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FS2620R Rack Model User’s Guide
1-4
About Serverless Backup and Restore
Recent advances in data protection architectures have added the ability to backup data by
moving it directly from disk to tape without first passing through a backup server. This is
called serverless backup, and it utilizes a new SCSI command, Extended Copy (EC). A
host is involved in executing the EC command, though it is typically not the server. The
Chaparral family of Intelligent Storage Routers is enabled to execute the EC command
under the control of most major backup applications.
The EC command consists of three primary pieces of information:
!
Source address(es)
!
Destination address(es)
!
In-line data
The source addresses tell the router where the data that is being copied is physically
stored, on what device, and at what physical locations. This information is provided by a
backup application, which must translate file information into the physical storage
locations. The application sends this list of addresses in the order it is to be written to the
destination device, often a tape drive in a backup scenario.
For the destination address, the EC command assumes that any tape device that is being
copied to is properly positioned, so all the router needs to know is its target address,
typically a LUN on the SAN. The in-line data is used to allow applications to maintain a
specific format, and can be used to write any data the application may require for
restoration.
The EC command, as implemented in the Chaparral router, requires no administration.
Administering an EC environment is most intensive on the application side. Chaparral
supports the SNIA Extended Copy Specification (ANSI T10/ 99-143R1). Any questions
related to using a Chaparral router in an EC environment should be directed to the
application provider or your reseller. If you are developing EC-enabled applications,
contact Chaparral for information on our specific implementation.