Question

Best tape backup performance setting

  • 18 August 2023
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Hi! Can you share what would be the best setting for tape backup performance?

Considering 1 tape drive, which multiplexing setting to chose? What should be into account? Which other settings? Hardware compression?

 

Regards,

Pedro


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@PedroRocha 

Determining the Multiplexing Factor

The multiplexing factor should be determined by analyzing your network configuration and by examining your needs for maximizing disk throughput to decrease the total amount of time it takes to protect your data. The multiplexing factor is determined by the following:

Network card speed

Network switch speed

Drive speed

The following examples will help you determine the multiplexing factor. Keep in mind that these are only hypothetical examples.

  • Let's analyze a network configuration that involves three clients, without and with multiplexing.
  • What happens when a fourth client is added to the example and the multiplexing factor is set to four.
  • A fifth client is added, and the multiplexing factor is set to five, is this over-multiplexing?
  • If you have over-multiplexed, either set the multiplexing factor lower and multiplex less clients, or add some gigabit Ethernet switches to your network.
  • In another example, client disk speeds are fast and they become slower after multiplexing.
  • Note that the maximum multiplexing factor that can be set from the CommCell Console is 10 and the system displays a warning message when the multiplexing factor is set to 5 or above.

Ref Doc - https://documentation.commvault.com/2023e/expert/10949_data_multiplexing_overview.html#determining-multiplexing-factor

 

Hardware Compression:


The hardware compression is only available for data paths that direct data to tape libraries.

When hardware compression is configured:

The uncompressed data from the client computer is sent through the data path to the media.

The tape drive hardware compresses the data before writing it to the media.

Ref Doc - https://documentation.commvault.com/2023e/expert/12329_use_tape_drive_compression_to_save_storage_space.html

 

Regards,

Tanuj Balani

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