20 Avamar Interview Questions and Answers

Avamar is a data backup and recovery software application. It is used to protect an organization’s data by backing it up and then storing it in a remote location. When applying for a position that requires knowledge of Avamar, you may be asked questions about the software during your interview. In this article, we review some of the most common questions you may be asked and provide tips on how to answer them.

Avamar Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Avamar interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is EMC Avamar?

EMC Avamar is a data backup and recovery solution that uses a deduplication process to minimize the amount of data that needs to be stored. This makes it an ideal solution for organizations that have a large amount of data to backup but do not have the storage capacity to keep multiple copies of that data.

2. What are some of the main features offered by Avamar?

Avamar is a data backup and recovery solution that offers a number of features, including deduplication, which reduces the amount of data that needs to be backed up, and compression, which reduces the amount of storage space required. Additionally, Avamar offers encryption to protect data in transit and at rest, as well as the ability to create backups of entire systems or individual files and folders.

3. Can you explain what data deduplication means in context with Avamar?

Data deduplication is a process of reducing the amount of data that needs to be stored by eliminating duplicate copies of data. This is especially important in the context of Avamar because it can help reduce the amount of storage space that is required to store backups.

4. What’s the difference between single-node and multi-node configurations in Avamar?

A single-node configuration is when you have one Avamar server with one storage node. A multi-node configuration is when you have two or more Avamar servers, each with their own storage node.

5. How do you configure an Avamar backup solution for a VMware environment?

You will need to install the Avamar Backup Client on each of the VMware servers that you wish to backup. Once the clients are installed, you will need to configure them to connect to the Avamar Backup Server and specify what data you wish to backup.

6. Why is it important to have multiple backups of your data?

There are a few reasons why it is important to have multiple backups of your data. First, if you only have one backup and something happens to it, then you have no way to recover your data. Second, if you have multiple backups, you can use them to cross-check each other to make sure that they are all accurate. Finally, if you have multiple backups, you can keep them in different locations so that if one location is compromised, you still have other backups that you can use.

7. Can you list some types of recovery that can be performed using Avamar?

There are three main types of recovery that can be performed using Avamar: file-level recovery, application-level recovery, and bare-metal recovery. File-level recovery is the simplest and most common type of recovery, and it simply involves restoring individual files or directories that have been lost or corrupted. Application-level recovery is a bit more complex, and it involves restoring an entire application, including all of its data and settings. Bare-metal recovery is the most complex type of recovery, and it involves restoring an entire system, including the operating system, all applications, and all data.

8. Is there any way to recover deleted files from an Avamar backup?

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted files from an Avamar backup. This can be done by using the Avamar Administrator tool to browse the backup and locate the desired file(s).

9. When recovering a large number of files, how much time would it take to complete the process?

It would depend on the size of the files being recovered and the speed of the Avamar server. Generally speaking, it would take a few hours to complete the process.

10. Does Avamar offer encryption for backups? If yes, then how does it work?

Yes, Avamar offers encryption for backups. The encryption is performed at the client level, so the data is encrypted before it is sent over the network to the Avamar server. This ensures that the data is protected in transit and at rest.

11. What types of applications does Avamar support natively?

Avamar supports a variety of applications including Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SharePoint, Oracle Database, and VMware vSphere.

12. Is it possible to create custom reports using Avamar? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to create custom reports using Avamar. You can do this by accessing the Avamar Administration Console and going to the Reports section. From there, you can click on the “Create Custom Report” button and follow the prompts.

13. How does Avamar provide compression for backups?

Avamar provides compression for backups by using a technique called “single-instance storage.” This means that only one copy of each file is stored, regardless of how many times it appears in the backup. This deduplication of data reduces the amount of storage space required, and also speeds up the backup process.

14. What is a protection policy in the context of Avamar?

A protection policy is a set of rules that dictate when and how data should be backed up. For example, a protection policy might specify that all data should be backed up every night, or that only certain types of data should be backed up.

15. What is the maximum size supported for a backup file when using Avamar?

The maximum size for a backup file when using Avamar is 2TB.

16. Can you explain what IntelliSnap is?

IntelliSnap is a feature of Avamar that allows for taking snapshots of data at a specific point in time. This can be useful for creating backups or for taking a snapshot of data before making changes in order to easily revert back if necessary.

17. What is the best use case for Avamar?

The best use case for Avamar is for organizations that have a large amount of data to back up and who need to be able to do so quickly and efficiently. Avamar can help to speed up the backup process and make it more reliable.

18. Is it possible to take incremental backups using Avamar? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to take incremental backups using Avamar. This can be done by setting up a backup schedule and selecting the incremental backup option.

19. Can you give me some examples of Avamar integration points in various environments like VMWare or Amazon AWS?

Avamar integrates with many different environments in order to provide backup and recovery services. In VMware, Avamar can be used to backup and recover virtual machines. In Amazon AWS, Avamar can be used to backup and recover Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes.

20. What happens if a node goes down while taking backups on a multi-node configuration?

If a node goes down while taking backups on a multi-node configuration, the other nodes will continue to take backups. The node that went down will need to be restarted in order to resume taking backups.