Archive:Sesam Quick Start Guide
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THE CONTENT OF THIS PAGE IS OUTDATED |
| SEP AG has discontinued support for obsolete SEP sesam versions. Instructions are still available for these SEP sesam products, however, SEP AG accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies in the instructions or for the incorrect operation of obsolete SEP sesam software. It is strongly recommended that you update your SEP sesam software to the latest version. For the latest version of SEP sesam documentation, see documentation home. |
This Quick Guide for Linux offers a fast entry into the SEP sesam product family under Linux. A more detailed description of all SEP sesam components can be found in the User Manual.
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Note |
| For the latest SEP sesam documentation, see Linux Installation and SEP sesam Configuration – First Steps. |
Installation Preparations
Java Installation
To install the SEP sesam Server a working Java Run Time Environment (JRE) from SUN is required. For details on the required Java version, see Java Compatibility Matrix. If possible the JRE should be installed via a package management system (e.g. apt-get, aptitude, YaST), otherwise the actual Java version can be downloaded under Java.com.
Network Configuration
- Check correct name resolution (DNS server,
/etc/hosts). - Configuration/Deactivation of the firewall, if clients will also be backed up.
SCSI Checkup
First of all check if tape or loader hardware which will be used is supported by the operating system (OS). With
cat /proc/scsi/scsi
you'll get an overview which SCSI devices are found:
[root@SEPsesamServer ~]# cat /proc/scsi/scsi Attached devices: Host: scsi1 Channel: 00 Id: 04 Lun: 00 Vendor: DEC Model: TZ87 (C) DEC Rev: 9514 Type: Sequential-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Please contact your system administrator to check the SCSI configuration if one of the details above is missing. The automatic hardware configuration of SEP sesam recognizes only the hardware detected by the OS.
Obtain SEP sesam
It's recommended to install SEP sesam with the native package format of the respective distribution. The latest packages reside in the Linux download section of SEP AG. Files from this server are quite similar:
- sesam_component-version.distribution.architecture.rpm
For example:
- sesam_srv-4.0.2-10.sles11.i586.rpm
- sesam_cli-4.0.2-10.rhel5.i386.rpm
Installation of the SEP sesam Server
| root |
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The installation requires root privileges. |
Install the SEP sesam Server
Change to the directory where the .rpm package is located. The installation is started with:
rpm -Uvh sesam_srv-4.0.2-10.sles11.i586.rpm
When installing from CD change the version number to the one in the kit name.
During installation process a backup and restore test is performed. After installation the SEP sesam GUI starts automatically, this could take a few minutes (it is dependent on the hardware).
With
/etc/sesam2000.ini
the install paths of SEP sesam can be identified.
<SESAM_ROOT>/sesam/bin/gui/sesam_gui
starts the GUI.
Install the SEP sesam Client
On computers to be backed up by SEP sesam (referred to as sesam clients), put in the sesam CD and change to the mounted CD-ROM path. Then start the installation with:
rpm -ivh sesam_cli-4.0.2-10.sles11.i586.rpm
The module Kpackage can be used for installation if available.
Configuration of the SEP sesam Server
SEP sesam BOX is an automatic data backup system for heterogeneous network environments. All common tape and disk devices may be used for backup, in addition other components like autoloaders (robots) are supported. See storage hardware for further information.
Furthermore, it is possible to backup to hard drives, floppy disks and other directory-orientated storage media (virtual drives, loaders and media, external drives, etc.).
To set the system configuration in a simple and effective way, an approach is chosen, which consists of the following 6 Basic components, which in turn can be grouped together:
- Components & Description & Group
- Client & PC, from which the data is backed up & Location
- Drive & Backup device local or remote & Drive Groups
- Loader & Robots loads media in/out of the drive
- Media & stores the backed up data & Mediapools
- Task & Description of the backup or restore & Taskgroups
- Appointment & Execution - set time for miscellaneous Actions & Schedules
The buttons in the toolbar above the components window provides direct access to the most important functions immediate backup, restore wizard, results and the calendar page.
The following information describes in sequence how the SEP sesam components noted above should be configured. A detailed description of GUI elements can be found in the User Manual under "Help -> Online Manual.
Step 1: Clients
Under components -> topology the default location LOCAL is already registered, because every client must be clearly assigned to one location. Similarly, the local computer is assigned as a client. More computers can be configured as a client under components -> topology -> new client. Before configuring a new client please insure that the SEP sesam client software is installed on this computer. Use the same client name as designated in the chosen network. If a DNS server is installed in this network SEP sesam automatically takes the TCP/IP address. If no DNS-server is available, the IP-address and the fqdn of the client must be inserted in the local /etc/hosts file.
Step 2: Backup hardware - Drives and Loaders
During the installation SEP sesam checks the SCSI bus attached storage devices, and adds its data to the database. Drives and loaders are identified by numbers. After the installation a pre-defined virtual DISK_HARD drive(Lw1) together with the associated Loader 0 have been created under Loader -> Virtual Loaders and attached SCSI devices. The drive groups diskdrives and tape drives are set by default.
'Note:' When using some autoloaders the connection between the loader and drives may not be automatically recognized. It is, therefore, necessary to verify this set of devices and insert the set into the final configuration. If a loader is connected, choose the group Tape_Drives under components -> drives -> drive groups and open the properties for each drive. If there is no loader noted in the field Loader and this device is operated by a loader, the drive has not been correctly recognized. To correct this, set the drive to the corresponding loader (drop-down in the box Loader) and enter 0 under Drive No. in loader.
If the loader manages several drives, the internal loader numbers are counted up in ascending order (in the example above Loader 1 has 2 drives -Lw2 internal is 0, Lw3 internal is 1).
SEP sesam distinguishes between the externally attached loader and the physical internal drives. Each starts from 0 per loader. With OK this device is activated in the configuration.
Step 3: Media - Carrier of the Data
Each medium is given a unique identifier, or label'. The label is written to the beginning of the medium during the physical initialization (format: 'Poolname'nnnnn). SEP sesam requires that media be organized into media pools from the start of the backup process. Every job requires at least one. Within these pools the media are numbered serially. After installation, you will find one media pool with the name SEP sesam server and one called DISK. The DISK pool contains four media, which have been created in the SEP sesam directory path <SESAM_ROOT>/var/work/diskdrive1 and now are available for data storage. Under Components -> Media Pools new pools can be created as required
Using Components -> Media -> Initialization you can make new media for backups available. Choose the desired details from the drop-down menu with the input fields Media pool, Drive and Media, mark the option below Automatically assign next number and start. By doing this the serial number of the label is initialized and inserted into the database.
Depending on the drive used, physical media must be inserted into the drive (manually or via Components -> Loaders -> Loader Action), or SEP sesam creates directories with the labelname on the hard disk drive as virtual DISK-media. With Components -> Loaders -> Archive Adjustment and the option Automatic Introduction all media of a loader magazine can be introduced into the media archive (depends on the speed of the loader).
Step 4: Tasks - what's to be backed up
Under Tasks -> from Clients you'll find the button new Task, this opens a new window, where the definitions for the different backups can be stored.
The task name can be freely assigned (max. 15 characters; recommended are aptronyms). The input box Source stores which hard drive, directories, data from which client should be backed up. By pressing the arrow key it is possible to open a file manager on the client, and to mark the files to be backed up directly. The tasks SESAM_BACKUP and TEST_BACKUP are applied by default. For more details on task configuration, see Creating a backup task.
Step 5: Schedules - when should be backed up
The SEP sesam time control is based on the so called SEPuler, a schedule-program.
A schedule is an event set to occur at a specific time. It consists of a start time, the definition of the task and a cyclic behavior (the schedule), thus with what regularity this task should be repeated. Periodical events (backups, initializations etc.) are created by generating a schedule, which realizes the desired iteration, under Scheduling-> Schedules-> New Schedule (nothing will happen yet, there is more to do!). Schedules can be used in combination with an appointment (Scheduling-> Schedules; on the right side are the different schedules to choose from e.g. New Backup Event etc.). The planned and expired schedules are shown in the calendar sheet. For details on schedule configuration, see Creating a schedule.
After the installation there is already one schedule present, the daily exchange of the SEP sesam (NEWDAY schedule). Please adjust only the execution time there, because with that the daily periodicity of SEP sesam is defined (shift operation). Note that a media schedule for the media pool DISK already exists.
Step 6: Initializing a Medium - where the data should be copied
Without external intervention SEP sesam manages the available media so that backed up data is stored as long as possible on the media. One medium after another is filled, savesets are written to multiple media. If all media within the pool have been used the first media of the pool will be overwritten. But, note, for safekeeping the (EndOfLife) selected by the system administrator is taken into account. Media that have not gone passed the EOL period will not be written to. Now you could start a backup immediately.
To use your own strategies for the media usage (especially in combination with different pools), it can be managed through media schedules. For example, to ensure that for each day a separate medium is used, set a new daily schedule under Scheduling -> Schedules -> New Schedule for about five minutes after the deadline NEWDAY- (shift operation). This schedule is now used with Scheduling -> Schedules -> New Media Event for a media event of the preferred media pool. For volume labels and alternate labels please use the default values. Thereby a usable medium from the archive is chosen and initialized at the set point in time, which means the medium will be erased and prepared for backup (transport with loader or manual control). To effect this immediately use Activities -> Immediate Start -> Media Action.
Step 7: Starting a Backup
For a unique launch of a pre-configured task and media pool for backup select Activities -> Immediate Start -> Backup, accept the default settings and start the job. The backup copies the desired data to the medium, and generates all necessary administrative information, and offers a comfortable and quick restore if needed. Periodic backups are inserted in the scheduler using the procedure above.
In the Restore Wizard Activities -> Backup the data can be restored from the media back to a hard drive.
Configuration of a SEP sesam Client
On the SEP sesam clients, only the Authorization for the server must be inserted. For that, edit the file <SESAM_ROOT>/var/ini/sm_ctrld.auth in the SEP sesam directory. There, the name or IP address of the SEP sesam server with users root (for Linux) or system (for Windows) can be entered.
For the name resolution (full qualified or not) are both entered in the following example.
backup_host root backup_host.mydomain.com root
An administrative shortcut for this function is available in sm_setup. <SESAM_ROOT>/bin/sesam/sm_setup in the SEP sesam directory.
#> ./sm_setup set_client backup_host.mydomain.com