How to redeploy a NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server and preserve the existing storage

Description

If a virtual appliance malfunctions and cannot be restored at the OS or appliance level, you may need to redeploy and configure the appliance. In general, if you redeploy a virtual appliance, the entire system and the backup images are erased. Use the following procedure if you need to preserve the existing storage.

Note: This procedure can only be run on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server for data centers (DC).

To redeploy the appliance and preserver the existing storage

1.      Deploy a new target NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server but do not configure it.

2.      On the source media server, take note of the following network information:

a.      IP address, netmask, and gateway IP address
You can view these parameters with the Network > Show Configuration command.

b.      DNS domain name and IP address
You can view these parameters with the Network > DNS Show command.

c.      Hostname
You can view this parameter with the Network > Hostname Show command.

3.      Shut down the source media server.

4.      In vSphere Client, open the menu Edit Settings of the source appliance

5.      Take note of the Disk File and the SCSI entries. For example:

6.      In vSphere Client, select the target appliance and log in.

7.      Use the following commands to configure the target appliance with the same network properties as the source appliance:

a.  Network > Configure <IPAddress> <Netmask> <GatewayIPAddress> [InterfaceNames] [BondingMode]

b.  Network > DNS Domain <DomainName>

c.  Network > DNS Add NameServer <DNSIPAddress>

d.  Network > Hostname Set <Hostname>

8.      In vSphere Client, navigate to Edit Settings > Add New Device > Existing Hard Disk. Choose the first SCSI entry that you noted from the source appliance. For example,  SCSI(0:1) Hard disk 2

9.      Repeat the previous step to add all remaining data disks. 
Note: The disks must be added in the same order as they appear on the source appliance, from SCSI(0:1) →  SCSI(0:2) → SCSI(0:3) → SCSI(0:4) → ... SCSI(1:0)→, etc. 

10.   On the target appliance, log in to the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu.

11.   Run the following command:
Manage > Storage > Scan

12.   Run the following command and make sure that all of the disks are added and recognized by the appliance:
Manage > Storage > Show Disk

13.   Run the following command to configure the role as a media server:
Appliance > Media

Note: The partition sizes must all be the same as the source appliance, or the data is lost.

Additional step if you created a log partition on the source appliance 

If you created a log partition on the source appliance, you must also run the following command on the target appliance:

Support > Storage Create LogPartition