VCS-261

The Veritas VCS-261 exam, "Administration of Veritas NetBackup 8.x Appliances," focuses on administering NetBackup appliances. The main points covered typically include:

• NetBackup Appliance Administration: This is the core of the exam. Expect questions on managing the appliance itself, including:

  • Hardware and Software Management: Understanding the appliance's hardware components, firmware updates, and software patching.
  • System Configuration: Knowing how to configure network settings, user accounts, and security policies.
  • Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Identifying and resolving issues using the appliance's monitoring tools and logs. This includes understanding alerts and performance metrics.
  • Capacity Management: Planning for storage growth and managing storage pools.
  • Storage Lifecycle Management: Understanding and managing data retention policies, backups, and restores.

• Backup and Recovery Operations: The exam will test your ability to perform common backup and recovery tasks using the appliance, including:

  • Backup Policies and Schedules: Creating, modifying, and managing backup policies for various data sources.
  • Backup Types: Understanding different backup types (full, incremental, differential) and their implications.
  • Restore Operations: Restoring data from backups to different locations and environments.
  • Client Management: Adding, configuring, and troubleshooting client connections to the appliance.

• Replication and Disaster Recovery: This section often covers:

  • Replication Configurations: Setting up and managing replication between appliances for disaster recovery purposes.
  • Disaster Recovery Planning: Developing and implementing a disaster recovery plan utilizing the NetBackup appliance.

• Security: Securely configuring the appliance and managing user access is crucial. This may involve:

  • Authentication and Authorization: Managing users, groups, and access controls.
  • Network Security: Configuring firewalls and other security measures.

• Reporting and Logging: Understanding the appliance's reporting capabilities and using logs for troubleshooting.

In short, the VCS-261 exam tests your practical skills in administering a Veritas NetBackup appliance, covering its installation, configuration, maintenance, backup/recovery workflows, and security. Expect a mix of multiple-choice, multiple-select, and potentially some simulation-style questions. Preparation materials should focus heavily on hands-on experience with the appliance.