Dell Data Protection Advisor 19.10 Release Notes

Topics:

• Revision history
• Product description
• New features
• Changed features
• Resolved issues
• Known issues
• Environment and system requirements
• Installation and upgrade considerations
• Where to get help

Revision history

The following table records revisions that are made to this document.

Product description

Data Protection Advisor is a reporting and analytics platform that provides full visibility into the effectiveness of your data protection strategy. It monitors technologies used to protect data, including backup software, backup devices, storage array replication, servers, databases, and virtual infrastructure.

The Data Protection Advisor reporting engine provides many standard reports and allows users to modify existing reports or create new ones. It enables capacity management, service-level reporting, chargeback, change management, and troubleshooting.

The Data Protection Advisor Predictive Analysis Engine provides early warning of problems and generates alerts, enabling users to resolve issues sooner and reduce negative business impact.

This product may be distributed with open source code, licensed in accordance with the applicable open-source license. Dell Technologies provides a copy of the source code upon request, subject to reasonable shipping and handling charges.

Requests for license or copyright information for open-source software should be directed in writing to Dell Legal, 176 South St., Hopkinton, MA 01748, ATTN: Open Source Program Office, or by contacting Dell Support.

New features

Learn about the new features and changes that are introduced in Data Protection Advisor 19.10.

See the Data Protection Advisor product support pages at https://www.dell.com/support for user documentation pertaining to the new features.

Expanded qualifications for Data Protection Advisor 19.10 interoperability

The Data Protection Advisor Software Compatibility information in E-Lab Navigator provides information.

1. Go to https://elabnavigator.dell.com/eln/elnhome.
2. Click Data Protection and Availability Solutions and then select the Data Protection Advisor link to access the compatibility information.

Platform upgrades

Changed features

The following table lists the changed features in this release:

Resolved issues

The following high severity issues have been resolved in this release.

Known issues

The following table lists the known issues and limitations in Data Protection Advisor 19.10.

Limitations

• DPA is not receiving information from the NetWorker whether the savesets of NetWorker clients are backed up using Client Direct or not. Hence, the system alert 'NetWorker Client Direct was not used' is not operating properly.
• In the Conditions filter, the Calculated Numeric value and Calculated Timestamp value options are not available. If users have an existing Alert Trigger with the Calculated Numeric value or Calculated Timestamp value options, users cannot edit it.
• Data Protection Advisor does not support using an answerfile with silent installation to install a system that is using the Advanced Layout installation options for the Datastore Storage Files and Datastore Transaction Log. This is in relation to DPA-37355.
• When discovering RecoverPoint and RecoverPoint for VMs, Data Protection Advisor supports discovering only one management IP. Also, Data Protection Advisor supports monitoring only the management IP and not the RPA IP.
• Note the following limitations regarding Datastore Replication:
  • In busy environments, the best practice is to stop the Application servers for a Datastore Replication export so that the export can complete and import to the secondary Datastore, and resync with the primary Datastore.
  • Data Protection Advisor supports Datastore Replication exports from the primary Datastore only. Data Protection Advisor does not support Datastore Replication exports run from the secondary Datastore.
• Data Protection Advisor does not support discovery of additional schemas on existing database hosts.
• Data Protection Advisor supports a maximum of four nodes in a cluster:
  • One Primary
  • Three Secondary
• For Datastore Replication, Data Protection Advisor must be the same operating system and version and running the same version of Data Protection Advisor. Ensure that Primary and Secondary Datastores are on the same operating system and version, and running the same version of Data Protection Advisor.
• Data Protection Advisor does not support the option to test the Lack of event trigger for Number of samples, even though the option still appears as valid in the Data Protection Advisor web console. Data Protection Advisor still supports the Number of samples option for Time window.
• For the PowerProtect DD Client Deduplication Ratio and Clients with Low Dedup Ratio reports, the dedup ratio field referenced is based on metrics at the time that the data was ingested on the PowerProtect DD. It is not possible to report on the physical size of files being stored on the PowerProtect DD. This is a current limitation within PowerProtect DD.
• For ProtectPoint support, Data Protection Advisor does not support:
  • VMAX3 features
  • Disaster Recovery host
  • Power Protect DD not shown as host in the case that a host is not connected to the VMAX3. This is because all the images that are collected on each application technology is not associated with each other properly.
  • Root cause for backup agent is down is not supported on Puredisk.
• Third-party applications with which Data Protection Advisor is qualified for interoperation are supported for English language installations and configurations only. The exceptions to this limitation are:
  • The following Backup Applications can be in any language:
    • Avamar
    • BackupExec
    • CommVault
  • TSM TDP (Data Protection module) on the client is supported in German, although the server must be in English.

Environment and system requirements

The Data Protection Advisor Software Compatibility Guide, and the Data Protection Advisor Installation and Administration Guide provides details on system requirements, a list of supported operating systems, and compatible third-party software.

Installation and upgrade considerations

The Data Protection Advisor Installation and Administration Guide, available on Dell Online Support provides instructions for installation, post-installation configuration tasks, and administration procedures. The installation chapter includes separate sections on fresh installations and upgrades. The Patch Installer is used for all upgrades and for applying Generally Available (GA) and non-GA patches.

Supported upgrades

The following table provides information about supported upgrades and methods to Data Protection Advisor 19.10:

Contact Customer Support for the latest Data Protection Advisor patches.

Software media, organization, and files

Data Protection Advisor 19.10 and the GA Refresh builds are full package releases. To download the Data Protection Advisor 19.10 packages, go to the Data Protection Advisor downloads section on the Dell Support site.

Where to get help

The Dell Technologies Support site contains important information about products and services including drivers, installation packages, product documentation, knowledge base articles, and advisories.

A valid support contract and account might be required to access all the available information about a specific Dell Technologies product or service.

Additional resources

Users can use these resources to find more information about this product, get support, and provide feedback.

Related documentation

Additional electronic versions of Data Protection Advisor 19.10 documentation is available and updated periodically.

• Data Protection Advisor Documentation Portfolio
• Data Protection Advisor Release Notes (this document)
• Data Protection Advisor Installation and Administration Guide
• Data Protection Advisor Product Guide
• Data Protection Advisor Data Collection Reference Guide
• Data Protection Advisor Report Reference Guide
• Data Protection Advisor Custom Reporting Guide
• Data Protection Advisor Security Configuration Guide
• Programmers' Guide to Using Data Protection Advisor REST API

The Data Protection Advisor Online Help is packaged with and deployed from the Data Protection Advisor 19.10 web console. To deploy the Data Protection Advisor online help in the Data Protection Advisor web console:

• Go to Setup Guide and click Help in the bottom-left of the page.
• Alternatively, in any area, section, and tab of the Data Protection Advisor web console, click the question mark icon ❓. The question mark icon in the upper right opens the complete Data Protection Advisor online help document. The question mark icon within the particular area, section, or tab opens context-sensitive help for that particular topic.

Where to find the Data Protection Advisor Software Compatibility Guide

The latest compatibility information is available at https://elabnavigator.dell.com/eln/elnhome. For information about earlier versions, click Other DPA versions compatibility.

Where to find product documentation

• https://www.dell.com/support
• https://www.dell.com/community

Where to get support

The Support website https://www.dell.com/support provides access to product licensing, documentation, advisories, downloads, and how-to and troubleshooting information. The information can enable users to resolve a product issue before contacting Support.

To access a product-specific page:

1. Go to https://www.dell.com/support.
2. In the search box, type a product name, and then from the list that appears, select the product.

Knowledgebase

The Knowledgebase contains applicable solutions that users can search for either by solution number (for example, KB000xxxxxx) or by keyword.

To search the Knowledgebase:

1. Go to https://www.dell.com/support.
2. On the Support tab, click Knowledge Base.
3. In the search box, type either the solution number or keywords. Optionally, users can limit the search to specific products by typing a product name in the search box, and then selecting the product from the list that appears.

Live chat

To participate in a live interactive chat with a support agent:

1. Go to https://www.dell.com/support.
2. On the Support tab, click Contact Support.
3. On the Contact Information page, click the relevant support, and then proceed.

Service requests

To obtain in-depth help from Licensing, submit a service request. To submit a service request:

1. Go to https://www.dell.com/support.
2. On the Support tab, click Service Requests.
3. On the Service Requests page, under Manage Your Service Requests, click View All Dell Service Requests.

Online communities

For peer contacts, conversations, and content on product support and solutions, go to the Community Network https://www.dell.com/community. Interactively engage with customers, partners, and certified professionals online.

How to provide feedback

Feedback helps to improve the accuracy, organization, and overall quality of publications. Perform one of the following steps to provide feedback:

• Go to https://contentfeedback.dell.com/s, and submit a ticket.
• Send feedback to DPADDocFeedback@dell.com.

Notes, cautions, and warnings

ⓘ NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps users make better use of their product.

Δ CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells users how to avoid the problem.

⚠️ WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.