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BP1014 Enhancing SQL Server Protection using Dell EqualLogic Snapshot Smart Copies

3.4.1 Time to create EqualLogic Smart Copy snapshots

Test details:

 As in the previous tests, we used Quest Benchmark Factory to simulate a TPC-C style

workload. A constant 4000 user workload was simulated, generating an average I/O load of

220 transactions per second against the database.

 The Smart Copy snapshots consumed snapshot reserve assigned to the same volume hosting

the database.

 Previous snapshots were retained before taking new snapshots.

The results of this test are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8 – Time to create ASM Smart Copy Snapshots

The time reported in Figure 8 is the total time to complete snapshot operation as reported in the SQL

error log.

Comparing the results of this test to the SQL Server® snapshot test results shown in Figure 6, we see

that the time required to create EqualLogic Smart Copy snapshots is much less than the time required

to create native SQL Server® database snapshots:

Average time to create a snapshot at a 4000 user workload while retaining

previous snapshots

SQL Server® database snapshots:

814.4 seconds

ASM/ME Smart Copy snapshots:

4.8 seconds