Importing Networker Data

Using the Data Import app, you can import backup jobs that can be restored as files from a Networker client into the Commvault storage. The backup jobs are restored as files from the Networker client and staged on a data access node (staging client) to initiate backups to Commvault storage.

The app uses Networker commands to fetch the clients, policies, and backup jobs from Networker and populates the configuration database. Then, from the Command Center, you can select the jobs that you want to import to Commvault storage. The app recovers the selected backup jobs based on parameters, such as parallel jobs and data access nodes. The recovered data is then backed up on to Commvault storage using configured backup plans and data access nodes.

The overall performance of the data import operation depends on multiple environmental factors, like restore throughput from Networker, backup performance, attached storage, and resources. After the backup job is complete, the staging area is cleaned so that you can redo or import the same Networker backup job if the earlier backup job did not complete successfully.

Note

The Data Import app can be accessed only by the Commvault professional services team. To use the app, contact your account representative and discuss a Professional Services engagement. To enable third-party data import for supported agents, contact your sales or customer success team for assistance with purchasing the app.
The app imports third-party backups as files (file system data) from Networker. You can import only file system data to the Commvault storage. You cannot import data of other agents or applications such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, NDMP and VMware.

Before You Begin

Review the following requirements to import Networker filesystem data to Commvault storage:

Create a backup plan with proper retention rules for the data import operation. The backup plan should not be associated with any schedules.

By default, the app applies the retention settings from the storage policy of the assigned backup plan. To switch to the retention settings of the third-party product, add the TPMHonourThirdPartyRetention additional settings on the CommServe.

Note

To allow the migrated data to use the minimal retention settings from {productname}, use a separate backup plan with a one-day retention period on the storage policy.
Configure the command host with the windows Networker backup server. If you have a Linux Networker backup server, then use an existing windows networker host or configure a new windows networker host as the command host to run networker commands. Verify that you have Commvault File System Agent installed on this server and able to run the mminfo command.
Verify that that data access node (staging client) has Networker and Commvault File System Agent installed. You can choose either a Windows or a Linux client as the data access node for the data import operation. For example, if you are importing data from Linux client, use a data access node on Linux.
Verify that the data access node has enough disk space to restore the largest backup image from Networker. If you plan to restore multiple backup images in parallel, you must have disk space equal to the largest backup image * the number of parallel restores. For example, 30 GB *5 = 150 GB.

Note

The Data Import app can be accessed only by the Commvault professional services team. To use the app, contact your account representative and discuss a Professional Services engagement. To enable data import for supported agents, contact your sales or customer success team for assistance with purchasing the app.

Procedure

Import the Data Import app to the Command Center. For more information, see Importing an App.
From the navigation pane, go to Protect > Data Import.
In the Server Configuration tab, click Add Server.

The Select Backup Product window appears.
In the Select Product box, select Networker, and then click Next.

The Enter Migration Settings window appears.
Provide the following inputs, and then click Next.
Unique Alias Name - Customized name to save the configuration in the app for the data import operation.
- Networker Server - Name of Networker master server.
- Networker Command Host - The name of the Windows Networker Backup Server where you run the Networker Commands. The Data Import app does not support a Linux Networker Backup Server as a command host. You can use an existing windows networker host or configure a new windows networker host as the command host. Verify that you have Commvault File System Agent installed on this server and able to run the mminfo command.
- Installation Path on Command Host- The path where you installed the Networker software on the Command Host. For example, C:\Program Files\EMC Networker\nsr.
- Data Access Node - Name of the Data Access Nodes that you configured. Only the configured Data Access Nodes are listed in the Enter Migration Settings page.
- Data Access Node Host User - The admin user account for the Data Access Node.
- Data Access Node Host Password - Password for the admin user account.
- Max Parallel Jobs - Select the maximum number of backup jobs that you can run in parallel.
- Collect Networker Server Details - Select if you want the report to collect the Networker server details.
  
  Note
  
  The app only supports Windows Networker Command host currently.
- Backup Plan – Name of the backup plan that you configured for the import operation.
Click Load Jobs for the Networker Server.
In the DomainName box, select the Networker domain name.
In the From and To boxes, enter the start and end time range of the backup jobs that you want to view, and then click Next. Optional: To list the backup jobs of all the clients in the specified Networker domain, move the Get Jobs For All Clients toggle to the right.
Click the Client Details tab.

You can view the details for the selected clients.
Click the Job Details tab.

You can view a list of backup jobs for the selected clients and date range.
To change the client , in the Select Client box, select a different Networker client, and then click Apply.
To start the data import operation, select the backup jobs, and then click Start Migration.

The status column for the selected backup jobs, will display the status as In Progress. You can also view the import progress for the backup jobs in the Migration Queue tab.
Optional:To stop the running the data import operation, in the Migration Queue tab, click Stop.

Note

If the Networker command line operations do not work during the data import, the import job will fail or moves to a pending state. To troubleshoot issues with the Networker command line operations, contact Dell EMC support.

What to Do Next

You can access and manage the files from the Command Center.

From the navigation, click Protect > File Servers.
Select the Networker_clientname, and navigate to Protocols > CIFS/NFS.
Click the Subclients tab, and then choose Networker_files backupset.

You can now restore the imported data from the list of subclients.