Catalog Backups

NetBackup catalogs are internal databases that contain information about the NetBackup configuration and backups. Backup information includes records of the files and the media on which the files were stored. The catalogs also contain information about the media and storage devices that are under the control of Media Manager.

NetBackup requires the catalog information in order to recover any backups that have been performed. Therefore, it is extremely important to configure catalog backups before using NetBackup for regular client backups, and to schedule the catalog backups to occur on a regular basis thereafter. Without regular catalog backups, you risk losing your regular backups if there is a problem with the disk that contains the catalogs.

NetBackup defaults to use a binary format for new catalogs on Windows, Solaris, HP_UX, Compaq Tru64 UNIX, AIX, Linux and SGI platforms. Releases prior to the first 4.5 feature pack created catalogs in ASCII format.

Existing catalogs can be upgraded to binary format using the catalog conversion utility, cat_convert as described in Catalog Conversion Utility.