Application data protection challengesAs businesses grow, application data grows along with the organization’s dependency on this data for normal operations. But, as is often the case, it is challenging to backup this large volume of application data without impacting user productivity or affecting the business’ ability to meet its SLAs. Traditional non-integrated data backup methods are not well suited for enterprise applications. They are simply not designed to meet strict recovery SLAs for mission-critical and business critical applications.

Addressing the challenges HP Data Protector 8 introduces Zero Downtime Backup (ZDB) support for SAP and Oracle applications running on HP-UX with the HP 3PAR arrays. Zero Downtime Backup utilizes the data movement capabilities of the storage array along with the application integration of Data Protector to enable organizations to create a point-in-time copy of the data, without impacting the application system. This extends the existing ZDB support for HP-UX for the EVA storage array.

About Data Protector Zero Downtime BackupHP Data Protector Zero Downtime Backup (ZDB) is a replication-based backup using disk technology that takes advantage of the storage array’s snapshot capability to create a point-in-time replica of the production volume. Data Protector then performs backup operations from the copy of the data, rather than the original data, utilizing backup infrastructure. The entire process is synchronized tightly with the application to ensure an application consistent backup. This technology enables zero impact backup, by performing backup on a copy of the production data.

A staged backup processThe Zero Downtime Backup extension enables customers to instantly copy data to disk and then, at their convenience, back up that disk copy to tape or secondary disk storage such as StoreOnce. This staged backup process enables business applications to stay online 24x7 and maintain business-critical application performance, all while protecting critical data (Figure 1). The incremental backup feature of the Zero Downtime Backup extension provides file‑level incremental snapshots from the image to tape. Only changed files are copied to tape, reducing the backup volume.

How it works: Native snapshot integration with Data Protector and 3PAR StoreServData Protector provides a central console that backup administrators can use to manage HP 3PAR functionality, including the ability to initiate, schedule, recover, and move 3PAR snapshots from primary disk to secondary disk or tape for long-term storage. With a single click in the console, Data Protector verifies that the snapshot configuration you’ve deployed is automatically applied to new databases as they come online.

Data Protector’s application integration for Oracle and SAP puts the application in backup mode to ensure application data consistency, while still allowing transparent user access to the application. Data Protector identifies on which storage volumes the Oracle or SAP objects are located. It then requests the creation of a snapshot for each of those volumes by using the native snapshot integration for HP-UX on 3PAR. In 3PAR terminology, this copy is a replica or a virtual copy snapshot. The 3PAR storage system maintains integrity of the data on the snapshots using copy-on-write technology.

Solution brief

HP Data ProtectorZero downtime backup for Oracle and SAP on HP-UX with HP 3PAR StoreServ

Disk

TapeBackup system

Data ProtectorCell Manager

HP 3 PAR StoreServ

Oracle or SAPApplication system

Data files

Data files

HP-UX

Original

Snapshot

Fiber channel

LAN

Data Protector’s native snapshot integration for HP 3PAR on HP-UX platform delivers zero impact backup for Oracle and SAP applications running in this environment

After creation, the snapshot is presented to the backup host. Data Protector can then maintain the snapshot on disk for a desired period of time or stream the data to tape according to a predefined schedule.

After backup of data to the tape device is completed, Data Protector can hide the snapshot from the backup host and delete it from the 3PAR array. Data Protector also backs up application transaction logs for application recovery down to the exact second.

BenefitsData Protector Zero Downtime Backup helps organizations backup large volumes of information without impacting production environment and reduces the IT staff time

required to manage backup and recovery success. With ZDB, you can perform backup as often as needed, without impacting application performance. Additionally, you can initiate fully automated, down-to-the-second application recovery from a single console without scripting.

Data Protector native snapshot integration for HP 3PAR on HP-UX systems fully automates the backup process providing continuity of business operations in Oracle and SAP environments. Leverage Data Protector to manage 3PAR snapshots as part of a single-console approach, reducing the need for detailed knowledge of the storage environment, as well as providing the ability to manage backup and recovery across multiple storage tiers.

About HP AutonomyHP Autonomy is a global leader in software that processes unstructured human information, including social media, email, video, audio, text, web pages, and more. Using HP Autonomy’s information management and analytics technologies, organizations can extract meaning in real time from data in virtually any format or language, including structured data. A range of purpose-built market offerings help organizations drive greater value through information analytics, unified information access, archiving, eDiscovery, enterprise content management, data protection, and marketing optimization.

Please visit autonomy.com to learn more.

Solution brief | HP Data Protector

© Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

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