VU Blog

Backup environment:

This month we upgraded Networker from 7.3.4 to 7.4.3.  This resolved several bugs and improved performance throughout the environment.  One of the most noticeable changes was an increase in the amount of detail available via logs.  However, the newer version is not perfect.  We have found two bugs so far in the new version.  One of these bugs is that the “Owner Notification” field is not being executed.  EMC has reproduced the bug in their lab and has forwarded it on to their development team to address.

We’ve completed the evaluation of the EMC VTL and we are in the process of completing purchase of the new hardware.  Once all of the details are finalized and we officially own it we’ll be able to accept new clients into our backup environment without over burdening the system.

I have created a software repository for client software in our backup environment.  Once all of our clients are upgraded to version 7.3 or greater we’ll be able to maintain client versions from the server from here on out.

Scripts:

I wrote a Perl script this month to keep track of all DNS queries going to our two DNS servers.  The results are sorted in descending order and then sent out via e-mail.  This will allow us to keep track of which lookups are most frequenly executed in our environment.

I have further refined our cloning scripts to only send cloning data over fiber channel.  This has eliminated the network component of our cloning processes and reduced the window to clone our data by another factor of two.

Operational:

I continue to support our various storage resources.  Backup is especially time intensive as we manage a lot of data and clients in our environment.  Additionally, there has been alot of work centered around the BlueArc and research storage in general this month.

Team Lead:

I was appointed team lead of the storage environment this month and this role is new to me.  It has already provided a source of additional meetings as well as responsibility in the way of an even more active role in how our storage environment is used by the community.  I look forward to the challenge.