NetBackup is available in three editions to support organizations ranging from SMBs to large enterprises.
See the table below:
There are two primary architectures deployed by NetBackup
1. Two-Tier (NetBackup Enterprise Server)
2. Three-Tier (NetBackup Server)
To make things easy to understand I will explain Three Tier Architecture
first.
NetBackup Enterprise Server Architecture (Three-Tier)
A typical NetBackup Enterprise Server storage domain consists of one
NetBackup Master Server, one or more NetBackup Media Servers, and multiple
NetBackup Clients. Large customers often have multiple NetBackup Storage domains
spread across data centers.
NetBackup Master Server
- Main Backup Server - Manage all operations (Policies, Schedules, Device
Configuration, & Catalog)
- Backs Up and Restores Local and Client Data to Attached Storage (Tape /
Disk)
- Manages Attached (Direct / SAN) Storage
The NetBackup Master Server is the “brains” for all data protection
activities, from scheduling and tracking client backups to managing tape media
and more. In addition, the NetBackup Master Server may have one or more storage
devices attached for backing up its local data or NetBackup client data across
the network.
NetBackup Media Servers
- Backs Up and Restores Local and Client Data to Attached Storage
(Tape/Disk)
- Manages Attached (Direct / SAN) Storage
Organizations with data in several locations, or with data-intensive
applications, may distribute the workload across servers by deploying a
NetBackup Enterprise Server as a Media Server. The Master Server is the brains,
and the Media Servers are the workhorses of deployments. A NetBackup Media
Server can share tape resources with NetBackup Master/Media Servers over a
storage area network (SAN) or provide for backup and recovery from its own
dedicated storage hardware. If a NetBackup Media Server fails, the attached
NetBackup Client backups will be routed to another NetBackup Media
Server.
NetBackup Clients
- Prepares and Sends Local Data to NetBackup Master / Media Servers for
Storage
- Receives Stored Data from NetBackup Master / Media Servers for Restoration
Each system to be protected requires a NetBackup client. The NetBackup
client sends and receives data across the local area network (LAN) or storage
area network (SAN) to a NetBackup Media Server.
Each NetBackup Enterprise Server or NetBackup Server license includes the
necessary licenses to backup NetBackup data (not other application
data).
NetBackup Server Architecture (Two-Tier)
Two-tier NetBackup architecture is defined as a single NetBackup server
that acts as both a Master and Media Server (Master/Media Server) and multiple
clients.
NetBackup Server supports one backup server and an unlimited number of
clients, NDMP-NAS systems, tape drives, and tape libraries.