The basic configuration steps to implement offline replication of snapshots using the PowerScale SyncIQ feature are detailed below.
- PowerScale: Create a SyncIQ policy
Note: Perform the snapshot configuration before proceeding with the below.
OneFS WebUI (example): Data Protection > SyncIQ > Policies tab > Create a SyncIQ Policy button
Settings:
(1) Policy Name: Commvault-Project1-Dir
(2) Description: Used by Commvault to replicate Project 1 directories.
(3) Enable this Policy: [selected]
(4) Action: Synchronize
(5) Run Job: Manually
Source Cluster:
(1) Source Root Directory: /ifs/data/project1
Target Cluster:
(1) Target Host: PowerScale2.cv.local
(2) Target Directory: /ifs/data/PowerScale1-replica/project1
Target Snapshots:
(1) Enable capture of snapshots on the target cluster: [selected]
(2) Snapshot Naming Pattern: SIQ_%{SrcCluster}_%{PolicyName}_%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S [add the “-%S” to the end of the default pattern, if it does not exist]
(3) Snapshot Expiration: Snapshots do not expire (Commvault will control aging)
Optionally configure any other settings as needed (such as node to participate, and so on).
Click Create Policy
Note: Ensure that the DNS servers configured on the source and target clusters can resolve the hostname of each cluster.
OneFS CLI (example):
isi sync policies create --name="Commvault-Project1-Dir" --description="Used by Commvault to replicate Project 1 directories." --enabled=true --action=sync --source-root-path="/ifs/data/project1" --target-host="PowerScale2.cv.local" --target-path="/ifs/data/PowerScale1-replica/project1" --target-snapshot-pattern="SIQ_%{SrcCluster}_%{PolicyName}_%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S" --target-snapshot-archive=true
(1) No schedule or target snapshot expirations are specified in the preceding command, so the policy runs manually and snapshots do not expire.
isi sync policies list
isi sync policies view Commvault-Project1-Dir
Note: Ensure that the DNS servers configured on the source and target clusters can resolve the hostname of each other.
PowerScale: Modify the existing User Account and Role used for snapshots to enable SyncIQ replication of the file system as well (CLI)
Note: The following two steps (i and ii) that create a user and role were already performed during the Snapshot configuration on the source cluster. Perform these steps only on the target cluster, and then continue to step b. When configuring the source cluster, skip to step b.
isi auth users create isicommvaultadmin --gecos=isicommvaultadmin --password=[ENTER PASSWORD] --password-expires=no --enabled=yes --shell="/sbin/nologin"
isi auth roles create CommvaultAdmins --description="Enable Commvault admins with the required privileges to manage the integrated features."
isi auth roles modify CommvaultAdmins --add-priv=ISI_PRIV_SYNCIQ
isi auth roles list
isi auth roles view CommvaultAdmins
Commvault (Optional): Automatically Correct SyncIQ policy
Note: This step is only needed if an error is encountered during the SyncIQ policy creation.
From the CommCell Browser > right-click [Commserve Server, top item] > Properties > Additional Settings tab > Add button
Name: nisilonAutoCorrectSyncIQPolicy
Category: iDataAgent
Type: Integer
Value: 1
Commvault: Add the target PowerScale Cluster to Array Management with a user account that has PowerScale SyncIQ privileges (created above)
CommCell Console > Storage tab > click Array Management > Add
General tab:
(1) Snap Vendor: Dell EMC Isilon
(2) Name: [FQDN of PowerScale cluster]
(3) Control Host: [FQDN of PowerScale cluster, should match NAS client]
(4) Credentials: [click Change button, enter username and password with PowerScale SyncIQ privileges]
Array Controllers tab:
(1) Selected Array Controllers: [add 2 or more MediaAgents local to the PowerScale cluster to communicate the API commands]
Snapshot Configuration tab (optional, if Commvault will directly take snapshots of the target PowerScale cluster as well, outside of the SyncIQ policy):
(1) Auto Update Array Host Aliases: [enable checkbox, unless manual entry of host aliases for the PowerScale cluster is needed in the below list]
(2) Array Host Aliases: [leave blank, unless manual entry of host aliases for the PowerScale cluster are needed]
(3) Access Zone: [leave blank if the snapshot is of an SMB share in the default System zone, otherwise specify the Access Zone name of the SMB share]
Click OK
Commvault: Create a Replica Copy
Note: A backup of the snapshot Subclient must be run at least once, at least one snapshot exists, for the Array Replication options to be visible.
From the CommCell Browser > Policies > Storage Policies > right-click [Storage Policy being used for PowerScale snapshots] > All Tasks > Create New Snapshot Copy
General Tab:
(1) Copy Name: [enter name]
(2) Library: [select the same library being used on the Primary storage policy]
(3) MediaAgent: [select a MediaAgent that is local to the source PowerScale cluster]
(4) Array Replication: Vault/Replica (automatically enables the Selective Copy checkbox and enables the Selective Copy and Configuration tabs)
Copy Policy tab:
(1) Clear “All Backups” (will prompt to perform this step if skipped)
(2) Backup On and After: [select a date, default is today’s date] (will prompt to perform this step if skipped)
(3) Enable “Specify Source for Array Replica Copy” checkbox: Primary Snap
Click OK
Commvault: Run an Offline Replication
From the CommCell Browser > Policies > Storage Policies > right-click [Storage Policy being used for PowerScale snapshots] > All Tasks > Run Auxiliary Copy
General Tab:
(1) Select A Copy: [select the new snapshot copy created above]
(2) Enable “Use Scalable Resource Allocation” checkbox (if not already selected)
Click OK
