1

Commvault IntelliSnap for NetApp

Senthilkumar Muthusamy

Commvault IntelliSnap technology enables a modernized approach to

operational recovery by leveraging array-based snapshot technology
and making it an automated part of the protection/backup process. By
automatically integrating with storage array technology, Commvault
software is able to automatically discover volume/disk configurations
for snapshot operations and coordinate these operations with proper
application integration.

This minimizes the administrative configuration and eliminates

manual scripting requirements. The IntelliSnap technology process is
defined and scheduled to automatically quiesce the selected system
or application, and to create a persistent snapshot within the
production storage array.

The speed at which these protection operations complete allows for

consistent protection copies to be created in minutes, regardless of
the size of the dataset, ensuring that critical RPO/RTO requirements
can be adhered too. Once these primary protection operations have
been completed the production system(s) are returned to normal
operations and are not part of any secondary operations, thus
ensuring that load on the production system is minimized.

Unlike other hardware-based snapshot approaches IntelliSnap

technology extends beyond just creating or deleting snapshots.
Secondary operations are automatically mounted to a proxy server
which will mount the snapshots for further processing, whether that
is further indexing or cataloging of the data or creating longer term
copies of the data to deduplicated disk, cloud copies, or tape.

This content aware process provides rapid recovery options whether

a full system recovery or a single file is required. The scheduling and

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 1

2

retention is also managed inside of Commvault software to ensure

that only the relevant amount of data is retained for recovery
minimizing the overhead on the production arrays.

IntelliSnap technology supports the leading storage solutions from

Pure Storage, INFINIDAT, Dell, EMC, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, NetApp,
and Oracle – and this list continues to expand. Please visit
www.commvault.com for the most up to date revision of the
supported hardware and software configurations.

CommCell® console

The CommCell® console is the graphical user interface used to

configure and manage the CommCell environment, monitor and
control active jobs and view events related to all activities. The console
is accessed using local CommCell accounts or by using Active Directory
integrated account authentication.

The CommCell Console is made up of the following windows:

• CommCell Toolbar – provides an easy to navigate 'ribbon' to

manage and configure the CommCell environment
• CommCell browser – is the main navigation window which
contains a hierarchal structure of all categories and components
within the CommCell environment
• Content / Summary window – provides details based on what
component is selected in the CommCell browser
• Job Controller – provides viewing and control capabilities for all
active jobs in the CommCell environment
• Event Viewer – provides information for all logged events within
the CommCell environment

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 2

3

Commvault®Array Management Configuration

The Array Management tool in the Commvault Administrative

Interface records the configuration details for all arrays that will be
utilized with IntelliSnap technology. This configuration is performed
only one time per array, and all clients will inherit this configuration.
IntelliSnap software will automatically detect the array on each client
at the time of execution to ensure maximum flexibility in the
configuration.

1. Open the Commvault Administrative Interface, login with a user

that has administrative rights (e.g. “admin”).
2. Once in the main interface, navigate to Storage -> Array
Management on the top menu bar.
3. The Array Management menu will appear. Select Add.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 3

4

4. The Array Properties menu will appear. Set options as follows to

configure the NetApp ONTAP Storage Array:

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 4

5

Select the Storage Snapshot

vendor

Specify the Filer Host name or IP address

Specify the credentials for authentication

Storage Array Added Successfully

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 5

6

Commvault Command Center

The Commvault Command Center™ is an easy-to-use, highly-
customizable web-based user interface for managing your data
protection and disaster recovery initiatives. With default configuration
values and streamlined procedures, it saves time on routine data
protection and recovery tasks. Use it for configuring backups and
restores, defining data protection policies, scheduling tasks,
monitoring operations, creating reports, and much more.

Add a NetApp NAS File Server

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 6

7

Add SVM (NDMP Enabled)

Once authenticated, you can see the

NetApp Cluster details.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 7

8

Add an Storage Array

NetApp Array (SVM) added

successfully.

Enable the snapshot

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 8

9

Snapshot Enabled.

Add a SubClient (Flexvol Volume to

backup)

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 9

10

Select the Path and create a

subclient

Subclient added successfully.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 10

11

Enable the hardware snapshot

management

Select the snapshot Engine(NetApp)

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 11

12

NetApp Hardware snapshot

management enabled successfully.

Select Infrastructure tab, click Arrays.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 12

13

NetApp snap vendor array

added successfully.

Array access node details and

Snapshot configurations.

IntelliSnap®Technology Storage Policy Configuration

IntelliSnap software operations require a storage policy to define the

retention and indexing location for the protection operation.
IntelliSnap software operations can be added to an existing Storage
Policy by adding a “Snapshot Copy” to it.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 13

14

Production Host Configuration

Protecting application databases and log volumes through an array

snapshot provides fast access for recovery and many flexible options
for data protection. IntelliSnap technology integrates key application
awareness together with the array and our platform to deliver all of
the benefits of traditional streaming backups with all of the
performance and proxy capabilities of a snapshot.

This application awareness allows true log-consistent “hot” backups

with appropriate log management operations based off the contents
of the data in the snapshot. IntelliSnap technology aligns all of the log
and database volumes and snapshots, using them in concert to
provide fast, low-impact recovery points through the array without
scripts.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 14

15

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 15

16

Using Commcell Console, add NAS Server Client.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 16

17

The following steps will configure the implemented application

environment for IntelliSnap software operations:

1. Enable IntelliSnap technology on the client computer acting as the

production host in the CommCell GUI. Right Click on the client name,
then select Properties.
2. Click the Advanced button and check the box marked Enable
IntelliSnap. This will consume a Hardware Snapshot Enabler license
from the license key. Click OK on the Advanced Client Properties and
Client Computer Properties dialogs.
SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 17
18

In Advanced settings, enable

IntelliSnap.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 18

19

IntelliSnap Operations config

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 19

20

Customizing Array Properties

There are several Array Properties that can be set for NetApp ONTAP
Storage arrays, however in certain instances there are some settings
that are best suited to be specified at the Storage Policy or Subclient
level to ensure that specific configurations are utilized only for those
chosen host(s).

These types of configurations are good for changing mount and

mapping behavior or enabling diagnostic logging of REST API calls.
To override at the Subclient, click the Manage Array button on the
IntelliSnap Operations tab in the Subclient properties.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 20

21

Select the Snap Engines (Ex:NetApp)

Initiate the Backup

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 21

22

Set a backup schedule

After backup job completed

successfully, check the
snapshot details.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 22

23

You can able to see the

snapshot.

Login to ONTAP System Manager, you

can able to see the snapshot initiated
from Commvault using intelliSnap.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 23

24

You can restore the data from snapshot using Intellisnap.

Select the subclient and click Browse and restore.

Select the files and restore.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 24

25

Commvault IntelliSnap for NetApp Disaster Recovery

Different methods are available to keep the databases on the
CommServe hosts synchronized. Based on the recovery point objective
of your organization, you can use one of following disaster recovery
(DR) methods.
Disaster Recovery Backups
In this method, you can run DR backup jobs to protect the production
CommServe database. The DR backups include the CommServe
database and other databases hosted by CommServe, such as the SRM
database (if metrics reporting is enabled) and the Workflow Engine
database. By default, a full DR backup is run for these databases every

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 25

26

day. These DR backups are stored in an export location or moved to a

media backup for later retrieval. When the production CommServe
host is not accessible, you can restore the most recent DR backup of
the production CommServe database to an alternate or standby
CommServe host and resume CommCell operations by using the
Disaster Recovery tool.
Disaster Recovery Failover
In this method, a standby CommServe host is set up in a remote
location, and the production databases hosted by CommServe are
replicated to the standby CommServe host at regular intervals. When
the production CommServe host goes offline, you can immediately fail
over the CommServe functionality and resume CommCell operations
on the standby CommServe host. This failover process can be initiated
manually or automatically.

Add a Backup Destinations for

Disaster Recovery

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 26

27

Select a snap copy

You can add a backup destination to take backup copy.

Select the Copy Type

Add Mappings (Source and

Target)

Select Snapshot vendor(NetApp),

Source SVM and Target SVM

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 27

28

Mappings defined

Once the backup initiated, then it is taking snapshot backup and copy of backup in target SVM.

SENTHILKUMAR MUTHUSAMY | SAN MASTERS 28