a single attribute, any one of those values must match the
corresponding save set characteristic. This is referred to as a “logical OR.”

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 6
 This slide, as well as the following two slides, displays several pools and their resource
attribute values. The slides demonstrate how the NetWorker server matches a save set to
the appropriate pool.
In this example, the save set being backed up is from a client in the NetWorker group sales.
This excludes it from Pool B and Pool C because they accept only save sets from group legal.
The client generating the save set is clarinet, which excludes the save set from Pool A which
only accepts save sets from client oboe or tuba.
The only pool remaining is Default, which never excludes any save sets and therefore can
accept any save set not explicitly matching another pool.
Note: If values are specified for multiple attributes, all of those attributes must match the
corresponding save set characteristics. This is referred to as a “logical AND.”
If multiple values are specified for a single attribute, any one of those values must match the
corresponding save set characteristic. This is referred to as a “logical OR.”

SLIDE FOR STUDENT GUIDE ONLY - REMOVE THIS

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 7
 In this example, the save set is generated by a client in the group legal. All the pools
match this characteristic, although Pool A and Default match implicitly instead of explicitly.
The client generating the save set is oboe, which also matches all the pools.
The save set name is C:\, causing it to be excluded from Pool A which only accepts save
sets named /usr.
Finally, the backup level of incr causes the save set to be excluded from Pool B, which only
accepts Full level save sets.
This leaves Pool C as being the best match for the save set because it explicitly matches at
least one characteristic while the Default pool only implicitly matches all characteristics. An
explicit match always takes priority over an implicit match.

(This slide for instructor slides only)

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 8
 In this example, the save set is generated by a client in the group legal. All the pools match
this characteristic, although Pool A and Default match implicitly instead of explicitly.
The client generating the save set is oboe, which also matches all the pools.
The save set name is C:\, causing it to be excluded from Pool A which only accepts save
sets named /usr.
Finally, the backup level of incr causes the save set to be excluded from Pool B, which only
accepts Full level save sets.
This leaves Pool C as being the best match for the save set because it explicitly matches at
least one characteristic while the Default pool only implicitly matches all characteristics. An
explicit match always takes priority over an implicit match.

SLIDE FOR STUDENT GUIDE ONLY - REMOVE THIS

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 9
 In this example, the save set being backed up has no Group characteristic, meaning the
backup is a client-initiated (manual) backup. (If savegrp is not used to perform the
backup, the save set has no group value). This excludes it from any pool containing a value in
its Group attribute. This eliminates Pool C, which accepts save sets only from the legal
group. Pool A, Pool B, and Default all implicitly match the group since they have no value for
their Group attribute.
The client generating the save set is tuba, which explicitly matches Pool A, and implicitly
matches Pool B and Default.
The save set name is /usr, which explicitly matches Pool B, and implicitly matches Pool A
and Default. Finally, Pool A, Pool B, and Default implicitly match any level.
The Default pool will not be used because it is only used if no other pool exactly matches the
save set. To choose between Pool A and Pool B, the characteristics matched by each pool is
the deciding factor. The Clients characteristic matched by Pool A has a higher priority than
the Save sets characteristic matched by Pool B. Thus, the save set is directed to a volume
belonging to Pool A.

(This slide for instructor slides only)

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 10
 In this example, the save set being backed up has no Group characteristic, meaning the
backup is a client-initiated (manual) backup. (If savegrp is not used to perform the
backup, the save set has no group value). This excludes it from any pool containing a value in
its Group attribute. This eliminates Pool C, which accepts save sets only from the legal
group. Pool A, Pool B, and Default all implicitly match the group since they have no value for
their Group attribute.
The client generating the save set is tuba, which explicitly matches Pool A, and implicitly
matches Pool B and Default.
The save set name is /usr, which explicitly matches Pool B, and implicitly matches Pool A
and Default. Finally, Pool A, Pool B, and Default implicitly match any level.
The Default pool will not be used because it is only used if no other pool exactly matches the
save set. To choose between Pool A and Pool B, the characteristics matched by each pool is
the deciding factor. The Clients characteristic matched by Pool A has a higher priority than
the Save sets characteristic matched by Pool B. Thus, the save set is directed to a volume
belonging to Pool A.

SLIDE FOR STUDENT GUIDE ONLY - REMOVE THIS

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 11
 This lesson covered the use of NetWorker media pools to filter save sets to a set of volumes.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 12
 This lesson covers how to configure label template and pool resources, what happens when
labeling a volume, and how to override pool criteria for a specific client.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 13
 The first step in configuring a new pool is to create a NetWorker label template resource. The
label template is used by the pool to determine the volume name to assign to a volume being
labeled into the pool.
Ideally, each pool should have its own unique label template. However, more than one pool can
use the same label template. If a volume being labeled resides in an autochanger that is
configured to “match barcodes labels”, the label template is ignored and the volume name will
be the same as its barcode value.

Attribute Function
Name The name of the label template. This is referenced in the pool resource.
The alphanumeric text components that make up the label values. If a field value contains a
Fields hyphen(-), it is considered a range. Ranges must have the same number of characters on each side
of the hyphen. For example, 01-99 is the range 01, 02, 03, ..., 99.
The character to separate the component fields of the label template. Valid characters are
Separator period(.), hyphen(-), underscore(_), and colon (:).

The volume name that will be used for the next volume labeled into the pool. This field is
Next
automatically populated.

Table 5-1: Label Template Attributes

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 14
 The NetWorker pool resource is used to configure a pool.
On the Basic tab, select the appropriate pool type and a matching label template. For the
Data Source Group attribute, select the backup groups that are allowed to send data to the
pool.
To specify additional criteria, include values for the Clients, Save sets and/or Levels attributes
on the Selection Criteria tab.
Note that leaving a Data Source attribute blank means that all save sets will match the pool
for that characteristic. Specifying multiple values for an attribute means any one of the
values must match (logical “or”). Specifying values for multiple attributes requires that each
attribute match (logical “and”).
Selecting one or more devices specifies the devices on which volumes in the pool may be
mounted. This results in the pool always using only those devices. When a value is specified
for Media type required, it is the only media type that can be labeled or written to in this
pool. Media type preferred is used when a request is made for a writable volume. The
preferred type will be considered first within a priority level.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 15
 On the Configuration tab, Max parallelism specifies the maximum number of simultaneous
save streams that can be sent to a drive on which a volume from this pool is mounted. When
the Auto media verify attribute is selected, the NetWorker server verifies data written to
volumes from the pool. Verification occurs when either a volume becomes full or a volume
becomes idle. Data is verified by repositioning the volume to read a portion of the data
previously written to the media. The data read is compared to the original data written.
Verification succeeds if there is a match. If verification fails, the volume is marked full.
Under Volume Operations, the Recycle from other pools attribute allows recyclable volumes
from other pools to be relabeled into a different pool. The Recycle to other pools attribute
allows recyclable volumes in the pool to be relabeled into a different pool. Both attributes
are disabled by default.
When the Store index entries attribute is enabled (default setting), CFI entries are generated
for save sets that are written to the pool. Specifying a Retention policy on the pool resource
applies to save sets directed to the pool. NetWorker uses the longer of the pool retention
policy or the client retention policy.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 16
 Automatically relabeling a recyclable volume allows for volumes to be relabeled outside of
backup windows. Also, backup and clone operations can complete in potentially less time
where appendable volumes are available at the time of the backup or clone.
Relabeling of eligible volumes in a pool can be scheduled to occur automatically using these
attributes under Volume Operations:
• Recycle start: defines the time to start the automatic relabel process each day. By
default, the automatic relabel process is not done.
• Recycle interval: defines the interval between two starts of automatic relabel
processes.
• Max volumes to recycle: defines the maximum number of recyclable volumes that
can be relabeled during each automatic relabel process.
• Recycle last start: this is the last time that scheduled automatic recycling was
performed.
Note: For a complete list of pool and label template resource attributes, see the nsr_pool
and nsr_label topics in the EMC NetWorker Command Reference Guide or the UNIX man
pages. Also, please refer to the “Media pools” topic in the EMC NetWorker Administration
Guide.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 17
 A volume is a physical piece of media to which save sets are written. A volume must be
labeled before NetWorker can write to it. During volume labeling, the NetWorker software
writes a unique label on the volume.
The label contains information such as the volume name, the name of the pool to which the
volume was assigned, and the block size to be used when writing to the volume.
During a backup, the NetWorker server matches a save set to the appropriate nsrmmd
based on the save set attributes and the pool to which the volume belongs.
The following events happen when a volume is labeled.
1. The volume is named and a volume record is created in the media database. If any
previous entry for the volume exists in the media database, it is deleted. Any existing data
on the volume is effectively deleted.
2. The volume is assigned to a pool.
3. The label being written establishes the volume’s block size, which is determined by the
device’s Media type attribute.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 5- 18
 When a pool is specified for the Pool attribute of a client resource, NetWorker uses this
media pool during scheduled backups of the save sets specified in the client. This selection
overrides any other pool criteria associated with the group or save set for this client.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 19
 This lesson covered how to configure label template and pool resources, what happens when
labeling a volume, and how to override pool criteria for a specific client.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 20
 In this lab, you will:
• Create a label template resource.
• Create a pool resource.
• Perform a backup to verify the pool is properly configured.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 21
 This module covered NetWorker label templates and media pools. We looked at how
NetWorker uses pool attributes to direct save sets to specific sets of volumes, how to create
a label template and media pool resource, and how to label a volume into a pool.

Copyright © 2012 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Module 5: NetWorker Media Management 22