RE: EMC Snapshot Technology

Tom - I can do either a cold or hot backup. It is all scripted. I prefer cold backups. IBM did try to sell us TDP for Oracle, get this, to open the db on the backup server to back it up using RMAN. The files on the backup server are just that files, no need for Oracle utilities to back them up.  

High Level Events of a Flash Copy Backup:  

• Backup Server exports volume group, umounts filesystems backed up.
• Backup Server executes begin hot/cold backup script on remote production server.
• Backup Server executes FlashCopy Establish Tasks.
• Backup Server executes end hot/cold backup script on remote production server.
• Backup Server recreates volume group, mounts filesystems.
• Backup Server backs up filesystems to tape.

Advantages:  

• Online Backup of Production DB on Backup Server.
• Datafiles can used for partial restore or FlashCopy Reverse can be used for full restore.
• Copy of Production DB can be used for testing, data warehouse, web purposes.
• Resources used for VLDB is on Backup Server not Production DB Server.

hth,
Gene  

P.S. If you need more details, feel free to call me.

>>> "Mercadante, Thomas F" <NDATFM_at_labor.state.ny.us> 10/09/03 08:08AM >>>

Gene,  

What happens when you need to perform a recovery from the Flashcopy backup?
Is Flashcopy done while the database is open or closed? If the database is open, then I assume that you would need to perform an incomplete recovery?

Just curious. I am in the middle of setting up new IBM/AIX boxes, and we will using either EMC or IBM Shark disk. Flashcopy was mentioned as a possible solution for backups. But I don't like being boxed in to performing an incomplete recovery.  

Tom Mercadante
Oracle Certified Professional
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 8:35 AM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

I don't use snapshots, but have used EMC BCV's in the past and now use IBM's Flashcopy for backups. I backup 1TB db in ~20 mins using Flashcopy. Then I take it off to tape, i.e. filesystems monted on a TSM Backup server, hence no resources needed from the production server :). hth,
Gene

>>> jwiegand_at_mn.rr.com 10/08/03 09:39PM >>> We are implementing Oracle RAC on two Windows nodes, connected to an EMC
SAN. We'll also have a failover sight.

We are using S.A.M.E. disk configuration, with only one logical volume,
and backups/archivelogs dumping to another volume.

The SAN is an EMC Clariion CX400.

I immediately vetoed snapshots, opting for RMAN, but I'm now taking a second look.

Does anyone use the snapshot technology as a solution for full backups?

Thanks,

Jeff

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