Using multiple MSDP nodes for multistream backups on MSDP cluster
In the MSDP cluster environments, balancing the load across multiple nodes is crucial for maintaining optimal performance. MSDP has either a single node configuration or a cluster configuration. MSDP cluster configurations such as Flex Scale, Cloud Scale, and MSDP volume groups may have multiple nodes. These clustered configurations allow for enhanced scalability and performance for multistream backups.
Starting with NetBackup 11.0, a new policy attribute Use multiple MSDP nodes is introduced to improve load balancing for multistream backups on MSDP cluster storage servers. This feature enables the distribution of backup streams across the multiple MSDP nodes, optimizing throughput, and reducing potential congestion on individual nodes.
Before NetBackup 11.0, the policy name prefix MSDPLB+ was used to enable the use of multiple MSDP nodes for multistream backups. While functional, the MSDPLB+ naming convention was not always the most convenient, and prompted the introduction of the new policy attribute in NetBackup 11.0.
Consider the following points when using this option:
This policy attribute is designed to use only for multiple stream backups on the MSDP cluster storage servers. For a single-node MSDP storage server, this attribute has no effect.
This policy attribute is not available for the following policy types. Some of these policy types already have more advanced features that handle the distribution of backup streams across multiple MSDP nodes. For others, using multiple MSDP nodes is not applicable due to the nature of the policies.
Oracle
Epic-large-file
Universal-share
MSDP-object-store
The media server must be running NetBackup 11.0 or later to use this option. If the storage server is configured with the media servers of an earlier version, the backup job fails with the job status code 213. However, for environments running earlier versions, the MSDPLB+ policy prefix can still be used to enable load balancing across multiple MSDP nodes.
For smaller backups, we recommend not enabling this option. Without this option enabled, deduplication on the same node is the most efficient way to minimize storage and network utilization.
If the client data is large and the backup job cannot finish within the backup window, enable this option to use multiple MSDP nodes for parallel data processing, reducing backup time.
Some client applications might not send backup data to NetBackup in a same order as the previous backups. In such cases, MSDP may require more storage and network resources across nodes to manage the data streams. Enabling this option for these types of applications may reduce system efficiency.
See Enabling the media server and MSDP engine affinity in the MSDP cluster.