Backup Exec vs. the NDMP agent

Once again I find myself slapping my forehead over the behavior of Backup Exec. In this episode, we find our intrepid administrator transitioning his NetApp Filer backups from traditional backups of CIFS shares to NDMP backup to a tape library attached directly to the filer. All appears well as the tape library is registered and shows up properly in the Backup Exec devices screen.

Flash forward to the weekend. All backups of the CIFS shares using non-NDMP methods fail. No NDMP backups have been configured. What could be the problem?

The problem appears to be that the Backup Exec agent and the NDMP agent share a port. Probably something within the bowels of the Backup Exec agent that it really is the bastard spawn of NDMP. However, what this means is that once you turn on NDMP on your NetApp filer, you can no longer do normal backups of CIFS shares from that filer!

It's just incredible to me that time and time again, I come across absolutely insane things that Backup Exec does. Why in the world would turning on NDMP on a filer *have* to require that Backup Exec now refuses to talk to the filer except via NDMP. Obviously this is some bug (one can hope) but upgrading to 12.5 from 11d isn't on my roadmap right now as that opens an entirely new can of worms.

Well, NDMP is now off until my new library license arrives along with my new stock of LTO4 tapes. Apparently it's all or nothing for NDMP and the filer.

Cubs, Cats, and the Friendly Confines

It almost goes without saying that your first visit to Wrigley Field in a skybox will be a memorable one. The sense of prestige as you are granted access to the upper hallway. The heated accommodations on a cold night. The seemingly endless supply of food. The kind attentiveness of the staff as they take care of you, very much unlike most other ballpark experiences.


But no one really expects that you'll see a cat being herded across the field by a member of security.
It was almost a little disappointing because the cat, in a very un-cat-like way, promptly marched across the outfield and was escorted from the playing field. I was really hoping for a chase more akin to a drunken fan streaking and dodging security. Luckily the Cubs provided enough excitement to last the evening.

I couldn't have asked for a better night. The rain gave way to just a cold April evening that start with being able to go on the field and take some pictures and ended with a Cubs win. All in all, not a bad way to spend a Tuesday night.