fast backup

[KINGSLEY_1]

Hi!

We are running a banking application which database is oracle. Data protector takes almost 2 hours to finish backing up before we can start close of business.

Is there a way where we can have a copy of the application and database so that the close of day would not wait for the backup to finish.

Again, if there can be a copy can the copy replace the original in case the original corrupts.

Thank you.

kingsley

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi:

Snapshots (of VxFS) filesystems are designed to allow you to do "quiet" backups while continuing to read and write.

Regards!

...JRF...

[KINGSLEY_1]

Hi Ferguson!

Our file system is (LVM). In fact, i read somewhere that snapshot becomes useless when the source corrupts.

At the moment what we do are these.

1. Before Close of business the database has to be shutdown.

2. We would spend 2 hours to take the backup

3. After the backup, the database is brought up again.

4. Close of business is run

5. After close of business another backup is run.

Now we want to know if we can copy these files to another place using shorter time so that we can give way for close of business to start whiles we start the backup from this new site.

Thanks

Kingsley

[Steven Schweda · Accepted solution]

> [..] Data protector takes almost 2 hours to
> finish backing up [...]

Backing up how much stuff to what?

If you're copying to a tape, then it might be
faster to copy to a disk (and then make a
tape from that, if you want a tape).

I don't do it, but I'd expect that using a
disk mirror would let you break the mirror,
and then you could play with one piece with
no significant delay. (The less activity
before re-forming the mirror set, the faster
the merge operation would be.)

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi (again):

> Our file system is (LVM).

The Logical Volume Manager isn't a filesystem. You may have filesystems within logical volumes and if those filesystems are VxFS ones (almost guaranteed these days) then you could use the JFS (VxFS) snapshot.

If you would like to learn more, one place is the manual URL listed below. Look at page 694 and beyound, in particular.

http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01920025/c01920025.pdf

Regards!

...JRF...

[Emil Velez]

Your backup can be configured to use the disk array snapshot and snapclone functionality and mount a snapshot on another system so as far as your original system is concerned you are finsihed once the snapshots are created.

This can be done for oracle and filesystem backups.

[Michael Steele_2]

What you are describing is how companies like EMC make beaucoup bucks through BCV's. BCV's are not new and are specifically designed for this type of problem. And, the the database is down for only 20 minutes instead of until the backup finishes.

How do BCV's work. A third mirror is taken, sync'd up, split off and then the backup starts on the 2nd mirror while the database starts up on the primary and alternate.

As mention up a similar solution exists at the file system level with vxfs. You copy one entire file system over to another and backup from there.

You can add a 2nd mirror disk via LVM and split it off through your own custom script. LVM is the level below the file system.

On the backup side there will always be bottlenecks. You can add in a high speed tape drive like the Ultrim 960.

And of course, start everything by making sure you are up to day with firmware, OS and diagnostic patches.

[KINGSLEY_1]

Hi Ferguson!

The bad news for me is that we do not have the lincense for backup to disk.

Does the file jukebox functions like the disk?

In terms of speed, can you compare the two?

Thank you.

kingsley

[Steven Schweda]

> The bad news for me is that we do not have
> the lincense for backup to disk.

License for what? Does "cp" require a
license?

> Does the file jukebox functions like the
> disk?

What's "the file jukebox"?

> In terms of speed, can you compare the two?

Compare "the two" what?


> Backing up how much stuff to what?

Still wondering.


You may know what you're doing, but to some
of us non-psychics, it's still a mystery.

[Michael Steele_2]

"...Does the file jukebox functions like the disk?..."

Jukeboxes are optical WORM devices. WORM means write once read many.

Jukeboxes are not akin to hard drives, they are akin to CD devices. So, like any CD device, expect a 20 times decrease in read transfer rates from a jukebox.

To test this, load in a CD and find a large file. Copy the file first to the hard drive and count the time with timex. Then copy the same file from hard drive to hard drive. You'll see that the difference is huge.