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BP1014 Enhancing SQL Server Protection using Dell EqualLogic Snapshot Smart Copies

Figure 10 – Comparing response times during creation of SQL Server snapshots and ASM/ME Smart Copies

In section 3.4, we illustrated the non-disruptive nature of EqualLogic Smart Copy Snapshots on SQL

Server® performance and time efficiency of smart copies to quickly create consistent protection

points. Backup applications such as Symantec Backup Exec or CommVault Simpana running on Dell

DL2200 backup appliance take advantage of EqualLogic snapshots to backup SQL data from a

snapshot on EqualLogic SAN rather than from data volumes attached to production host. By

leveraging EqualLogic snapshots, database administrators can create more recovery points without

waiting for the backup window, thereby improve RPO. As we show in subsequent sections, EqualLogic

snapshots can also improve RTO of SQL Server® applications.

3.5 Testing time to complete point-in-time recovery

In this test we measured and compared the time required to complete point-in-time recovery or

achievable RTO of the database using two different recovery methods:

A. Recovery using a SQL Server® full backup and SQL Server® log replay

B. Recovery using an EqualLogic Auto-Snapshot Manager/Microsoft® Edition Smart Copy

Snapshot and SQL Server® log replay

Test details:

 Database size at the Full Backup point: 130GB

 Database Workload: During the test timeline Quest Benchmark Factory was used to simulate a

TPC-C style workload. A constant 4000 user workload was simulated.

 Transaction log or incremental backups were created at 15 minute intervals

 Test 1:

o We simulated a database corruption event at approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes

after the last full backup was created.

o We used the SQL Server® native backup utility to perform the restore and recovery

process using the last full backup plus necessary log backups.