Configuring extensible storage locations
Extensible storage locations allow the DS-System to use multiple storage paths at the same time when storing data. Extensible storage locations can be configured as local drives or UNC paths.When you create an extensible storage location, you must assign it to a storage group. If you do not create storage groups, the storage location is automatically assigned to the default storage group, which cannot be deleted from the DS-System. Data backed up from the DS-Client is saved in the extensible storage location(s) of the selected storage group.
All extensible storage locations contain the following:
• data — Folder containing the customer data.
• Storage_Label.txt — Text file containing the extensible storage location ID and its path.
• tmp/temp — Folder containing temporary files (one is used for normal operations and the other is used by some of the modules).
• trash — Folder containing all deleted files.
In addition to the above, the primary storage location contains the following:
• cd — Folder containing the disc/tape contents.
• cluster — Folder containing the N+1 configuration file (filename: config). Required only for N+1 DS-Systems.
• dump — Folder containing the DS-System database dumps.
• logs — Folder containing the archived log files with entries that were removed from the DS-System database by the Clear DS-System Logs feature and Delete Logs processes.
• Upgrade — Folder containing all the DS-Client upgrade packages.
The DS-System automatically balances its data across the available space for each storage location in the same storage group, but not between different storage groups. If you change the extensible storage locations associated with a storage group, only new backup data will be affected. The DS-System can also integrate with NAS storage volumes to use their native snapshot capability when performing read-only tasks.
When a snapshot is used, the DS-System can free the backup lock on the corresponding backup immediately. You must have a functioning NAS with defined storage volumes and it must be visible to the DS-System. Storage volume snapshot integration is enabled by the
UseSnapshot advanced configuration parameter. For more information, see
“Configuring the advanced settings”.
You can expand the DS-System capacity by adding a new storage location without the need to shut down the DS-System service. The DS-System automatically creates the new directory structure. The DS-System can be configured to send email or SNMP notifications when the available storage space is low.
IMPORTANT: After you start the DS-System service or daemon, you must not change the primary storage location (BackupRoot parameter from dssys.cfg), because this is the starting point for all the extensible storage locations.
If a storage location is nearing its capacity, you can add a new extensible storage location. When you configure an extensible storage location, you must define the maximum amount of data that can be stored at the location. The DS-System automatically tracks how much data is in each storage location and balances the new data that is backed up across the different storage locations.