VADP with hotadd configuration

Helper VM is not required for VADP with ESX 4.0 or above if hotadd mode is selected.  Make sure you do have the necessary license for hotadd.  If VCB is still used in the environment, you can follow Commvault's page "Create a Helper Virtual Machine" on how to configure VCB helper VM.

The following is the properties of the proxy VM before snapshot being mounted. 

After snapshot is created, it will be mounted on the proxy host (which is a Virtual machine).  See screenshot below. 

I have backup 2 VM with one disk on each VM at the same time.  That's why you see two extra virtual disk on the proxy host.  Now, you probably understand why you need Advanced version for ESX 4.1 which include the hotadd feature.  Otherwise, you can only use nbd or san transport mode to backup VM. 

Of course, there is limitation on hotadd such as max vmdk size of 1 TB.

Actually, the 1 TB limitation is no longer valid for VDDK 1.1.1 (http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vddk/VDDK-1.1.1-Relnotes.html) 

If NBD is used, there is a 1 TB limitation.  

DataDomain link aggregation 10GbE part II

After reviewing DDOS 4.9 Initial Config Guide, link aggregation on 10GbE is not supported.  DDOS 4.9 only supports link aggregation on 10GbE for 1 GbE.  This is confirmed by support as well.

"The 10 Gb-to-10 Gb interface does not support link aggregation. Only 1 GbE ports are supported."

Only failover will be supported on 10GbE for DDOS 4.9 and 4.8.  However, do consider the following before configuring failover.

• 10 GbE copper-to-10 GbE copper ports across Intel NICs can be
combined for failover (but not for link aggregation).
• 10 GbE optical-to-10 GbE optical ports can be combined for
failover (but not for link aggregation).
• 10 GbE failover across Intel NICs is supported.