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BP1014 Enhancing SQL Server Protection using Dell EqualLogic Snapshot Smart Copies
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Audience ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
2 SQL Server backup considerations ................................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Using Snapshots ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3 Test system configuration ............................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Storage volume layout ........................................................................................................................... 10
3.2 Testing SQL Server backup processing impact .................................................................................. 11
3.2.1 Analysis and conclusion ..................................................................................................................12
3.3 Testing SQL Server snapshot processing time and impact ..............................................................12
3.3.1 Time to create a SQL Server snapshot as a function of user load ..........................................13
3.3.2 Time to create SQL Server snapshots while retaining previous snapshots ...........................13
3.3.3 Impact on system and database performance while creating SQL Server snapshots ........ 14
3.4 Testing EqualLogic Smart Copies .......................................................................................................... 15
3.4.1 Time to create EqualLogic Smart Copy snapshots ................................................................... 16
3.4.2 Impact on system and database performance while creating Smart Copy snapshots ....... 17
3.5 Testing time to complete point-in-time recovery ............................................................................ 18
3.5.1 Test 1 results: database recovery from SQL Server full backup plus log replay................... 19
3.5.2 Test 2 results: In-place restore from Smart Copy plus log replay .......................................... 20
3.5.3 Analysis and conclusion ................................................................................................................. 20
4 Best practice recommendations .................................................................................................................. 24
4.1 Including EqualLogic Smart Copy snapshots as part of your SQL Server database protection
strategy .................................................................................................................................................................. 24
4.2 Best Practices: Auto-Snapshot Manager/Microsoft Edition ............................................................ 25
4.3 General backup strategy best practices .............................................................................................. 26
4.4 Best practices when using VMware ESX Server ................................................................................. 27
Appendix A Auto Snapshot Manager / Microsoft Edition .......................................................................... 29
Appendix B Test system component details .................................................................................................31
Related publications ............................................................................................................................................... 33