Upgrade to DPM 2012 R2

[MYK-IT]

We currently have:

 

DELL NX3100 w/Microsoft Storage Server 2008 R2 (2x HDD)

DPM 2012 SP1 (using 12x HDD for D2D backups/DPM Storage Pool & DELL LTO4 TL2000 for D2T)

 

I want, and need to start using DPM 2012 R2 to allow us, amongst many things, to backup 2012 R2 File Servers with deduplication enabled.

 

I am after best practices, methods, suggestions etc. to allow me to do this.

 

I would prefer a new clean install of the Server OS (2012 R2), DPM 2012 R2, SQL etc but I want to ensure that I maintain the current DPM 2012 database, backups on the tapes and the D2D backed up data on the DPM 2012 SP1 Storage Pool on the existing HDDs.

 

Many Thanks,

Edited May 19, 2014 by MYK-IT

[MYK-IT]

Bit of a and I also would like to know if the alternative is to approach Dell to see if they have a Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 image/upgrade available?

 

Alternatively, flatten the server and install Server 2012 R2 Standard from our OVS-ES licencing; but this would sacrifice all the D2D backups currently on the raided disks.

 

Thanks,

[win]

I had DPM 2010 on windows 2008r2 and a separate HDD for backups. Rather than upgrade i took a chance and just flattened it with server 2012r2, then installed DPM 2012r2. Yes i lost the backups on local disk, but i still had the tapes which could be re-catalogued in worse case scenario.

 

Best practise would be to use different HDDs for local storage and keep the old ones just in case. However, i didn't have any spare and didn't want to buy new ones for that. Luckily i had no problems during that window and it worked out fine.

 

You'll have to decide if you want to play it super safe, or just pick a safe window and do it.

[Sagima]

We have always ended up doing the same as win. Wiped and reinstalled for every upgrade 2007 > 2010 > 2012 > 2012R2

[MYK-IT]

Ok, Thanks @win @Sagima

 

I don't mind rebuilding the OS (and installing DPM 2012 R2 etc.). I was just hoping that the current D2D/Storage Pools (on the same physical server, but on separate HDDs/different raid) could be retained and identified by DPM 2012 R2 after re-installation and restoring/resynching the SQL databases... instead of resorting back to (cataloging) the tape backups.

[MYK-IT]

I know that Dell don't 'officially' list any drivers for their NX3100 device; but just interested to know if anyone else has successfully managed to install Server 2012 R2 on one?

 

Thanks,

[win]

I just formatted the D2D HDD and allocated it to DPM. Better to start fresh rather than have annoying problems in the future. I never bothered to recatalogue the tapes either as they would simply be erased at the next cycle (assuming you won't need to restore from them).

 

Only hassle was reinstalling the new DPM agents and configuring the backup schedules.

[MYK-IT]

I appreciate that I could effectively just flatten the existing server and start fresh, as you did; but my inclination (if possible) is to retain the D2D storage pool/data if possible; as only having long-term tape recovery as the only option is not ideal.

[MYK-IT]

One last check, before I have to flatten the OS (HDDs) and reinstall Server 2012 R2 & DPM 2012 R2 and loose all current short-term D2D backups....

 

So, there is definitely not a way to upgrade (either in-line or clean OS install) the Server OS on a RAID(1) whilst being able to retain (and reuse) the existing DPM D2D storage pools on a different (physcial HDDs) RAID on the same server after DPM2012 R2 has been installed and SQL database restored etc.? besides defaulting back to re-cataloguing the long-term backups stored on Tape media?

 

Thanks,

Edited November 20, 2014 by MYK-IT

[MYK-IT]

Yes.. an old thread of mine (managed to postpone this for a few more months), but one last before I go through the process of rebuilding our DPM Server with Server 2012 R2 & DPM 2012 R2 to allow us to backup/support Deduplicated data on Server 2012 R2 file servers; with the high probability of loosing our short-term D2D backups in the process.

 

Thanks.

[adamf]

So you have a RAID1 with the OS and DPM installed and a separate RAID(something) with the DPM storage pool, yes? I would have thought you could backup the DPM DB, flatten the RAID1 with the OS/DPM installed, re-install everything and then restore the db. Once you've restored the db, you will have to consistency check everything.

 

Could of things to bear in mind... You can't change the name of the DPM server, we found the location of the database needed to remain the same (ours is in Program Files\Microsoft DPM\DPM\DPMDB because this DB has been upgraded from 2007 through to 2012 R2 where as a new DB would be in somewhere like Program Files\Microsoft System Center 2012 R2\DPM\DPMDB) as it failing to restore when not in the original location.