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39 TR1081 | Microsoft SQL Server Database Protection Using EqualLogic Auto-Snapshot Manager / Microsoft Edition
Once the database is fully restored it can be used for other purposes, such as test and development or
offloading operations such as reporting or data mining. This process can be applied to SQL database
servers throughout the datacenter.
8.2 SQL Server Database Distribution using Template Databases
A feature added with PS Series array firmware v5.x is template volumes and thin clones. This allows PS
Series volumes to be designated as template volumes where a standard volume can be converted into a
template volume that holds a read-only locked configuration of the volume data. The template volume
can then be used to create highly space efficient and distributable thin clones that reference the read-only
configuration data of the template volume, Figure 26. Thin clones have an advantage over snapshots as
they do not consume snapshot reserve and only new writes are applied to the storage pool. For more
information on template volumes and thin-clones see the latest PS Series Firmware Group Administration
Guide .
Figure 26 Thin Clone Distribution Example
In a SQL Server world this can be useful to quickly distribute large numbers of database copies to test and
dev teams without costing valuable storage space. In a test and development environment, this would
mean any new builds or tests on a thin-clone database will take up very minimal storage space and if a
build doesn’t work or breaks, the database can be easily reverted back to the state of the template
database.
Figure 27 shows the process Flow to create database Thin Clones using ASM/ME and the PS Series Group
Manager.