All about Commvault

Q. What are the components in commvaults?

Commcell Server - Commcell Console - Media Agent-Index-Data Paths-Libraries -

Client Agents.

Q. What is the use of commserv?

Ans. Maintain commcell configuration and high level index, Manages user security,
module licensing, manage all control jobs and it is only supported on window server
platform.

Q. What commserve provides?

Commserve provides administrative and management over sight of all tasks and
data movement within a commcell. All Data protection and recovery activity is
managed there.

Q. What are all Services running on Commvault Server?

Commvault Application Manager (instance001)

Commvault Client Event Manager (instance001)

Commvault Commands Manager (instance001)

Commvault Communications service (instance001)

Commvault Job manager (instance001)

Commvault Media & Library Manager (instance001)

Commvault Server Event Manager (instance)

Q. What are all Commvault logs in commvault Client & Server?

For Commvault Client

FileScan EVMgrc CVD Cvcl Cvfwd Clbackup -- CV installMgr

For Commvault Server

EvMgrs -- CommserveDR DataAging - Browse --Appmgrservice_1 -

AuxcopyMgr AppMgrService ApplicationMgr MediaMager JobManager
Clrestore.
Q. How Commserve manages all the jobs?

In these three major sub components are there. Which are?

Job manager, Scheduler & Event manager.

Scheduler allows users to schedule tasks

Job manager manages & control all the schedule task activity.

Even manager will provide logs all about events and providing unified notification of
important events.

Q. Can we install Commserv on Unix Platform?

NO, The Commserv can be installed only on Windows platform.

Q. What is commcell console?

It is a graphical user interface. It is used for management of commcell.

Q. How commserv controls the commcell Console?

Using below components the commserv controls the console.

Job manager- Scheduler- Event Manager & alerts subsystems - reports & job history
- User security - Disaster recovey

Q. what is the use of commvault Backup Tool?

Reduce hardware spend -- Protect manage search & access data across the
enterprise -Modernize backup & recover -- Accelerate disaster recover - Protect
manage virtual machines -- Optimize and protect applications -- Leverage cloud
infrastructure - Empower the mobile workforce -- Control & use big data -- Simplify
archive for search and compliance.

Q. What is the installation Requirements of Commserv?

In windows

Windows 2012 R@ editions Dual core Intel Xeon 5 series@ 2.2 GHz minim
required

Windows Server 2008 64 editions

Windows server 2008 R2 Editions

Q. What is the browser supported for remote web based commcell Server?

Google Chrome V5 or higher

Internet explorer v8 or v9 or higher

Mozilla Firefox version 2.0.0.3 or higher

Safari version 2.0.4. Or higher.

Q. What is the dash copy?

DASH (Deduplication Accelerate Streaming Hash) copy is a deduplication enabled

storage policy copy option used by an Auxiliary Copy job to send only unique data
to that copy. DASH Copy uses network bandwidth efficiently and minimizes the use
of storage resources.

Dash copy is similar to DASH full in that it takes advantage of the Deduplication
data base (DDB) and already existing data blocks. The auxiliary copy update
process is this scenario compare the signatures in the two DDBs (Source and
target copy) for the data required to update the target copy and executes a
two-phased copy. Phase one is to update the reference points on the target copys
DDB for any existing signatures. Phase two would be to copy only the unique blocks
to the target copy effectively making the most efficient use of data movement
and storage.

Q. What is dash full?

DASH Full is a Synthetic Full operation that updates the DDB and index files for
existing data rather than physically copying data like a normal Synthetic Full
backup.

A variation of sysntetic full available in simpana version 9 is the DASH full. This
variation is only available to jobs / data in deduplicated disk storage.

With a DASH full, Instead of reading files from storage and writing a new copy, The
deduplicated database (DDB) is read and updates (New reference pointer) are
generated for each block in the full backup list essentially doing a deduplicated
full backup without moving any data.
What are the mandatory possible job phases for iDataAgents?

Scan ( During this phase the backup file list is generated and stored in collect files
while running Full & Incremental backup.

Backup( the content is actually backed up to media while running Full, Incremental

Archive Index ( Index Cache for the backup job is backedup to media while running
Full, Incremental

Q. What is auxiliary coy?

This operation allows you to create secondary copies of data associated with data
protection operations, independent of the original copy. It can be performed
between any two media agents.

Q. What is synchronous copy?

It contains all jobs from the source copy for the associated sub clients. Data
requiring more granular or point in time restore capability should use synchronous
copies.

Q. What is selective copy?

It contains only selected backup jobs from the source copy for the associated sub
clients. This selection of full backups can be, job, or time pattern based.

Q. What is spool copy?

The Spool Copy feature allows you to define a primary copy to be used as a
temporary holding area for protected data until the data is copied to an active
synchronous copy.

Q. What is Global deduplication storage policy?

Global Deduplication Policy is to enable deduplication across multiple storage

policies using a common set of disk libraries and deduplication database (DDB).We
can create a global deduplication policy by using the Create a Global Deduplication
Policy wizard.

Alternatively, you can create a global deduplication policy using XML.

Global deduplication provides greater flexibility in defining retention policies when

protecting the data. Use global deduplication storage policies to consolidate
Remote Office backup data in one location. Use this feature when data types like
file system data and virtual machine data need to be managed by different storage
policies but in the same disk library.

Procedure

From the CommCell Browser, expand Policies.

Right-click Storage Policies, and then click New Global Deduplication Policy.

A Create Global Deduplication Policy Wizard page appears. Follow the instructions
in the global deduplication policy creation wizard.

Click Finish to create the global deduplication policy.

The global deduplication policy appears under the Storage Policies node.

Q. What Is Gridstor?

Gridstor Technology is available by license. You can set load balancing or failover
characteristics for multiple data paths.

Q. Multiplexing?

Multiplexing allows multiple job streams to be written to one device stream.

Q. Hardware Specifications:

Enterprise: This configuration is oriented for large environments to support upto

10.000 servers and 25000 laptops in a single commcell.

Datacenter: it is support upto 2500 Serves and 10000 laptops

300 GB of disk volume, 8 CPU cores, 32 GB RAM Memory

Workgroup: it is small environment 1000 Servers and 5000 laptops.

150 Disk volumes, 4 CPU cores, 8 to 16 GB RAM Memory

It is require minimum 10 GB of disk space on the operating system drive. The space
is used for temporary files copied during the installation (or) upgrade of the
commserve and Microsoft SQL Server software.

Express: it is support 25 servers and 50 laptops and having 100 GB OF disk volume,
2 CPU Cores and 8 to 16 GB Ram memory

Q. What is the space requirement to install media agent?

20 GB of disk space is required on the operations system drive. This space is used
for tempporty files copied during the installation or upgrade of media agent
software.

12. Q what are the software require minimum to install the commcell console?

Java7, JRE Version 1.7.0 -17 or higher.

Q. What space requirements to install idataAgents.

1 GB of space is required to install IdataAgents software.

Q what is the use of Commserv?

It is nothing but command & control actives of the commcell

Q. What are the properties of commserve?

1. GeneralCommcell name and Commcell host name

2. VersionVersion of the commserve, post release service packs and updates that
may have installed on the commserve computer

3. Securityuser groups

4. Activity Controlenable/disable administrative, data protection, data recovery

and scheduled activity for the entire comcell console

Q. What the operations we perform using commserve?

Disaster recovery backup - Restore DR data to disk - Data Aging - Auxiliary Copy -
Download automatic updates - Send Log files - Event Search - View Schedules -
View Admin Job History - View Log files - View users logged in

Q. how many events are displayed by default?

10000 events are logged and mostly 200 are displayed by default. If we want we
can change in the control panel

Q. Can we restore the backed up data using another commcell?

No, Any data backed up from one commcell is unique to that commcell and cannot
be restored a client

Q. What is the use of media agent?

Writes/data to/from data storage reads

Maintain index cache space

Supported on windows UNIX, Linux and NetWare systems

Q. What is index?

Whenever a data protection job starts the simpana software will generate a list of
all the data objects (eg: files/subdirectories, database objects, mailbox objects) that
will be backed from the source server. This list is known as index . Indexes located
in the index cache keep track of where individual objects are written on protected
media

Q. Where index is stored?

The index is stored in index cache which is a directory accessible by the media
agent.

Q. What is the use of index cache?

To provide quick access to indexed data on media during a browse/restore

operation

Q. What is idata agent?

An intelligent data agent is the software module that manages the data transfer
to/from the protected storage media through the media agent.

Q. What is a client?

Client is a host system that contains the actual data that is necessary for idata
agent to access.

Q. What is backup set or archive set?

Backup is a logical entity that defines complete separate and recoverable view of
the data

Q. How backup set works in the file system idata agent?

In case of file system idata agent simpana creates one default backupset for all
files

Q. Why do you create another backup set?

If redundant access to the data is required additional backup sets could be created.
Q. What is subclient?

A sub client is a logical entity used to divide the data within the backup set.

Q. Why do you create another sub client?

Multiple Sub clients allow you to distinguish data for different and business
appropriate data protection management

Q. What are the types of commcell console?

Local comcell console installed by default

Remote comcell console Windows, UNIX and Macintosh.

Web-based console Java enabled web browser.

Q. How many types of users?

Master, View All, External.

Q. How many concurrent read/write operations we can perform on media by

default?

By default Maximum number of read by write operation performs 100 and we can
increase upto 200. If optimize for concurrent can backup is not enabled from the
control tab. the number of read/write operations by default 25 maximum 50.

Q. How Data Integrity checks the media agent?

Validation on media" in general tab of the media agent properties.

If this option is enabled the media agent generate the integrity validation (CRC) on
data during the backup operation and this is the verified with the CRC generated on
data during the restore operation.

"Validation on network" option enabled it generates crc codes at clients before the
data transfer after it verified in media agent after transferring the data.

Q. How to configure magnetic libraries?

Magnetic libraries are added through the "library and Drive Configuration Tool".

Q. What is Fill & spill?

Fill & spill means all maximum writes are used the first mount path before going to
next mount path.

Q. What is Spill & Fill?

Spill & Fill means all writes are allocated to all mount paths then only data transfer
starts.

Q. How data is Stored?

Data is written to storage in chunks By Default Chunk Size for magnetic Storage is
set to 2GB.

Chunk size for File system/Message/Document data is 16GB.

The Commvault support maximum chunk size is 32GB.

Q. What is Undiscovered Media?

Undiscovered Media is media not yet stamped or Identify the Software.

It appears in the comcell console as foreign media.

Q. What is Spare Media?

Spare media a resides logically in a scratch pool and it is physically a variable in the
library for assignment by the System.

Q. What is Active Media?

Active media is media currently being used by the software to write the data.

Q. what is Appendable?

Appendable Media is media that has not been written full capacity and is still
eligible for additional writes.

Q. What is Full Media?

Full Media is Media that is not allow the writers to write it is only read the data from
this media

It becomes a spare media when all jobs on the media are logically pruned and
Media is not over write Protected.

Q. What is Bad Media?

Bad Media is media that is not allowed read/write operation .It is nothing but
Retired Media reaches maximum threshold values.

Q. How can you import\export the media?

Import--->moving the media from outside a library into storage slots with in the
library

Export--->remove one(or)media from a library

In 2 ways we can import/export

1) Import/export media through the library mail slot

2) Open the library door and insert/remove media by hand.

Q. What is Commcell Migratio?

Commcell Migration is the process involved in migrating the metadata of an entire

CommCell to another CommCell. Below are the steps

1. Export Metadata from the Source CommCell

2. Import Metadata on the Destination CommCell

3. Register Migrated Clients

Q. Export Metadata from the Source CommCell?

When performing CommCell Migration you will first need to export the metadata
associated with the source CommCell. The export operation is performed on the
source CommCell, allowing you to select entities that you wish to export from a
source CommCell to the specified export location. Use the following steps to export
metadata from the source CommCell:

1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the<Source CommServe>, point toAll

Tasks|CommCell Migrationand then clickExport To Folder.
2. By default,Use Localis selected to export location in the local path.
3. ClickUse Networkto export the metadata files on network location.
4. In theExport Folderspecify the network path.
5. ClickUser Name/Passwordto enter the user account information for accessing
the network path.
6. Select theUse This Accountcheck box.
7. Type the user name in theUser Namebox.
8. Type the password for the user in thePasswordbox and re-type in theConfirm
Passwordbox.
9. ClickOKto close theChange User Accountdialog box.

Q. Import Metadata on the Destination CommCell?

The metadata associated with the client in a source CommCell can now be
temporarily imported on to the destination CommCell. The import will use the
import entries that you have defined for the destination CommCell. Use the
following steps to import metadata of a source CommCell to destination CommCell:

1. Log on to destination CommCell.

2. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the<Destination CommServe>, point
toAll Tasks|CommCell Migrationand then clickImport from Folder.
3. In theSelect Import Folderpage, select one of the following and then clickNext.

o If you have copied the exported source metadata on the local drive of
destination CommServe, then selectUse localand specify the local path in
theImport Folderbox.
o If you have exported metadata on network path, selectUse Networkand
specify network path in theImport Folderbox.

ClickUser Name Passwordand provide the user credentials to access the

network path and then clickOK.

4. UnderSelect CommCell, select the source CommServe to import and clickNext.

5. FromSpecify MediaAgents that have read access to the mount paths and edit
access paths if neededwizard, specify the following:

o By defaultDestination MediaAgentis set toNot Accessible. UseNot

Accessibleoption if:

You do not want to perform any restore operations on migrated clients.

You are migrating MediaAgents permanently which have access to the
migrating library.

o Select MediaAgent from destination CommCell to access the migrating

 library for restore operation.

6. From theSelect MediaAgent for Index Restorelist, select the MediaAgent from
the destination CommCell. Once specified the MediaAgent accesses the index
from the migrated library and stores it in the index cache folder. This is useful
for restore operation then ClickNext.
7. Enter a new name for the client if required. If nothing is specified the old name
will be used and then clickNext. If you want to change the client name during
migration, we recommend you specify both the client host name and the client
name.
8. Review the selected import options and clickNext.
9. Accept the default options for first import operation and then clickNext.
10. By default,Immediateis selected to start the import process immediately.
11. Alternatively, you can schedule the import job for a later time.
12. ClickFinishto complete the import operation.
13. You can track the progress of the job from theJob Controllerwindow of the
CommCell console.
14. Components selected for export on the source CommCell will be imported on
the destination CommCell. Note that the migrated clients will appear as
deconfigured clients and will be available for cross machine restore on to local
clients.

To perform backup operations on these clients, you must permanently migrate

them to the destination CommCell by applying licenses on these clients. The
migrated clients will appear as uninstalled clients.

Q. IData Agent installation:

Media Agent installation first we need to check the system requirements then run
the setup.exe from disk computer & select language. After that accept the license
agreement then select components. If you configure firewall otherwise clip next.
Enter the qualified domain name and enter the user name and password Client
machine. specify the location where you want to install the software and click
install for automatic updates then next summary finish.

Q. How to create a storage policy?

From the Commcell browser expand the policy and right click on storage policy
select create new storage policy and select which storage policy which you want to
create (Dataportection or DR) then name of the storage policy select library and
select media agent & select deduplication and select media agent that will used to
store the DDB store and summary then finish.

Q. how to remove client from Schedule policy?

First go the pertclur client and right click select view then select schedule there it
will show the schedule details and double click on schedules then client on
association tab and click on edit and then select client disable subclient option.

Q. How to configure library to the Commcell Server?

First we have to install the library drives into Media Agent host then check the
device are detected or not. Once detected go to Commcell and got to control panel
then click the library & drive configuration and select media agent then go to start
button then we can add or detect the device and then configure the drives & mount
to the commcell server.

Q. DR Restore Procedure?

From the window explorer navigate to the software installation path base folders
and double click on commserv DRGUI.exe file then click on restore DB and enter
destination SQL Server information then select login in as check box and provide
the SQL Server user account credential and specify the restore option(all database
or single Database) and next we can enter the name of the file or folder on restore
file field and next specify the valid mail server and select the valid port number in
the port filed (by default 25) and specify the valid mail in the sender field and
specify the valid mail in the recipient filed and click post recovery tab and select
seal dedube store and click ok restore performance and open the service control
manager on the Commcell computer and start the service.

NOTE: If you run the restore on a CommServe machine with other platforms
installed, e.g., MediaAgent, iDataAgents, you will be prompted with an error
message. You must run the Disaster Recovery Backup Restore on a
CommServe-only machine.
Restore File:

Restore path:

Restore as DB: CommServ

Instance: Instance001

SQL Server info

Server Name:

Login as Username & password

Mail Server name & port number 25

Sender & Recipients details to get DR restore completed:

If necessary, change the target location of the files from the Restore DR DB file as
dialog box. To change the target click a row in the Physical File Name column and
type the new location and then click Find and Replace.

Restore DR DB files as:

cx_index1 -- cx_eventindex1 -- cs_data1 -- cx_archindex1-- cx_archdata1 -- cx_log

Restoring the database will overwrite the existing Database, Do you really want to
restore?

Some or all Galaxy services are running. Galaxy services have to be stopped before
the restore?

Click the Name/License Change tab and select the CommServe Name Change
option. The system automatically displays the old and new names of the computer,
as shown in the sample image.

After changing the name of the CommServe computer, the Post Recovery tab will
be displayed. Be sure to Perform Post-Recovery Operations.

Q. Commcell Migration?

Export metadata from the source Commcell

1st step from the Commcell browser right click the commserv client all task and
click migration select export to folder then it will open export option tab then use
local.

If you select UNC path give user name and password other CS host and select
export entity from association select components. Which are?

Client, Client computer group, Media agent and users, schedule policy, user group &
administration. Then click advance tab select export option and immediate on job
initiation tab and click ok.

Q. Import metadata on the destination Commcell.

1st step from the Commcell browser right click the commserv client all task and
click migration select import from folder then it will show the import wizard to
provide import location and select use local if you select use network and provide
the access to import location (UNC Path) and give user name and password to
provide the user details and click next. And select Commcell to import and click
next and source media type mapping and click next & source mount path mapping
window then click next and below we can see edit option to change the destination
library name or Media changer and click Ok. And shared library device mapping.
DDB database mapping click next. After import option click next from job initiation
window select immediate/schedule to finish import operation

Q. How to create schedule policy?

Expand policies then right click on schedule policy and click add schedule policy
and type the name of the schedule (Data protection, Auxiliary copy, SRM reports,
backup copy , SRM data collection and content indexing, Aging type) and click add
enter the schedule name in the schedule pattern tab (full, Incremental, log,
differential, synthatic full) click Ok. on the association tab select the object to be
associated to schedule policy.

From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Policies | Schedule Policies.

Right-click the System Created (All Agent Types) schedule policy and click Edit.

From the System Created (All Agent Types) dialog box, click the Association tab
and then click the Edit tab. Select the client computers under the Client Computers
node.

Q. How to seal SIDB.

From the Commcell browser expand policies and go to storage policy then right
click on particular storage policy copy go to all task then click seal DDB database
for confirmation message appear that tells you the DDB sealing required double
disk space on the library and type space available first sealing DDB then click ok.

Q. What is snapshot copy?

A Snapshot Copy provides the means to make additional copies of the snap
Backup.

In the case of snap backups, the primary copy contains only the metadata
information associated with the snapshot Backup. A backup Copy operation must
be performed to replicate the data to the Snapshot Copy.

The newly created Snapshot Copy can be associated with the subclient from which
the snap backup is performed. In this case, the Snapshot Copy acts as the primary
copy and therefore will contain only the metadata information associated with the
snapshot Backup.

Q. What is Spool Copy?

The Spool Copy feature allows you to define a primary copy to be used as a
temporary holding area for protected data until the data is copied to an active
synchronous copy. Note that a primary copy can be defined as a spool copy only
when there is an active synchronous copy for the storage policy.

The Spool Copy feature is enabled from the Retention tab of the Copy Properties
dialog box of the primary copy.

Q. What is Inline Copy?

The Inline Copy feature allows you to create additional copies of data at the time of
your data protection operation, hence eliminating the need to perform a time
intensive auxiliary copy operation.

The most common way to create an additional copy of protected data was to
perform an auxiliary copy operation after a data protection window was completed.
Unfortunately, this could cause delays in getting data offsite, as the time taken to
create an additional copy could take many hours after the last data protection
operation was completed.

Q. What is Auxiliary copy?

An auxiliary copy operation allows you to create secondary copies of data

associated with data protection operations, independent of the original copy.

Q. What is Selective copy?

A selective copy allows you to copy specific full backup jobs from a source copy.
The source copy can be either a primary or a synchronous copy. Selective copy
facilitates better tape rotation.

Q. What is Synchronous copy?

A secondary copy provides the means to make additional copies of the data located
on the primary copy. Secondary Copies are useful when you want to make
consistent point-in-time copies of data within the cycle. In a Synchronous Copy, all
backup jobs (full, incremental, differential, transaction log or archive job) are written
to the primary copy are copied.

Q. What is Vault/Mirror copy?

IntelliSnap - Initiating a Vault or Mirror Copy for NAS or DB2 or Any

To use the NetApp SnapVault/Snap Mirror feature, you must have the NetApp Snap
Management license

Q. What is Operation Window?

Default, all operations in the CommCell will run for 24 hours without restriction.
However, it may be necessary to prevent operations from running during certain
time periods of the day. To accomplish this, we can define operation rules which
will disable certain operations from running during a time period you specify;
thereby ensuring unexpected, time consuming operations do not disrupt the
availability of network bandwidth, data, or storage resources when they are most
needed.

When operation rules are configured, operations that are started within the time
window specified will go to a queued (as opposed to pending) state. Once the time
window specified in the operation rule has elapsed, these queued.

Operation Rules

Operation rules can be defined using theOperation Windowat the following levels
in the CommCell Browser:

CommServe -- Client Computer Group -- Client -- Agent --Backup Set -- Subclient.

Operation rules established at the CommServe level apply across the entire
CommServe. Operation rules established at the Agent level apply only to the
specified Agent. When an operation rule is defined at both the CommServe and
Agent levels, the operation will run outside of the total time frame established by the
operation rules configured at both levels.
Q. What is Audit Trail?

The Audit Trail feature allows you to track the operations of users who have access
to the CommCell. If a detrimental operation was performed within the CommCell,
this operation can be traced, provided the Audit Trail feature was enabled.

Operations performed within the CommCell are grouped into four levels which can
be selected from the Recording Level field in the Audit Trail dialog box. Each
recording level has pre-classified operations associated with it. The default
recording level is 2. Each recording level also records all operations performed in
the level above it. For example, Recording Level 2 records all operations in Level 2
and Level 1. Recording Level 4 records operations at all levels.

The Audit Trail can be turned on and off by enabling or disabling the Recording On
field. You can also set the retention time (in days) that the Audit Trail is retained
(the default is 365 days) from the Retention in Days field. After this retention time
has expired, the data will be pruned when data aging is run. For more information
on data aging, see Data Aging. See Set the Audit Trail for step-by-step instructions
on setting the Audit Trail.

Q. What is Data Interface Pairs?

A Data Interface Pair (DIP) allows you to create an exclusive network route between
two host computers, for faster data transfer. DIPs also reduce network traffic on the
default network interface by routing the high-volume traffic required for backup
through a different interface. (The "default network interface" is the interface
specified during installation.)

A DIP requires that each host computer have a network interface name that was not
used during software installation. A host computer can have multiple network
interfaces when it has multiple Network Interface Cards (NICs). If you have more
than one client with multiple interfaces, you can create data interface pairs using
the CommCell Console. You do this from the Control Panel or the Job Configuration
tab of the computer's Properties.

What are alert types?

Alert modified disk space low force deconfigred Properties modified

application management alerts automatic updates Configuration Job
management Data protection recover, verification- DDB Reconstructor --
Disaster recover backup --information managementerase media Inventory
Media refreshing Report Media Management Operation Management.