nbsos

nbsos subcommand [options]

collect
    Gathers a comprehensive set of diagnostic information, logs, and configuration files, typically packaged into an archive for support analysis.

status
    Displays the operational status of various system components and services relevant to NetBackup.

network
    Provides detailed network-related diagnostics, including interface configurations, routing, and connectivity tests.

logs
    Manages or collects specific NetBackup and system logs for troubleshooting purposes.

appliance_info
    Gathers information specific to NetBackup appliances, such as hardware details, software versions, and disk usage.

vmware_config
    Collects VMware-related configuration details and logs pertinent to NetBackup's virtual machine backup operations.

help
    Displays general usage information for nbsos or specific help for a subcommand.

--version
    Shows the version of the nbsos utility.

The nbsos command is a specialized diagnostic utility bundled with Veritas NetBackup. Its primary purpose is to assist NetBackup administrators and Veritas Support in collecting comprehensive operating system and NetBackup environment-specific information for troubleshooting, health checks, and support cases.

It consolidates various diagnostic tasks, automating the collection of data that would otherwise require running numerous separate Linux commands and navigating complex log directories. This includes details on networking, storage, CPU, memory, OS configuration, and specific NetBackup component states.

Particularly crucial in Veritas NetBackup Appliance environments, where direct OS-level access is often restricted, nbsos provides a controlled and efficient interface for gathering critical system insights. It streamlines the data collection process, enabling quicker problem identification and resolution.

nbsos is a Veritas NetBackup utility, not a standard Linux command. It requires a NetBackup installation to be present.

Its availability, exact functionality, and subcommands can vary significantly across different NetBackup versions and appliance models.

Running nbsos, especially the 'collect' subcommand, often requires root privileges or elevated permissions to gather all necessary system data.

The data collected by the 'collect' subcommand can be extensive and may take a considerable amount of time and disk space.

It is primarily intended for diagnostic purposes and is often run under the guidance of Veritas Support personnel.

nbsos is frequently invoked within the NetBackup Appliance shell menu or directly from the command line on NetBackup master or media servers. It forms a crucial part of the diagnostic workflow, often initiated when troubleshooting specific issues or performing health checks, usually under the direction of Veritas Support.

The nbsos collect subcommand is particularly significant. It generates a compressed archive (e.g., .tar.gz or .zip) containing a wealth of diagnostic data. This archive includes NetBackup logs, operating system logs, configuration files, outputs of standard Linux commands (like vmstat, iostat, df), and various NetBackup-specific configuration details. This packaged data is then typically uploaded to Veritas for in-depth analysis to aid in problem resolution.

The nbsos utility was developed by Veritas (now part of Broadcom) as a critical tool for simplifying and standardizing the collection of diagnostic data in complex NetBackup environments. Its inception was driven by the need to efficiently gather system-level insights that are vital for troubleshooting and support cases, reducing the manual effort involved in collecting disparate logs and system outputs.

Over time, as NetBackup evolved and appliances became a significant part of its ecosystem, nbsos became even more pivotal. For NetBackup Appliances, where the underlying OS is locked down, nbsos provides a controlled and secure interface for administrators and support teams to perform necessary diagnostics without compromising system integrity. It continues to evolve with new NetBackup versions, incorporating new diagnostic capabilities relevant to the latest features and architectures.

bptestbpcd(1), bpclntcmd(1), nbdevquery(1), vxlogmgr(1)