Converting an older version of Deduplication Storage to a newer version
Backup Exec improves speed and deduplication when backing up to Backup Exec deduplication folder. The conversion from an older version of deduplication storage to a newer version involves the conversion of the existing deduplication data to a newer format. The conversion time depends on the size of the deduplication storage and the number of backup sets.
To convert from an older version of Deduplication Storage to a newer version
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It is recommended that you make a copy of the deduplication data before the upgrade starts.
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Ensure that the following are true:
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You have at least 12% free space available on the volume on which the deduplication storage folder exists.
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Deduplication services are running.
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Windows Hotfix is installed.
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If you need to free up more space on the volume, you can use the tool pdde_gc.exe to reclaim storage space. If you have enough free space available, proceed to the next step.
To run pdde_gc.exe, follow these steps:
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Mount the ISO from the Backup Exec media or upgrade an earlier version of Backup Exec. On the media, the tool is located in
<mounted-path>\BE\WinNT\Install\PDDEMigration. -
On the command line, run
pdde_gc.exewithout any parameters.
If you need more free space, you can try any of the following options:
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Use the Backup Exec console to expire backup sets on the deduplication storage.
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Run CR queue processing twice.
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Run the pdde_gc.exe tool again.
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Upgrade Backup Exec to the latest version.
After Backup Exec has been upgraded, the conversion from the older version of deduplication storage to a newer version starts. The existing deduplication data is converted to a new format. During the conversion process, the deduplication storage remains offline. Any ongoing deduplication jobs fail and jobs targeted to any other storage continue to run during the deduplication storage conversion.
The Backup Exec console displays an alert that the conversion process has started. Depending on the time required for the conversion, an alert is displayed every 15 minutes showing the progress of the conversion. An alert is also displayed if the conversion is successful, has resumed, or has failed.
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If the conversion is successful, a prompt is displayed in the Backup Exec console, asking you to restart the Backup Exec services.
If you click OK, the Backup Exec Services dialog box is displayed. ClickRestart all services.
Optionally, on the Backup Exec Administration Console, click the Backup Exec button, select Configuration and Settings, select Backup Exec Services, and then click Restart all services.
If the conversion fails, you can manually convert the data to the new deduplication format. Refer to the following section for information on how to manually convert the data.
If the conversion fails because of a server restart, the conversion resumes after the service restart is complete.
Create or import an older deduplication folder
You can create or import a deduplication storage folder in Backup Exec. You have an existing deduplication storage folder that was created when you had the older deduplication version that Backup Exec no longer supports. When you try to import the folder, an error is displayed and the import fails. You need to manually convert the older version of the folder to the new supported deduplication version supported by Backup Exec using the steps in the following section:
After the conversion is completed successfully, you can import the folder. There can be only one deduplication storage configured with a single Backup Exec media server.
Restore an older deduplication storage backup using Backup Exec
You can restore an existing deduplication backup set using Backup Exec. This backup set was created and backed up using an older deduplication version that Backup Exec no longer supports. When you try to restore the backup set, the restore job fails with an exception regarding the older deduplication backup sets but the data is restored. You need to manually convert the restored deduplication folder to a newer supported version of deduplication using the steps in the following section:
After the conversion is complete, you can import the restored folder and add that folder as a path to the deduplication storage for Backup Exec.
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