Your Browser is Out of Date

Nytro.ai uses technology that works best in other browsers.
For a full experience use one of the browsers below
Dell PowerScale: Backup Using Commvault
Executive summary Introduction Architecture overview
Architecture overview
Backup target configuration and best practices Backup source configuration and best practices Integrations Conclusion Appendix: Integrations: Configuration steps

Architecture overview

Architecture overview

  • To understand the Commvault architecture, let us first discuss the components and their function. Starting at the edge and working toward the center, the iDataAgent software is deployed on all servers, workstations, and laptops where backups are needed; they are collectively called clients. There are specific iDataAgents for each of the different File Systems, Applications, and Databases supported by Commvault. The MediaAgent software is deployed on dedicated servers that maintains the deduplication databases and manages the transfer of data between the clients and storage systems. Multiple MediaAgents are used to distribute the load. PowerScale is set up as a Disk Library when it is a backup target and is set up as a client when it is a backup source going to tape media. The CommServe software is deployed on a dedicated server that communicates and coordinates all operations—backups, restores, copies, media management, and so on. The CommServe creates a logical grouping of MediaAgents and clients called a CommCell; depending on the size of the environment, or network and physical boundaries, an organization can have multiple CommCells.

    The following figure is an overview of the logical architecture for Commvault and PowerScale scale-out storage deployed as a backup target. The figure shows the PowerScale cluster defined as a single Commvault Disk Library shared across multiple MediaAgents.

    Figure 1.   Logical architecture overview: backup target as a disk library

    The following figure is an overview of the logical architecture for Commvault and PowerScale scale-out storage deployed as a backup source through 2-way NDMP. The figure shows the PowerScale cluster with direct Fibre Channel connections to tape media.

    Figure 2.   Logical architecture overview: backup source through 2-way NDMP

    The following figure is an overview of the logical architecture for Commvault and PowerScale scale-out storage deployed as a backup source through 3-way NDMP. This figure shows the PowerScale cluster with remote access to tape media over Ethernet.

    Figure 3.   Logical architecture overview: backup source through 3-way NDMP