About the image database

The image database contains subdirectories for each client that is backed up by NetBackup, including the master server and any media servers.

The image database is located at Program Files\VERITAS\Netbackup\db\images and contains the following files:

Image files (files that store only backup set summary information)
Image .f files (files that store the detailed information of each file backup)

The image database is the largest part of the NetBackup catalog. It consumes about 99% of the total space that is required for the NetBackup catalog. While most of the subdirectories are relatively small in the NetBackup catalogs, \images can grow to hundreds of gigabytes. The image database on the master server can grow too large to fit on a single tape. Image database growth depends on the number of clients, policy schedules, and the amount of data that is backed up.

If the image catalog becomes too large for the current location, consider moving it to a file system or disk partition that contains more space.

The image database component of the NetBackup catalog uses the .f files in binary format for Windows, Solaris, HP_UX, AIX, and Linux platforms.

The catalog conversion utility (cat_convert) can be used to upgrade an image database to the binary format.

Information about the cat_convert command is available in the Commands Guide.