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EDM Symmetrix Connectfor EDM 4.5

A description of EDM Symmetrix Connect backup.

Document ID: WP-00010

Last Revised: August 1, 2000

EDM Symmetrix Connect for EDM 4.5WP-00010April 2000Copyright © 2000 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.

EMC Corporation, 171 South St., Hopkinton, MA 01748-9103

The information in this document is subject to change without notice. EMC Corporationdoes not warrant that this document is error-free.

EMC2, EMC, and Symmetrix are registered trademarks and EMC Enterprise Storage, EMC

Enterprise Storage Network, EMC Enterprise Storage Specialist, EMC Storage Logic, TheEMC Effect, The EMC Effect Alliance, The Enterprise Storage Company, Celerra,Connectrix, CopyPoint, EDM, E-Infostructure, FarPoint, InfoMover, PowerPath, SDMS,SRDF, SymmAPI, TimeFinder, Universal Data Tone, and Volume Logix are trademarks ofEMC Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks used herein are theproperty of their respective owners.

Author of this paper:

Bernadette Matheson, EDM Software Engineering

Additional contributions to this paper were made by:

Rob Boudrie, EDM Software EngineeringJohn Wallace, EDM Software Engineering

Contents

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1

EDM Network Backup .................................................................................................2

EDM Symmetrix Connect.............................................................................................3

EDM Symmetrix Connect Backup for Oracle..................................................................5

EDM Symmetrix Connect with TimeFinder or SRDF ..........................................6EDM Symmetrix Connect without TimeFinder or SRDF ......................................8

EDM Symmetrix Connect for RMAN Proxy Copy ...........................................................9

RMAN Proxy Copy Backup .............................................................................9

Restoring Data ......................................................................................................... 10

Restore of SRDF or TimeFinder Image ............................................................ 10Restore of a Remote BCV ............................................................................. 11Restore of Primary Symmetrix Image in a Symmetrix Connect without TimeFinderor SRDF Configuration .................................................................................. 11Restore to Primary when BCVs are used for Backup ....................................... 11Restore over the Network .............................................................................. 12

EDM SYMMETRIX CONNECT BACKUP FOR SAP R/3 ........................................................... 13

EDM SYMMETRIX CONNECT SUPPORT FOR UNIX FILESYSTEMS ....................................... 16

Required System Components for Symmetrix Connect with TimeFinder or SRDF ........... 16

Required System Components for Symmetrix Connect without TimeFinder or SRDF ...... 17

EDM SYMMETRIX CONNECT FEATURE SUMMARY ............................................................. 18

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ..................................................................................... 19

EDM Symmetrix Connect for EDM 4.5 1

IntroductionEMC Data Manager (EDM™) is a centralized, open systems backup solution thatsolves one of the key problems IS managers face in their day-to-day operations:to safely and efficiently back up and catalog the ever-increasing volume ofenterprise data, while reducing the operations window and staff needed toaccomplish this. EDM has been designed as a highly scalable platform that fitsinto the open systems client/server environment. It is a fully integrated packagethat includes all required hardware, software, and support services. It completelyautomates tasks such as scheduling, tape management, and offsite disastermedia storage. These capabilities layer on top of an architecture that allowsLAN-based and/or a direct Symmetrix® connection to client data storage. Theresult is the fastest data gathering and recovery system on the market today.

This paper provides a top-level summary of EDM’s Symmetrix Connect backupfeature. EDM Symmetrix Connect provides online, logical backup for largeOracle® databases at speeds significantly faster than possible over a network orusing a host database system that is also running mission-critical applications.


EDM Network BackupThe EDM system is a complete, high-performance, database backup system. Itprovides unattended backup in environments of heterogeneous servers, rapidlyexpanding networks, or where data backup is decentralized, random ornonexistent. The EDM can use a network infrastructure to perform all back upand restore operations. This has proven to be very effective in environmentswith very large databases. Utilizing the network infrastructure, client data fromthe database servers is pushed by the clients over the client network to theEDM. As the data is received, EDM streams the data to the available tape media.

Figure 1. EDM Network Backup Data Flow Diagram

LAN

BACKUPDATA

EDM

SCSIDatabase Server

Symmetrix

The network implementation of EDM enables separate control and data pathsfrom the EDM client, enabling parallel data movement. The EDM clientcomponent formats the data for backup and restore, retries busy files, and allowsclient-initiated restore capability through the interface. The EDM backup serveracts as a high-speed data sink handling all network communications. Componentfunctions such as reporting, policy, schedule, and catalog management are allEDM backup server side responsibilities. Network EDM fully supports mostUNIX® vendors as well as Windows NT® servers, OS/2®, and NetWare®.Additionally, network EDM supports both online and offline database backupand restore, for the major database vendors such as Oracle, Sybase®, Informix®,and Microsoft® SQL.

Because EDM scales well, performs multiple backups at once, and centralizesbackup and media management, it has proven an effective solution within datacenters with many small- to medium-sized database and file servers. However,once a database grows to a large size, the time to back up this single databaseover a network often exceeds customer backup windows. The EDM SymmetrixConnect features address this need for higher database backup performance.


EDM Symmetrix ConnectEDM Symmetrix Connect provides high speed, non-disruptive, backup andrestore of very large Oracle databases and filesystems residing on Symmetrixsystems to tape storage. EDM Symmetrix Connect has the built-in intelligence tooffer a completely unattended online or offline database backup solution forenterprise backup needs. With EDM Symmetrix Connect, the transfer of thebackup data is offloaded from the database server to the dedicated resources ofthe Symmetrix and EDM by moving data over Fibre or SCSI channels directlyfrom Symmetrix systems.

In addition to high-speed backups, EDM Symmetrix Connect offers the followingadvantages over network enterprise backups:

• Serverless backups : Dedicated EDM and Symmetrix Connect resourceshandle all data movement, freeing up valuable resources from the databaseservers and network. In addition, centralized high-performance tapedrives can be shared among several application and database servers.

• Storage-based backups : EDM Symmetrix Connect uses Symmetrix I/Ocapabilities to offer high backup performance rates.

• Scalable backup performance: EDM backup performance scales withSymmetrix storage and available hardware. As faster I/O connections andtape drives become available, the new components can be integrated intoEDM. There is no need to change the hardware configuration of thedatabase server system, resulting in no server downtime normallyassociated with such upgrades.

• Non-disruptive point-in-time backups : When integrated with EMCTimeFinder™ or Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF™), EDMSymmetrix Connect enables backups to be taken of mirrored Symmetrixbusiness continuance volumes (BCVs). The BCV is split from the primaryvolume and backed up while the primary volume continues to supportdatabase server applications.


Figure 2. EDM Symmetrix Connect Data Flow Diagram

SRDFor

TimeFinder

Target Primary

Database Servers

LAN

DATA

EDM

SCSI


EDM Symmetrix Connect Backup for OracleThe need for EDM Symmetrix Connect has grown out of the geometric increasesin both the size of relational databases and the volume of traffic on the networksconnecting these servers. EDM Symmetrix Connect is specifically designed toprovide database backup capability when the sizes of the databases are too largeto transmit across a 100MB/sec FDDI or 100BaseT network. The development ofEDM Symmetrix Connect was focused on tightly integrating with databaseservers that commonly handle these large volumes of data.

EDM Symmetrix Connect is designed to work with Oracle, the recognized leaderin large open systems database servers. Part of the tailoring for Oracle backupsis the flexibility to allow backup of selected tablespaces in addition to backing upthe entire database. Restore functionality also allows the entire database to berestored or the ability to restore selected tablespaces or datafiles. TheseSymmetrix connectivity features are added to the EDM capability, with theexisting network-based backup functionality being completely preserved. Theresulting EDM product therefore, brings not only ultra-high VLDB backupperformance, but also a proven enterprise-wide backup solution via a singleEDM server.

EDM Symmetrix Connect supports Oracle in raw disk partitions and infilesystems . The following restrictions apply when Oracle is in filesystems :

• When using EMC TimeFinder or Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF)software, both online and offline backups are provided.

• When backing up the primary Oracle database (without using TimeFinderor SRDF), only offline backup is provided.

• Backup and restore will be limited to “all or nothing” at the filesystemlevel; that is, the entire filesystem that contains the datafile will be backedup or restored.


EDM Symmetrix Connect with TimeFinder or SRDF

This feature works in conjunction with EMC TimeFinder or SRDF software withdata backed up from the target Symmetrix or TimeFinder Business ContinuanceVolumes (BCVs). Backup and restore of a TimeFinder BCV on an SRDF target(Fourth Mirror or Remote BCV) is also supported. An outline of the main stepsfor an online backup can best explain how the BCV or SRDF volume is used. (Seefigure 3.)

Online Backup

[1] Backup is scheduled from the EDM server.

[2] Selected Oracle tablespaces are put into backup mode, hence Oracle is in backupmode for only minutes.

[3] Synchronization of SRDF/TimeFinder primary/target volumes is verified.

[4] SRDF/TimeFinder link is broken. If this is a Remote BCV configuration, TimeFinderlink on the target Symmetrix is broken, and the SRDF link remains established.

[5] Oracle tablespaces are taken out of backup mode. The real control file copy iscreated using cp. (This is not a “backup control file.”)

[6] Data is backed up from BCVs or target Symmetrix to the EDM via SCSI or FibreChannel connections. Optional archive logs are backed up over the network inparallel with the database backup.

[7] After backup is complete, the SRDF or TimeFinder mirror is optionallyreestablished.

Figure 3. EDM Symmetrix Connect Backup (using TimeFinder)

DBMSHOST

SCSI TAPELIBRARY

UNIT

SYMMETRIX SYSTEM

SCSI

SCSI

EDM

Note: Numbers refer to backup steps from text.

PRIMARY DATA(RAID PROTECTED)

TIMEFINDERBCV

1

6

54

32

7


Offline Backup

For offline backup, the steps are similar to online except that the database istemporarily shut down while the mirrors are being split. Once the mirrors havebeen split , the database is restarted. Thus even with an offline backup, thedatabase is actually down for a very short period of time.

[1] Backup is scheduled from the EDM server.

[2] The database is brought down. This can be done either through a user pre-backupscript or automatically by the EDM.

[3] The real control file copy created using cp. (This is not a backup control file.)


[5] SRDF/TimeFinder link is temporarily broken. If this is a Remote BCV configuration,TimeFinder link on the target Symmetrix is broken, but the SRDF link remainsestablished.

[6] The database is brought online either through execution of a user post-backupscript, or automatically by the EDM.

[7] Data is backed up from BCVs or secondary Symmetrix to the EDM via SCSI or FibreChannel connections. Control files and optional redo log files are backed up by theEDM over the network in parallel with the database backup.

[8] After backup is complete, the SRDF/TimeFinder volume is reestablished andresynchronized.

This design is supported for Oracle servers running on HP-UX, Sun Solaris, IBMAIX, Digital UNIX, and Sequent DYNIX systems. The volume managerssupported are VERITAS ® for the Sun platforms, HP’s LVM for the HP platforms,and IBM’s LVM for IBM/AIX platforms.


EDM Symmetrix Connect without TimeFinder or SRDF

This configuration duplicates the functionality described above, but it does notrequire an SRDF or EMC TimeFinder mirror. The following list provides anoutline for EDM Symmetrix Connect no-mirror online and offline backup. (Seefigure 4.)

Online Backup

[1] The backup is scheduled from the EDM server.

[2] Affected Oracle tablespaces are put into “online” backup mode.

[3] Data is backed up from the primary Symmetrix disk to the EDM via SCSI or FibreChannel connections.

[4] Oracle tablespaces are returned to normal mode.

[5] Backup of control file is created. All required redo logs are archived.

[6] Control files and archived redo logs are backed up over the network by EDM.

Figure 4. EDM Symmetrix Connect Backup (no mirrors)

DBMSHOST

SCSI TAPELIBRARY

UNIT

SYMMETRIX SYSTEM

SCSI

SCSI

EDM

PRIMARY DATA(RAID PROTECTED)

1

3

4

2

5

Note: Numbers refer to backup steps from text.

Offline Backup

[1] The backup is scheduled from the EDM.

[2] The database is brought down. This can be done either through a user pre-backupscript or automatically by the EDM. The real control file copy is created using cp.(This is not a backup control file.)

[3] EDM server backs up the primary database copy (not a mirror).

[4] The database is brought online either through execution of a user post-backupscript or automatically by the EDM.


[5] Control files and optional redo log files are backed up by the EDM over thenetwork.

EDM Symmetrix Connect for RMAN Proxy CopyWith Oracle 8i, Oracle has implemented a new feature in the Recovery Manager(RMAN) called Proxy Copy. When this feature is used, RMAN sends the EDM alist of Oracle datafiles to be backed up, rather than sending the data itself. Thisallows the EDM to implement optimized backup and restore strategies, such asusing split-mirrors. EMC was a key partner in defining and developing thissolution. The EMC Data Manager (EDM) has been shipping Proxy Copyenabled products since 8i was first available.

EMC’s premier backup/restore configuration is to use RMAN Proxy Copy andEMC TimeFinder to provide split-mirror backup and restore for Oracle datafiles.Archived redo logs and control files are backed up using standard RMANmechanisms where the actual data is passed to the EDM, rather than a list offiles. This configuration is completely integrated with RMAN. Customers get allof the benefits of high speed, server-less, LAN-less data movement for datafiles,while maintaining the ability to use sophisticated RMAN archive logmanagement features with network or LAN-less data movement methods. Thecustomer also has the ability to combine Proxy Copy backups with RMANincremental backups to implement a robust incremental strategy centered onTimeFinder split-mirror backups.

RMAN Proxy Copy Backup

An overview of the RMAN Proxy Copy backup process follows.

[1] RMAN script executes commands that establish connections with the recoverycatalog and target database.

[2] RMAN tells EDM what datafiles need to be backed up.


[4] Oracle puts the database in backup mode or shuts down the database.

[5] For mirrored BCV/SRDF configurations, the SRDF/TimeFinder link is broken. For aRemote BCV configuration, the TimeFinder link on the target Symmetrix is broken,and the SRDF link remains established.

[6] For online backup, Oracle tablespaces are taken out of backup mode or a script isrun to start up the database and applications.

[7] EDM copies the datafiles from the Symmetrix disks and writes the data to tape. Datais backed up from BCVs or target Symmetrix to the EDM via SCSI or Fibre Channelconnections. Optional archive logs are backed up over the network after thedatabase backup.

[8] After backup is complete, the SRDF or TimeFinder mirror is optionallyreestablished.

For more information about RMAN Proxy Copy, refer to the white paperValidation of Oracle RMAN Proxy Copy with EDM Symmetrix Connect.


Restoring DataEDM Symmetrix Connect provides a convenient way to specify the granularity ofrestore:

• The entire database, including control files and archived redo logs, ifpresent.

• Selected tablespaces.

• Selected datafiles within a specific tablespace or across severaltablespaces.

• Control files for a particular backup.

• Archived redo log directory for a particular backup.

To restore any part of a database you must ensure that 1) Databases ortablespaces that are being restored to are offline on the database server unit. 2)No process is accessing the filesystem or volume to which files are beingrestored.

EDM Symmetrix Connect supports several types of restores:

• Restore of SRDF or TimeFinder Image

• Restore of a Remote BCV

• Restore of Primary Symmetrix Image in a non-TimeFinder or SRDFConfiguration

• Restore to Primary when BCVs are used for Backup

• Restore over the Network

Restore of SRDF or TimeFinder Image

• The EDM will determine where the data being restored maps to physicallyon the Symmetrix.

• The restore process unmounts those filesystems on the database serverunit on which the restore has to occur.

• The BCVs that are to be restored to are split from the primary device.

• Data is restored to the BCV or SRDF device.

• The mirrors are reestablished and the primary device is optionallyresynchronized from the BCV or SRDF device.

• Unmounted filesystems on the EDM client are remounted on the primarySymmetrix devices.

• The user can then perform an Oracle media recovery procedure.


Restore of a Remote BCV



• The BCVs that are to be restored to are split from the SRDF device.

• Data is restored to the BCV.

• The SRDF link between the primary and target Symmetrix is split.

• The link between the SRDF device and the BCV is reestablished and theSRDF target device is resynchronized from the BCV.

• The SRDF link between the primary and target Symmetrix is reestablishedand the primary device is resynchronized from the SRDF target device.



Restore of Primary Symmetrix Image in a non-TimeFinder orSRDF Configuration



• Data is restored to the primary volume.

• The user can then perform an Oracle recovery procedure.

Restore to Primary when BCVs are used for Backup



• The primary disk and BCV are split.

• Data is restored to the primary device.

• The mirrors are reestablished and the primary device is optionallyresynchronized from the BCV device.




Restore over the Network

The restore function that is part of the EDM network feature performs this typeof restore. When performing a restore function over the network rather thanthrough the EDM Symmetrix Connect link, the data is restored directly to theprimary device.

Note: Striped logical volume EDM Symmetrix Connect backups cannot be restoredover the network.

Striping is an industry-standard term for breaking a data stream up and placing itacross multiple disks of equal sized chunks. Each chunk is sequentially writtento successive drives in the array. The set of sequential chunks that begins withthe first drive and ends with the last drive forms the stripe. The arraymanagement software, Logical Manager, is responsible for making the arrayappear as a normal, albeit virtual, disk to the operating system and applications.

Note: Striped volumes (as opposed to concatenated volumes) must be restored usingthe identical stripe geometry.


EDM Symmetrix Connect Backup for SAP R/3

In order to provide common procedures, SAP provides its own tools to managethe database. These tools also promote common practices and simplifymanagement of the underlying database.

The SAP R/3 CCMS (Computer Center Management System) includes tools forbacking up, archiving, and restoring the underlying SAP database. The CCMStools interact with the Oracle DBMS directly to query database layout and putOracle in the appropriate backup modes (offline or online). The CCMS tools alsointerface directly with the backup management system, like EDM.

EDM Symmetrix Connect moves data directly from Symmetrix storage to EDM,without going through the production SAP system or LAN as shown in figure 5.Symmetrix Connect is for SAP is fully integrated with Symmetrix TimeFinder andSRDF and (usually) requires no special scripting to manage BCV’s. Further, eachtime a backup is done, the EDM Symmetrix Connect client automatically queriesOracle to determine what datafiles need to be backed up and where they resideon the Symmetrix. This interface will allow the user to initiate Symmetrix Connectbackup/restore from the SAP-supplied database management tools. EDMSymmetrix Connect supports both online and offline backups through thisinterface.

Figure 5. EDM Symmetrix Connect for SAP R/3 Data Flow

CCMS

OracleDBMS

OS FileSystems

Production SAP System

EDM SymmetrixConnect Client

Control

Control

SymmetrixStorage

EDM

BCV

Data(SCSI or Fibre)

LAN


The backup and restore features and performance available through the SAPinterface are the same as those available with the EDM Symmetrix Connect forOracle product with one significant difference. When a Symmetrix Connect BCVbackup is requested without the SAP interface, the Oracle database is onlyoffline for the length of time that it takes to split the BCV or SRDF device(s).Once the split has been performed, the EDM Symmetrix Connect software bringsthe database back online. This is typically a very short amount of time.

However, when EDM Symmetrix Connect is initiated from the SAP interface, it isSAP, that brings the database offline or online. For offline backups, SAPcurrently will only bring the database back online when the entire backup isfinished. Currently, there is no method for the EDM Symmetrix Connect mediamanagement software to communicate to the SAP interface that the BCVs havebeen split, and that it is safe to bring the database back online while waiting forbackup completion.

As a result, for offline backup, the Oracle database will be offline for the entireduration of the backup – even if there is a BCV or SRDF device.

Figure 6. SAP Offline Backup

This does not cause a problem for BCV online backups. SAP has implemented aprocess, to communicate whether an Oracle tablespace should be in or out ofonline backup mode. In this way, EDM can tell SAP that SAP/R3 should take atablespace out of backup mode directly after the BCVs have been split.

Even after SAP takes the tablespaces out of backup mode, it continues to waitfor information indicating the final completion status of the backup. EDMSymmetrix Connect product, tablespaces are only in backup mode for the lengthof time that it takes to split the BCVs.

Take database offline (SAP code)

backint (EMC code)

SAP/DC Offline backup

backup the files (EMC code)

Reply that all files are “DONE”and exit (EMC code)

Bring database online (SAP code)

break mirrors (EMC code)

sapdba

brbackup (SAP code)

(SAP code)

Take database offline (SAP code)

backint (EMC code)

backup the files (EMC code)Wait for all filesto be “DONE”

(SAP code) Reply that all files are “DONE”and exit (EMC code)

Bring database online (SAP code)

split mirrors (EMC code)


Figure 7. SAP Online Backup

sapdba

brbackup (SAP code)

(SAP code)

backint (EMC code)ask to put files in backup mode (EMC)

split mirrors (EMC)ask to take files out of backup mode (EMC)

Backup the files (EMC)

brconnect(SAP code)

put files in or out ofbackup mode

brbackup waits for allfiles to be “Done” (SAP)

Reply that all files are “Done” andexit


EDM Symmetrix Connect Support for UnixFilesystems

EDM Symmetrix Connect also supports Unix filesystem backups. This support istargeted at very large filesystem environments where a high speed, simpleall/nothing backup and restore of filesystem raw partitions is appropriate.

• Unix filesystem backup is supported with or without TimeFinder or SRDF.

• When backing up the primary device (without TimeFinder or SRDF), thefilesystem will be dismounted at backup time. If EDM is unable todismount the filesystem, then backup for that filesystem will be skipped.

• Backup and restore will be limited to “all or nothing” at the filesystemlevel; that is ; the entire filesystem that contains the datafile will be backedup or restored.

Required System Components for SymmetrixConnect with TimeFinder or SRDF

• EDM server with fast/wide differential SCSI, Ultra SCSI, or Fibre Channelconnection(s) to a Symmetrix system.

• If the EDM is connected to an SRDF or a TimeFinder Symmetrix, and theOracle database server is a Solaris client running VERITAS VolumeManager (VxVM) or VERITAS File System (VxFS), the same packagesmust be installed on the EDM.

• Solutions Enabler software for database server(s) and EDM. (Refer to theRelease Notes for supported revision level.)

• Open SCSI slots on the Symmetrix system.

• For Symmetrix Connect with TimeFinder or SRDF, one of the followingSymmetrix configurations is required:

• SRDF (Symmetrix Remote Data Facility). Two separate Symmetrixsystems connected via ESCON®.

• Data written to primary volume Symmetrix is mirrored on thesecondary volume Symmetrix.

• EMC TimeFinder. One Symmetrix system.

• Data is written to the standard volume and is mirrored on the BCVvolume.


Required System Components for SymmetrixConnect without TimeFinder or SRDF

• EDM server with fast/wide differential SCSI, Ultra SCSI, or Fibre Channelconnection(s) to a Symmetrix system

• Symmetrix system with standard devices.

Note: EDM Symmetrix Connect with no mirror functionality can be used withTimeFinder or SRDF.


EDM Symmetrix Connect Feature Summary

• Database server independent

• Minimal impact on database server

• Scaled for very large databases

• High-speed backups; significantly faster than network backup

• Maintains existing EDM network backup functionality

• Supports Oracle

• Online and offline backupi

• Tablespace and complete database backup

• Datafile and complete database restore

• Integrated with Oracle RMAN Proxy Copy

• Supports SAP Tools

• Online and offline backup

• Tablespace and complete database backup

• Datafile and complete database restore

• Supports Unix filesystem physical backup

Contact EMC for current information on supported EDM Symmetrix Connectdatabases and clients.

i Only offline backup is supported for non-TimeFinder/SRDF configurations.


Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: What is “EDM Symmetrix Connect”?

A: EDM Symmetrix Connect is focused on high-speed backup of the Symmetrix,attached via SCSI or Fibre, in addition to providing network backup services.EDM Symmetrix Connect backs up and restores very large Oracle databases andfilesystems for DEC, HP, IBM, Sequent, and Sun platforms . It also supportsEMC Backint for SAP R/3 and RMAN Proxy Copy for some clients.

Q: How does EDM Symmetrix Connect differ from other products that claim tobe direct attached?

A: The EDM Symmetrix Connect product is a backup server that has SCSI orFibre channels connected directly to the Symmetrix of the database server. Thus,the backup server is performing all of the work when a back up is performed. Forproducts that have tape drives “directly attached” to the database server, theload of performing a backup is on the database server.

Q: What is the value of EDM Symmetrix Connect?

A: EDM Symmetrix Connect offers customers a way to secure a snapshot of largevolumes of data on tape. Customers currently do not have backup products thatcan move data at high speeds. The benefit of this direct method is that thisbackup will not directly affect the CPU of the database server and users will haveaccess to their transaction systems while backups take place.

An important value of the EDM offering is that the customers receive EMC’sNumber 1-rated service. With the EDM product offering, EMC has the premierbackup system for network-attached and Symmetrix-connected hosts.

Q: What kind of speeds can I expect to get from EDM Symmetrix Connectbackup?

A: The performance from the EDM Symmetrix Connect product is hardwaredependent. Backup speed is determined by: the model of Symmetrix holding thedata, the data layout within the Symmetrix system(s), the number of processors inthe backup CPU, the number of SCSI or Fibre connections between the EDM andSymmetrix, and the number of SCSI-connected tape drives to which the backup isstreaming.

Q: Can I do a backup today using BCVs without purchasing the EDM SymmetrixConnect product?

A: Symmetrix Connect offers an understanding of special handling in thebreaking of the link, coordination with the application to get a consistent backupand coordination, and load balancing of the backups.


Q: How are log files, control files and other non-Oracle files backed up?

A: While the Symmetrix is being backed up over SCSI or Fibre channels, networkbackups of Oracle control files and log files automatically take place. Networkbackups of other non-Oracle files can also take place. The EDM will receive datafrom the network and write data to additional tape drives in the automated tapelibrary.

Q: Which LVMs are supported?

A: All platforms use a native logical volume manager, except Sun, which usesVeritas.

Q: What is the EDM release level for EDM Symmetrix Connect with TimeFinderand or SRDF?

A: The minimum release level is EDM 4.0.

Q: Can I back up SAP on Oracle?

A: Yes. The EMC Backint for SAP R/3 product integrates SAP’s DBA toolswith EDM Symmetrix Connect.

Q: Does the EDM take up Symmetrix channels?

A: Yes. The EDM is another device to the Symmetrix that can see the samelogical drives that the database server is using. During the backup period, theEDM automatically reads the database configuration control files and splits offthe BCV volumes, and then moves the database image from the BCVs over thechannel connections that attach the EDM to the Symmetrix.

Q: Can I use my Symmetrix 5000 ESP system?

A: Yes, if you have SCSI slots available.

Q: What is the backup and restore granularity for EDM Symmetrix Connect?

A: For mirrored configurations only, files in Oracle filesystems for Solaris clientscan be backed up and restored at the datafile level. UNIX filesystem backup andrestore remains at the "all-or-nothing" granularity level as well as other non-supported Oracle RAWFS filesystem clients.

Q: If I am running on an older version of Sun, must I upgrade to an UltraSPARCserver? If I am using DLT 4000 drives, must I upgrade to DLT 7000 tape drives?

A: Although not required, they are necessary for top performance.

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EDM Symmetrix Connect for EDM 4 - cbinews.com · EDM Symmetrix Connect for RMAN Proxy Copy ... This paper provides a top-level summary of EDM’s Symmetrix Connect backup ... Of