5/19/2018 18727.pdf

1/9

SQL-BackTrack the Smart DBAs PowerTool for Backup and Recovery

byDiane Beeler, Consulting Product Marketing Manager, BMC Software

andMati Pitkanen, SQL-BackTrack for Oracle Product Manager, BMC Software

Making sure that databases are constantly available is one of the DBAs mainresponsibilitiesand one of his biggest challenges. Downtime is expensive and is justnot tolerated in todays fast-paced, demanding, if-youre-not-available-Im-going-elsewhere environment. Things happen, thoughhuman error, electrical outages, andmoreand the DBA has to have tools to help him get the database back to where it waspreviously and fast. The Oracle DBA has built-in utilities at his disposal, but these canbe complicated to install, configure, learn, and use. If youre not an experienced DBAor you are, but youre not skilled at manual backup and recovery or Oracle utilitiesyouwill have a big learning curve. This takes time time you probably dont have.

Even if you are an expert Oracle DBA, you may be asked to manage databases thatspan the enterprise. Chances are that your company has several database platformsand NT and Unix systems. If youre working with an Oracle-only utility, you dont have atool that can cover a heterogeneous environment.

Your time is valuable and there just arent enough DBAs in the company. so what doyou do? If you want to look like the smart DBA that you are, select a tool that takes thecomplexity out of doing backups and recoveries, advises you on issues you may not befamiliar with, and executes quicklySQL-BackTrack, the DBAs power tool for backupsand recoveries. There are versions of SQL-BackTrack for Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server,DB2 Universal Database, Sybase, and Informix database platforms and for Unix and NToperating systems. You become familiar with one tool and then you become efficientand effective across the enterprise. Lets take a look at how this tool can help make youa powerful and smart DBA and assure that your systems are available and reliable.

To Be a Smart DBA, What Does Your Backup and RecoveryPower Tool Need to Do for You?For you to be able to assure that your systems are available and reliable, you need toolsthat have the functionality and qualities you need to help you be successful. SQL-BackTrack is an intelligent, high-performance tool that simplifies and automates manydatabase administration tasks associated with backup and recovery.

SQL-BackTrack provides a long list of features that make backup and recovery fast,automated, manageable, flexible, and reasonably assured of success. SQL-BackTrackis all about:

Assurance of recoverability Simplicity Performance Flexibility Intelligence Automation

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

2/9

Integration Heterogeneity

Lets look at the features, functions, and usability of SQL-BackTrack for Oracle and seehow they can help you be that smart DBA.

Advanced Archive Log Management

Many companies require point-in-time recovery and therefore must run their databasesin ARCHIVELOG mode. This means archive log destinations must be managed. If thefile system where the Archive Logs are being written to fills up, the database will crash.It is extremely important to prevent this from happening. To prevent outages, DBAs arerequired to continuously monitor disk space available and initiate backup operations asdisk space limits are approached or to write scripts to do this.

SQL-BackTrack relieves DBAs of this responsibility. DBAs have the option to definethresholds beyond which SQL-BackTrack automatically backs up archive logs, thenremoves or renames them as desired.

SQL-BackTrack also provides sophisticated archive log recovery. For sites with large

transaction volumes, it may not be possible to restore all archive logs to disk prior torecovery if the total volume of archive logs exceeds the space available. SQL-BackTrack restores files in batches and applies them in a rolling fashion, ensuring thatrecovery remains possible no matter how many archive logs need to be restored.

SQL-BackTrack manages archive logs intelligently during both backup andrecovery.

Guided RecoveryWhen a database recovery is required, DBAs are faced with several difficult tasks:

Analyze Determine what went wrong and what objects need to be recovered Source Locate all appropriate backup files required to perform the recovery Prepare Decide where and how to perform the restore-from-backup Restore Copy all appropriate database files from the backup location to disk Recover Perform the actual database recovery (step-by-step procedure) Post-op Reset the log if needed, start the database, and perform a new

backup

The tasks differ greatly from one recovery to the next. For example, in the case of anincomplete recovery, the DBA must manually determine the time, SCN, or log sequence number to recover to. After the recovery, the DBA must remember to open the databasewith the RESETLOGS option and then do an immediate database backup. Choosingthe right approach in the middle of a stressful recovery can be very difficult. Even an

experienced DBA may have difficulty performing these complex, manual tasks undertime pressure.

SQL-BackTrack's exclusive Guided Recovery feature greatly simplifies these tasks: Detects missing data files, control files, online redo logs, parameter files, or data

files Presents options appropriate for the situation and the DBA selects from the

available recovery types

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

3/9

Issues all Oracle Server Manager commands required to implement the recovery Restores the database files, prompting to load media when necessary Restores and applies archive logs Brings the database online

SQL-BackTrack's Guided Recovery makes complex recoveries fast, simple, and as

error-free as possible.

Logical Extraction CapabilityExcept in cases of outright system failure, full database recoveries are rare. The mostcommon reason for a recovery is human error such as accidental deletion of data oraccidental dropping of schema objects.

SQL-BackTrack supports recovery at the object level. Individual tables can berecovered from a physical backup, with some or all of their data. SQL-BackTrack fullyautomates the procedure and makes it possible to recover virtually any table to any pointin time.

Even non-data objects such as stored procedures can be recovered. SQL-BackTrackextracts these logical objects from physical backupswhat we call "logical extraction".

DBAs use this feature during actual recoveries, but also as a convenient way to copy ormove objects between instances, make utility copies of data, etc. This is an "all day,every day" feature.

SQL-BackTrack's logical extraction capability is a convenient and often-used DBAproductivity tool.

Simplified Backup ManagementSQL-BackTrack allows DBAs to choose from among several backup types:

Database, tablespace, data file, archive log, or control file Physical or logical, full or incremental Open or closed, consistent or inconsistent

DBAs can also specify backup expiration policies that retire backups after a set numberof days or copies. All of these features are available via a simple menu-driven interfaceor optional command line interface.

SQL-BackTrack provides great breadth of capability without sacrificing ease ofuse and DBA productivity.

Simple, Robust ArchitectureSQL-BackTrack records backup history and database structure information in a recoverycatalog, a set of flat files local to the database server. SQL-BackTrack manages thiscatalog and no DBA intervention is required. For example, if a database is expanded touse an additional data file, the SQL-BackTrack catalog will be automatically updated withthe new data file information at the beginning of the next backup operation. Sincecatalog files are local to each database server machine, they can be included in thesame file system backup as the actual database, guaranteeing synchronization of thecatalog and database backup files.

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

4/9

SQL-BackTrack's catalog architecture is simple and robust.

Efficient BackupsAt a file level, databases are optimized for access, not storage efficiency, and so theycan be very resource-intensive to backup and recover. SQL-BackTrack uses advanced

compression techniques to reduce the time, network resources, and storage resourcesneeded for backup and recovery operations.

SQL-BackTrack minimizes backup size by excluding never-used blocks from backups.SQL-BackTrack also compresses data content before directing data to the storagemanagement layer. SQL-BackTrack achieves a 3:1or bettercompression ratio,resulting in smaller backup files, reduced media requirements, and faster backups,especially when backups are written across a network to remote storage devices.

SQL-BackTrack makes the most efficient use of your limited time and resources.

Assured Version CompatibilitySQL-BackTrack is simple to deploy and manage. Because it is installed as a single setof native executables on each database server, there are no distributed components thatcan get "out of synch" with each other. When an urgent recovery becomes necessary,the DBA is assured that SQL-BackTrack is ready to roll.

SQL-BackTrack gives you install-it-and-forget-about-it peace of mind with noversion-control worries.

Enterprise Snapshot CapabilitySQL-BackTrack's unique Enterprise Snapshot capability allows DBAs to take a logicalsnapshot of a database at a point in time and then take a backup from that copy ratherthan from the live database. This can save a lot of time.

There are two forms of backupshot and coldboth of which disrupt normal operations.Hot backups require a database to be in backup mode, resulting in performancedegradation of applications accessing the database. Cold backups require the databaseto be offline and unavailable to applications for hours on end. Either way, the backup isdisruptive to business operations because the database is unavailable to customers or itis available with a marked degradation in performance for a prolonged period of time.

There are two ways that SQL-BackTrack for Oracle uses snapshot technology.

Hardware snapshot If intelligent storage devices (ISDs) such as Hitachi

7700E or HP XP256 are configured within the environment, then Enterprise

Snapshot will exploit the mirroring capabilities of the storage device to create apoint-in-time image of the database from which to perform backups.

Software snapshot If there are no ISDs configured within the environment,

then SQL-BackTrack with Enterprise Snapshot will use proprietary BMC

Software snapshot technology to create a point-in-time image of the database

from which to perform backups.

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

5/9

Enterprise Snapshot delivers nondisruptive database backups,

reducing the impact of backups to almost nothing.

The advantages to using SQL-BackTrack for Oracle Enterprise Snapshot Edition to

perform backups include the following:

Provides near 24x7 database availability

Shrinks the backup window to almost zero

Stretches the batch window or adds hours to the online day

Exploits advanced technology already in place. SQL-BackTrack for Oracle

Enterprise Snapshot Edition can use both software and hardware snapshot

technology to ensure valid backups while maintaining database availability Improves recovery time by eliminating the need to apply transaction logs to

recover to the snapshot point-in-time copy of the databases

Enterprise Snapshot allows cold backups to be made in minutes instead of hours. In thecase of a hot backup, Enterprise Snapshot greatly reduces the time each tablespacemust spend in backup mode to minutes, or even seconds, greatly improvingperformance during the backup.

SQL-BackTrack saves time and space and maintains database performanceduring large-scale backups.

Process RestartabilityBackup and recovery operations can fail for any number of reasonsmissing media,insufficient disk space, hardware outages, etc. SQL-BackTrack insulates DBAs from thefull impact of these failures, by allowing processes to restart from the point of failure,rather than requiring a rerun from the first step. During a time-critical recovery operation,this capability can greatly reduce the total time to recovery (TTR).

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

6/9

SQL-BackTrack provides fine-grained control of the restart process, not just adate/time cutoff.

Real-time Monitoring CapabilitySQL-BackTrack allows DBAs to monitor the completion status of its processes. Thisfeedback can be very useful for production scheduling of backups or to track %-complete progress during a time-critical recovery.

SQL-BackTrack gives DBAs the ability to track the execution status of work-in-progress.

Integration with Storage Management Systems and Backup CloningBMC Software understands the importance of complete integration with your currentenvironment. Open Backup Stream Interface Modules(OBSI Modules) enable physicalbackups and exports directly to tape, magnetic disk, or various third-party storagemanagement systems such as Veritas NetBackup, Legato NetWorker, and TivoliStorage Manager (TSM), formerly known as IBM ADSM. OBSI Modules are availablefrom BMC Software or from third-party developers who are part of the BMC SoftwareOBSI Partner Program. SQL-BackTrack offers full integration with third-party schedulingproducts, generating standard operating system scripts for backup and recovery.

SQL-BackTrack architecture

Database backup and recovery is a DBA responsibility, but in most organizations, DBAshave to rely on a separate storage team to administer the storage management

subsystem.

What happens if a database recovery is urgently needed, but the storage system isoffline or has had its own disaster? SQL-BackTracks Backup Cloning helps DBAs avoidthis problem. During recovery, SQL-BackTrack can dynamically fail over to a secondarycopy if a primary device fails or is offline. It is easy to configureyou can make as manycopies from one read as you want. One copy, for example, can go to Tivoli StorageManager and one to disk.

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

7/9

SQL-BackTrack integrates with storage managers and optimizes availability withcloning.

Backup cloning eliminates the backup storage medium as a single point of failure

Examples of Companies Using SQL-BackTrackHere are some real-life examples of companies who are using SQL-BackTrack tomaximize the availability and reliability of their databases.

Case #1 A Large Oil and Gas Company Dealing with MergersA large oil and gas company recently acquired several large companies and is mergingthe information systems of each of these companies. They have legacy systems tomaintain and must consolidate systems that are on multiple database platforms, multiplereleases of software, multiple releases of tools, and multiple hardware platforms.Keeping track of all of this is a big challenge and so is backup and recovery. Theaverage DBA has experience with 2-3 platforms.

What criteria did they use in choosing tools to manage all of this? They looked for toolsthat could be used by the most people and tools that go across platforms. They chosePATROL and SQL-BackTrack, which are both available for Oracle, Microsoft SQLServer, Sybase, and Informix.

PATROL enhances the contribution and value of the database administration group byautomating critical but routine administrative functions and spotlighting the informationnecessary to make faster, better decisions. SQL-BackTrack simplifies and automatesmany database administration tasks associated with backup and recovery. It speeds upthe recovery process and frees up time for DBAs, increasing productivity on day-to-daytasks.

Case #2 A Large Financial Company with Sybase and Oracle and TSMA large financial company running both Sybase and Oracle in their environment usesTivoli Storage Manager. SQL-BackTrack has allowed this company to implement an

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

8/9

enterprise backup and recovery strategy due to its support for both Oracle and Sybase.It has provided them flexibility and increased efficiency in having one DBA support bothSybase and Oracle backup and recoveries. It has also allowed them to integrate withTivoli Storage Manager without the dependence on a TSM Administrator.

Case #3 A Large Investment Firm Wiped Out by a Disaster

An unexpected disaster wiped out the entire data center of a large investment firm.Using SQL-BackTrack, the company was able to get their environment up and runningwith ZERO data loss from their databases.

In the event of an unplanned outage, SQL-BackTrack minimizes downtime by simplifyingthe entire recovery process. It restores database files and actually guides the DBAthrough every step of the recovery process while automatically detecting and restoringall missing files.

Case #4 A Large Technology Company Having Difficulty Recovering DatabasesA large technology company has large amounts of Oracle running in the enterprise. Themanager of the DBA group has years of experience with Oracle and has even attended

Oracle backup and recovery training. Until using SQL-BackTrack for Oracle, however,he was never able to successfully recover a database missing control and system files.With SQL-BackTrack for Oracle, he performed a full recovery as well as a point-in-timerecovery. He now has confidence that he can cover for one of his employees in theevent of a disaster.

Case #5 A Large Public Utility Splitting UpA large public utility is splitting into two companiesone regulated and the otherderegulated. The new deregulated company is starting nearly from the ground up ontheir database. The problems it faces are inherited legacy systems in production, theneed to standardize as much as possible on tools more than platforms, and figuring outwhat tools to use. They have very large systems to backup and recover and need tools

that provide maximum availability, performance, and scalability. They have chosenSQL-Backtrack, which delivers rapid database recovery through right-sizing, orperforming the smallest, most efficient recovery possible.

SummaryOne of the biggest benefits that SQL-BackTrack can provide you is the way in whichdatabase recoveries are performed. SQL-BackTrack analyzes the system, asks somequestions, and generates the proper commands to perform the recovery. Everything isfully automatic. There is a monitor to monitor the progress of the recovery. If therecovery is killedbecause, for example, a tape drive has jammed or a cable cameloosethe recovery can be resumed where it left off without having to repeat the entire

procedure.

Native utilities can provide this same basic ability, but require an experienced DBA toperform the recovery. The DBA must examine the system and determine what parts aredamaged or missing. Then the proper database commands need to be entered toperform the recovery.

Although experienced DBAs may be able to accomplish their backups and recoveriesusing native utilities, the time, effort, and expertise required is very high. The DBA must

5/19/2018 18727.pdf

9/9

select the step-by-step procedure that best fits a given recovery and know the commandsyntax required.

SQL-BackTrack is a proven backup and recovery solution that works in the real world.Its simple, menu-driven interface is immediately usable by DBAs of all skill levels. Itsunique Guided Recovery process helps DBAs choose the recovery strategy that best fits

a given situation. SQL-BackTrack makes backups and recoveries fast, automated,manageable, flexible, and highly assured of success. It is the smart DBAs power tool forbacking up and recovering databases.

To learn more about BMC Softwares distributed and mainframe database products, visitour Web site at www.bmc.com/database. 18727 08/2002