HP StorageWorks

Enterprise Backup Solution

example configurations

Part number: 5697-6726

Second edition: May 2007
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Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations

About this document
This guide provides example configurations for the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Backup Solution (EBS). The
examples include direct attach with LAN client connectivity, as well as basic and extended Storage Area
Networks (SAN). While this document does not encompass all possible EBS configurations, it should
provide information to help build tape solutions to meet specific business needs. All hardware items shown
in this example guide are listed in the EBS Compatibility Matrix. The HP StorageWorks Enterprise Backup
Solution (EBS) Compatibility Matrix provides information for designing data protection solutions, including
backup/restore and archiving, that scale from entry-level workgroups to enterprise-level data centers. It
includes support for Direct Attach SCSI (DAS), Direct Attach Fibre (DAF), and Storage Area Network
(SAN).

Other documentation
In addition to this guide, HP provides the following corresponding information, available via the HP
website at http://www.hp.com/go/ebs:
• EBS Compatibility Matrix
• HP StorageWorks Enterprise Backup Solution Design Guide
• Backup application implementation guides
• Extended Data Protection Solutions
• HP StorageWorks SAN Design Reference Guide
• HP StorageWorks Partitioning in an EBS Environment Implementation Guide
• HP StorageWorks Implementing Mixed Media in HP StorageWorks ESL and MSL Tape Library
Application Notes
For detailed cabling instructions, see your specific HP StorageWorks or HP Server product guides. These
guides are available at the following locations on the HP website:
http://www.hp.com/go/tape
http://www.hp.com/go/arrays
http://www.hp.com/go/servers

Contents
• Point-to-Point configuration, page 4
• Shared tape library configuration with HP StorageWorks MSA1500 Small Business SAN configuration,
page 6
• Shared tape library configuration with heterogeneous servers, page 8
• Multi-path to disk configuration, page 10
• Disk to disk to tape configuration, page 12
• Virtual tape configuration, page 14
• SAN zoning configuration, page 16
• Multi-Protocol Router configuration, page 17
• Library partitioning configuration, page 18
• Extended SAN configuration, page 19
• Continuous Access configuration, page 21
• Virtual Library System EVA Gateway configuration, page 23
• Encryption Appliance configuration, page 25
• iSCSI Virtual Library System configuration, page 27
• VMware Consolidated Backup configuration, page 28

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 3

Point-to-Point configuration
Environment Direct Attach SCSI (DAS) and Direct Attach Fibre (DAF)
Typical usage Local and network client backup.
Description The following examples (Figures 1 and 2) represent DAS and DAF configurations.
Each client transmits its data to the backup server over the LAN that then writes the
data to the locally attached tape device. The tape device can be attached with
either SCSI or Fibre Channel. This solution provides data protection for a large
number of clients through a dedicated backup server.

Figure 1

4
Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 Local internal disk over the LAN Backup servers

2 Backup servers Direct attached tape drives

Figure 2

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 5

Shared tape library configuration with HP StorageWorks MSA1500
Small Business SAN configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Low cost business SAN array with added tape backup and restore option.
Description The following examples (Figures 3 and 4) represent the HP StorageWorks MSA1500
configuration with a shared tape library. Each Windows server can access the
MSA1500 and the tape library through a single Host Bus Adapter (HBA). Each
Windows server has direct access to the tape drives within the library, and tape
access is controlled by advanced features within the backup application. Sharing a
tape library eliminates the need for multiple tape systems connected to each server,
thereby simplifying data protection management and reducing total cost of
ownership.
For detailed information on the MSA1500 array, see:
http://www.hp.com/go/msa.

Figure 3

6
Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 MSA1500 disk array Each SAN-based server

2 Each server Shared SAN-attached tape library

Figure 4

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 7

Shared tape library configuration with heterogeneous servers
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Shared tape library across multiple servers.
Description The following examples (Figures 5 and 6) represent a SAN configuration consisting
of multiple servers with multiple operating systems, connected to multiple disk arrays
and a shared tape library. Each server can access the disk arrays and the tape
library through a single Host Bus Adapter (HBA). Each server has direct access to
the tape drives within the library, and tape access is controlled by advanced
features within the backup application. Sharing a tape library eliminates the need
for multiple tape systems connected to each server, thereby simplifying data
protection management and reducing total cost of ownership.

Figure 5

8
Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 Each disk array Each SAN-based server

2 Each server Shared SAN-attached tape library

Figure 6

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 9

Multi-path to disk configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage High availability storage solution.
Description The following examples (Figures 7 and 8) represent a shared tape library
configuration (see Figure 5) with HP StorageWorks Secure Path, or other
multi-pathing software, installed on each server. The multi-pathing software provides
the servers with multiple access paths to disk storage, allowing backups and
restores to continue in the event of a disk path failure. This solution provides 24/7
data availability in the SAN environment.

NOTE: Regardless of operating system environment, multi-path to tape is not

supported (only one of the two configured paths can access the tape devices at the
same time).

Figure 7

10
Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 Each disk array Each SAN-based server

2 Each server SAN-attached tape library load, balancing

the tapes between SANs

Figure 8

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 11

Disk to disk to tape configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Staging of backup data to a host-managed, low cost disk to facilitate quick restores
and enable long term archival storage.
Description The following examples (Figures 9 and 10) represent a shared tape library
configuration (see Figure 5) consisting of multiple servers, primary disk storage
(EVA8000), staging disk storage (MSA1500), and a tape library. The backup
application backs up the primary disk data to the staging disk, allowing for quick
restores of single files. Each host writes to its own file system on the low-cost array.
All file transfers are controlled by backup software, and transfer to tape occurs
through servers that sent data. Data on the staging disk can be archived to tape for
off-site storage. This solution enhances typical recovery processes and provides data
protection in a cost efficient solution.

Figure 9

12
Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 Each disk array Each SAN-based server

Backup
2 Each server Low cost disk array

Archive 3 Low cost disk array Each server

to Tape 4 Each server SAN-attached tape library

Figure 10

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 13

Virtual tape configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Integration of Virtual Library Systems (disk emulating tape) into existing backup
environments to facilitate quick restores and support for slow SAN clients enabling
long-term, archival storage.
Description The following examples (Figures 11 and 12) show the integration of a Virtual Library
System (VLS) in a SAN environment consisting of multiple servers, primary disk
storage, and a tape library. The Virtual Library System uses a controller and low-cost
disk to emulate a physical tape library. The backup application backs up the data
to the Virtual Library System as if it were a physical tape library, allowing for quick
restores of single files. When physical tapes are required for off-site storage, the
data on the Virtual Library System is copied to the tape library by the backup
application using an alternate server, freeing up the application host from this
process. This solution allows easy integration of disk technologies into existing
backup environments, requiring no unique backup application features.

Figure 11

14
Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 Each disk array Each SAN-based server

Backup
2 Each server SAN-attached virtual library system

SAN-attached virtual library Each server (or an alternate media

3
Archive to system copy server)
Tape Each server (or an alternate SAN-attached tape library
4
media copy server)

Figure 12

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 15

SAN zoning configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Enable or limit access between SAN initiators and targets.
Description This example represents a shared tape library in a zoned configuration. Zoning is a
feature of the switch that creates isolated groups of connections between specific
components in the SAN. Figure 13A illustrates the physical interconnection of each
component in the SAN.
Each zone is illustrated below, and the members of that zone are as follows:
• Figure 13B
• Port A of Windows server #1
• Port A of the tape library
• Port B of the tape library
• Figure 13C
• Port B of Windows server #2
• Port B of the disk array
• Figure 13D
• Port A of Windows server #2
• Port A of the disk array
• Port A of the tape library
The use of zoning controls the access to storage on the SAN and limits the activity
that the server is exposed to on the SAN. Effective use of zoning provides security
and simplifies complex SAN management.

NOTE: The dashed outlines and dashed connection lines represent the physical components and
connections that are not part of the zone.

16
Multi-Protocol Router configuration
Environment Multiple Storage Area Networks (SAN)
Typical usage Sharing storage devices between independent SANs.
Description This example (Figure 14) represents a configuration consisting of independent
fabrics, or SAN islands, utilizing the Multi-Protocol Router (MPR), a switch-type
device. Multiple servers (highlighted with halos and members of the backup
configuration) connect to their local switch within their independent fabric. Through
the MPR, each server can connect to the shared tape library as if it were in the
same independent fabric. This solution enables the interconnection of devices
between SAN fabrics without merging those fabrics, thereby providing a more
secure, flexible storage networking foundation.

Figure 14

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 17

Library partitioning configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)

Typical usage Multiple applications sharing a single tape library.

Description This example (Figure 15) represents a configuration consisting of two independent backup
applications accessing a single tape library. Utilizing the partitioning feature in the
advanced version of Secure Manager for Tape Libraries and HP StorageWorks Command
View TL, each backup application is presented with a logical library comprised of a subset of
drives and slots of the physical library. Each application accesses its logical library
independent of the other application. With tape library partitioning, multiple backup
applications can share a single tape library, thereby increasing flexibility in the data center
and lowering total cost of ownership.
For detailed support, see HP StorageWorks Partitioning in an EBS Environment
Implementation Guide at: http://www.hp.com/go/ebs.

Figure 15

18
Extended SAN configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Off-site backup and disaster recovery.
Description The following examples (Figures 16 and 17) show a shared tape library
configuration (see Figure 5) that uses SAN extension technologies to allow
connectivity between remote sites. Data is read from the disk storage array located
at site A and written to the tape storage library located at site B over the extended
network link. While Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) and Wave Division Multiplexing
(WDM) allow connectivity over very long distances, Long-wave Small Formfactor
Plugables (SFPs) can accommodate distances of 10-35 km. This solution illustrates a
variety of SAN extension technologies, providing off-site connectivity for remote
backup and disaster recovery.

Figure 16

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 19

 Description, Backup data flows:
continued Step From... To...

1 Each disk array Each SAN-based server

2 Each server Extended SAN-attached tape library

Figure 17

20
Continuous Access configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Disaster tolerance, business continuity.
Description The following examples (Figures 18 and 19) represent a SAN configuration utilizing
Continuous Access EVA, providing the ability to continuously replicate data from the
disk array located at site A to the remote disk array located at site B. By creating a
snapshot of the data at site B and presenting this data to a server at site B, this data
can be backed up to the library at site B, thereby creating a remote backup of the
data from site A. Continuous Access EVA utilizes multiple SAN extension
technologies to overcome the distance limitations of a typical Fibre Channel
connection. Continuous Access EVA is a complete disaster-tolerant storage solution
guaranteeing data integrity if a storage system or site fails.

Figure 18

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 21

 Description, Backup data flows:
continued Step From... To...

1 Disk array on Site A Disk array on Site B

2 Snapshot of replicated LUNs Each disaster recovery (DR) server on Site B

3 Each DR server on Site B SAN-attached tape library

Figure 19

22
Virtual Library System EVA Gateway configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Integration of disk-assisted backup into existing backup environments to facilitate
quick restores and support for slow SAN clients enabling long-term, archival
storage.
Description The following examples (Figures 20 and 21) show the integration of a Virtual
Library System (VLS) EVA Gateway in a SAN environment, consisting of: multiple
servers, primary disk storage, and a tape library. The Virtual Library System uses
multiple clustered controllers and the HP Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) to emulate
large physical tape libraries. The backup application backs up the data to the
Virtual Library System as if it were a physical tape library, allowing for quicker
restores of single files and simultaneously restores files, even when backups are
running. When physical tapes are required for off-site storage, the data on the
Virtual Library System is copied to the tape library by the backup application using
an alternate server, freeing up the application host from this process. This solution
allows easy integration of disk technologies into existing backup environments,
requiring no unique backup application features.

Figure 20

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 23

 Description, Backup data flows:
continued
Step From... To...

1 Primary disk array Each SAN-based server

Backup 2 Each server SAN-zoned VLS Gateway

3 SAN-zoned VLS Gateway SAN-zoned back-end EVA array

4 SAN-zoned back-end EVA array SAN-zoned VLS Gateway

5 SAN-zoned VLS Gateway Each server (or an alternate

Archive
media copy server)
to Tape
6 Each server (or an alternate SAN attached physical tape
media copy server) library

Figure 21

24
Encryption Appliance configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage Integration of encryption tape appliances into existing backup environments to
facilitate security protection of data on tape.
Description The following examples (Figures 22 and 23) show the integration of encryption tape
appliances into a SAN environment consisting of multiple servers, primary disk
storage, and a tape library. The encryption appliances are zoned into the SAN to
allow only the backup data to flow through the appliance. This configuration allows
for easy control over which servers and tape drives are used for encryption and
which are not. See http://www.hp.com/go/ebs for whitepapers on how to
integrate these appliances into a SAN backup environment.

Figure 22

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 25

 Description, Backup data flows:
continued Step From... To...

1 Primary disk array Each SAN-based server

2 Each server SAN-zoned Encryption Appliance

3 SAN-zoned encryption appliance SAN-attached physical tape library

Figure 23

26
iSCSI Virtual Library System configuration
Environment Local Area Network (iSCSI LAN)
Typical usage Integration of disk-assisted backup into existing backup environments to facilitate
quick restores and support for slow LAN clients enabling long-term, archival storage.
Description This example (Figure 24) shows the integration of an iSCSI Virtual Library System
(VLS) into a LAN environment consisting of multiple servers, local internal disk
storage, and an external physical tape drive. The iSCSI VLS allows each server to
back up to its own virtual tape library over the iSCSI LAN. The backup application
backs up the data to the Virtual Library System as if it were a physical tape library,
allowing for quick restores of single files. When physical tapes are required for
off-site storage, the data on the Virtual Library System is copied to the tape library by
the backup application using an alternate server, freeing up the application host from
this process. This solution allows easy integration of disk technologies into existing
backup environments, requiring no unique backup application features.
Backup data flows:
Step From... To...

1 Each server’s Local internal iSCSI LAN Virtual Library Systems

Backup
disk

2 iSCSI LAN Virtual Library Each server (or an alternate media

Archive to Systems copy server, if supported by backup
Tape application)

3 Alternate media copy server Locally attached physical tape library

Figure 24

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 27

VMware Consolidated Backup configuration
Environment Storage Area Network (SAN)
Typical usage VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) provides a set of drivers and scripts that
enable SAN backup/recovery of any running supported operating system virtual
machines (VM) by one or more dedicated Microsoft Windows 2003 proxy server
using an industry-standard backup agent.
Description The following examples (Figures 25, 26, and 27) show the integration of VMware
Consolidated Backup (v3.0.1) in a SAN environment consisting of multiple ESX
servers (Blades), with each Blade server running 3 virtual machines: one Linux; one
Windows; and one x86 Solaris, a dedicated VCB Server, primary disk storage
Virtual Tape Library, and a physical tape library.

Figure 25

28
Description, Figure 26 shows how the data flows for both full and incremental file level backup
continued (for virtual machines running Microsoft® Windows operating system). VCB
accomplishes this over the SAN by creating a host-based snapshot of the running
VM onto the same LUN that its data currently resides (there must be adequate free
space), then presenting that LUN to the dedicated VCB server where the backup
software is running. The backup software performs a normal full or incremental
backup to a SAN-attached Virtual Tape Library or Physical Tape Library.
Backup data flows:
Step From... To...

1 Virtual Machine File System (VM Host-based snapshot on same LUN

FS)

2 Snapshot SAN-based VMware Consolidated Backup

server (VCB)

3 VCB server running backup Either a SAN-based Virtual Tape Library or

application Physical Tape Library

Figure 26

Enterprise Backup Solution example configurations 29

 Description, Figure 27 shows how the data flows for Image level backups (for virtual machines
continued running any operating system). This is accomplished by make a full copy of the
running Virtual Machine over the SAN onto disk space located on the dedicated
VCB Backup server (there must be adequate free space). Once the full copy has
completed, the backup software running on the VCB Backup server performs a
normal image backup to a SAN-attached Virtual Tape Library or Physical Tape
Library.
Backup data flows:
Step From... To...

1 Virtual Machine File System (VM SAN-based VMware Consolidated Backup

FS) server (VCB) - FULL COPY

2 VCB server running backup Either a SAN-based Virtual Tape Library or

application Physical Tape Library

Figure 27

30