SnapManager provides an integrated data management solution for SQL Server 2000 or 2005 that dramatically boosts the availability and reliability of SQL Server databases. This section explains briefly what SnapManager does and does not do and describes its components. See the following topics for more information:
SnapManager 2.1 for Microsoft SQL Server supports the following new features:
If a storage system volume is configured with a fractional space reservation of less than 100 percent, write operations to LUNs on that volume are not guaranteed unless the reserve level is monitored, and preventive action is taken when overwrite reserve utilization is too high. SnapManager 2.1 for SQL provides an SQL-aware space management tool, designed specifically for LUNs that reside on volumes with fractional space reservation set to less than 100 percent for volumes that store SQL databases or SnapManager SnapInfo directories.
NTFS volume mount point support enables SnapManager 2.1 for SQL to manage SQL databases stored on mounted NTFS volumes (on dedicated disks or shared cluster resource disks) or standard Windows volumes. Volume mount point enables you to surpass the 26 drive letter limitation.
SnapManager provides rapid online backup and near instantaneous restoration of SQL Server 2000 and 2005 databases by using the online SnapshotTM technology that is part of Data ONTAP®. SnapManager is not a VSS requestor. It uses the Virtual Device Interface (VDI) API to manage SQL Server backup and restore operations.
SnapManager supports the following data management capabilities:
You can use SnapManager to create offline archives of Snapshot copies containing SQL Server backup sets. Three different archive methods are supported:
The SnapVault software can be used to archive backup sets.
The archival of SQL Server database backup sets using SnapManager is described in Chapter 13, Archiving SnapManager Backups and in Chapter 14, Performing Disaster Recovery with SnapManager.
When used with SnapMirror, SnapManager provides the ability to automatically replicate databases stored on the source volume to its mirrored target volume situated locally or remotely. Data replication using SnapManager with SnapMirror is described in Chapter 12, Replicating Backups to Mirrored Volumes and in Chapter 14, Performing Disaster Recovery with SnapManager.
SnapManager 2.1 for Microsoft SQL Server does not support the following uses:
You can install and run SnapManager on your SQL Server computer or on a different Windows host system.
When you run SnapManager on your SQL Server computer, it is called SnapManager local administration. Typically, you install SnapManager on the same Windows host system as your SQL Server computer. System requirements for a SnapManager local administration are described in Chapter 2, Preparing to Install or Upgrade SnapManager.
When you run SnapManager on a different Windows network host, it is called SnapManager remote administration. If you install SnapManager on a computer remote from the SQL Server computer, you can run SnapManager remotely to perform any task that you can on a locally installed SnapManager system.
System requirements for a SnapManager remote administration system are described in Chapter 2, Preparing to Install or Upgrade SnapManager.
From a remote administration server that is configured with SnapDrive and SQL Server, you can also perform remote database verification. Remote verification offloads the CPU-intensive database verification operations that can affect the performance of your production SQL Server computer.
System requirements for a SnapManager remote administration system used for remote verification are described in Chapter 2, Preparing to Install or Upgrade SnapManager.
The setup and use of a remote verification server is described in Chapter 9, Backing Up Databases Using SnapManager.
The following steps describe a typical way to use SnapManager:
The SnapManager graphical user interface enables you to manage backup and restore operations of SQL Server database files and transaction log files on LUNs. The user interface also enables you to schedule backups and verify the integrity of databases in SnapManager backup sets. You can also use the SnapManager user interface to administer SnapManager for SQL Server on another SQL Server computer on the network. SnapManager contains the following components:
Use the Configuration Wizard to detach your SQL Server data and log files and move them from the local current disk to the selected LUNs. It also reattaches the databases and creates SnapInfo directories for storing information about backed-up data sets and logs. The Configuration Wizard also ensures a correct configuration for performing successful backup and restores. More detailed information is provided in Chapter 6, Preparing to Migrate SQL Server Databases and in Chapter 7, Using the SnapManager Configuration Wizard.
Use either the Backup Wizard or the Backup and Verification tab to perform and schedule online full data and transaction log backups. SnapManager Backup also allows the database verification option to be run as part of the backup operation. More detailed information is provided in Chapter 8, Understanding SnapManager Backup Sets and in Chapter 9, Backing Up Databases Using SnapManager.
Use either the Restore Wizard or the SnapManager Restore tab for rapid recovery of an SQL Server database. The SnapManager Restore Wizard guides your selection of the particular backup to restore. SnapManager also enables you to replay transaction log backups, which restore your SQL Server database state. More detailed information is provided in Chapter 10, Restoring Databases Using SnapManager.
Use the SnapManager Reports tab to access the operational reports that SnapManager automatically creates for all log files, database configurations and migrations, deleted Snapshot copies, backups, and restores. Each report is essentially a history file that includes step-by-step details of the operation, the final status of the operation, and error messages for any errors encountered during the operation. More detailed information is provided in Chapter 11, Managing SnapManager Operational Reports.
The SnapManager command-line interface enables you to initiate a backup or verification job. The command-line interface supports all of the options available through the Backup and Verification tab or the Backup Wizard in the SnapManager graphical user interface.
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Last updated: 01-Sep-2006 07:41:05