Replication Wizard

The Replication wizard provides guided assistance for configuring the DXi4800 to send replicated data to another DXi4800 system as part of disaster recovery plan. The wizard can also help you configure the DXi4800 to receive replicated data from another DXi4800 system.

Sources send replicated data, and targets receive replicated data. DXi4800 target systems can receive data from up to 30 sources with Increased Stream Count (ISC) enabled, or 10 without.

However, a source system can replicate data from the source system to up to two targets.

Additional Information

To begin the Replication wizard, on the Wizards menu, click Replication.

  1. Read the information about the wizard.
  2. Click Next to continue.

Note: At any time while using the wizard, you can click Previous to return to the previous step.

  1. If data on this DXi4800 will be replicated to another system, enter target information under Target DXi .

    If two targets are already specified, you must delete a target before adding another. First click Pause to pause replication to the target, and then click Delete to remove the target.

    Before specifying a target, make sure you have completed the Replication wizard on the target DXi . The target DXi must be configured to allow the source DXi hostname or IP address.

    You can specify up to two targets:

    1. In the Target Hostname or IP Address box, enter the hostname or IP address of the system that will receive the replicated data.

      When entering IP addresses, never use an address that is in a reserved IP address range. To see a list of reserved IP address ranges, click the quick tip icon [?] located near the IP address field.

      To use hostname format, you must specify at least one DNS IP address on the Network page. See Network.

      Note: Using uppercase letters in the hostname is acceptable but will not be preserved after entry. For that reason, Quantum recommends using lowercase letters in the Hostname or IP Address box.

    2. (Optional) Select an encryption option:

      Encryption Option Description
      NONE Data is not encrypted when sending replication data to the target system.
      AES 128-BIT Data is encrypted using AES 128-bit encryption when sending replication data to the target system.
      AES 256 BIT Data is encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption when sending replication data to the target system.
      TLS-256

      Data is encrypted using TLS with AES 256-bit encryption when sending replication data to the target system.

      Note: If TLS encryption is selected, the factory installed certificates should be considered public domain and are not secure. New certificate and key files must be installed. See Data Encryption.

      Caution: Select 128-bit encryption if you are sending data to a DXi running a system software version prior to DXi 2.1 Software.

    3. In the Source IP Address field, enter the IP address that is used to uniquely identify the source DXi to the target. This may be different than the actual network IP address of the source DXi .

      If the target system is at DXi 2.1 Software or higher, this field is not required. If the target system is at DXi 2.0.1.x Software or below, then you must enter the IP address by which the target system recognizes the source system. The default value is 0.0.0.0.

  2. If data on other DXi systems will be replicated to this DXi4800, enter the following information under Source

    1. In the Source Hostnames or IP Addresses box, enter the hostname or IP address of the system that will send the replicated data to the DXi4800.

      You can specify from 1 to 10 replication sources, 30 if Increased Stream Count (ISC) is running, for system using DXi software 4.1 or later. To enter multiple sources, pressEnter> after each entry. See App Environment.

    2. In the Maximum Snapshots Per Share or Partition drop-down box, select the number of snapshots to retain for each replicated DXi (up to 32).

      During scheduled or manual data replication, the DXi receives a snapshot from the source system. A snapshot contains all of the data necessary to fully recover or failback a DXi to the point in time when the snapshot was saved.

  3. Click Next to continue.

  1. Select a NAS share in the Replication Settings for NAS Shares section to manage its replication settings.

    Note: For help adding NAS shares to the system, use the NAS Configuration Wizard. See NAS Wizard and Namespace Type Replication.

  2. To configure the share to replicate its data to another DXi4800 system, enter the following information under Send:

    1. Select the Enable replication for selected share check box to enable replication for the share.

    2. (Optional on CIFS/SMB and NFS shares only) Select the Enable Directory/File based replication to target check box to enable Directory/File Based Replication for the share, and then enter a Sync ID in the box.

      With Directory/File Based Replication, a file is automatically replicated when it is closed or a period of time after it is modified. After replication, the replicated files are immediately available on the target system.

      Note: Application Specific (RMAN/AccentFS) shares only allow replication using the Directory/File-Based option. When an RMAN/AccentFS share is selected, this check box does not appear.

      The Sync ID is used to identify the target share that will receive replicated data from the source share. The Sync ID must be identical to the Sync ID of the target share on the target system.

    3. Select the check box for each replication target you want to replicate the share to. When the share is replicated, its data will be sent to all selected targets.

      4. Note: The Sync ID must be unique and is used to identify the target share that will receive replicated data from the source share. The Sync ID must be identical to the Sync ID of the target share on the target system.

  3. To configure the share to receive replicated data from another DXi4800 system, enter the following information under Receive:

    1. (Optional) Select the Enable Directory/File based replication to this DXi4800 System check box to enable Directory/File Based Replication for the share, and then enter a Sync ID in the box.

      The Sync ID is used to identify the source share that will send replicated data to the target share. The Sync ID must be identical to the Sync ID of the source share on the source system.

    2. If you enabled Directory/File Based Replication, select an Access option:

      Access Option Description
      Locked The share is not allowed to receive new Directory/File Based Replication data.
      Unlocked The share is allowed to receive new Directory/File Based Replication data.

      Note: You cannot configure a share to both send and receive Directory/File Based Replication data.

  4. Click Apply.
  5. (Optional) To configure additional shares for replication, repeat Steps 1–4.
  6. Click Next to continue.

  1. Select a VTL partition in the Replication Settings for VTL Partitions section to manage its replication settings.

    Note: For help adding VTL partitions to the system, use the VTL Configuration Wizard. See VTL Wizard.

  2. To configure the partition to replicate its data to another DXi system, enter the following information under Send:

    1. Select the Enable replication for selected partition check box to enable replication for the partition.

    2. (Optional) Select the Enable Cartridge based replication to target check box to enable Cartridge Based Replication for the partition, and then enter a Sync ID in the box.

      With Cartridge Based Replication, a cartridge is automatically replicated when it is unmounted. After replication, the replicated cartridges are immediately available on the target system.

      The Sync ID is used to identify the target partition that will receive replicated data from the source partition. The Sync ID must be identical to the Sync ID of the target partition on the target system.

    3. Select the check box for each replication target you want to replicate the partition to. When the partition is replicated, its data will be sent to all selected targets.

  3. To configure the partition to receive replicated data from another DXi system, enter the following information under Receive:

    1. (Optional) Select the Enable Cartridge based replication to this system check box to enable Cartridge Based Replication for the partition, and then enter a Sync ID in the box.

      The Sync ID is used to identify the source partition that will send replicated data to the target partition. The Sync ID must be identical to the Sync ID of the source partition on the source system.

    2. If you enabled Cartridge Based Replication, select an Access option:

      Access Option Description
      Locked The partition is not allowed to receive new Cartridge Based Replication data.
      Unlocked The partition is allowed to receive new Cartridge Based Replication data.

      Note: You cannot configure a partition to both send and receive Cartridge Based Replication data.

  4. Click Apply.
  5. (Optional) To configure additional partitions for replication, repeat Steps 1- 4.
  6. Click Next to continue.

  1. Review the settings you selected to make sure they are correct. If necessary, click Previous to return to a previous step to make changes.
  2. After you have confirmed all settings, click Finish. The wizard configures the DXi4800 with the settings you selected.

    3. Note: The Maximum Snapshots Per Share/Partition is 10 by default, but the maximum can be set as high as 32. See Changing the Maximum Number of Snapshots.