Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) is a protocol pioneered by Intelliguard and Network Appliance that defines a common architecture for the way heterogeneous file servers on a network are backed up.
The protocol will allow the creation of a common agentused by the central back-up application to back up different file servers running different platforms and platform versions.
With NDMP, network congestion is minimized because the data path and control path are separated. Back up can occur locally–from file servers direct to tape drives, while management can occur from a central location.
NDMP is an open standard protocol promoted and supported by server vendors, back-up software vendors, and back-up device vendors.
