NDMP
An NDMP backup differs from the Arkeia data backup implementation
in these areas:
- The tape drives and libraries where the NDMP backup data is stored
are directly connected to the NDMP server (NAS device).
- The type of backup which can be done depends on the NDMP
server. For example, if the NDMP server is limited to a tar of files
or dump of a file system on the NAS, only total and archive backups
can be made.
These limitations require NDMP backup jobs to be handled separately
to regular Arkeia backups:
- NDMP tapes - only one type of backup, either NDMP or Arkeia
normal, can exist on a tape at the same time. After a tape is
recycled, it can be re-used for either type of backup.
- NDMP Savepacks - a Savepack must not contain a mix of NDMP trees,
whose data stream flows directly from the NAS to the tape drive, and
normal Arkeia trees, whose data stream flows via the network.
NDMP Savepacks are created in a separate NDMP section of the Arkeia
interface, and cannot be mixed with normal Arkeia backups. Other
limitations in the current implementation are:
- Only immediate backups can be done.
- Only one NAS can be backed up at a time, so multi-flow NDMP
backups are not possible.
- Limiting the bandwidth of the data flow, normally done with the
Cruise control in Arkeia, is not possible, nor is it necessary since
the tape drive is directly connected to the NAS device.
Arkeia supports NDMP Version 3.