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44 TR1081 | Microsoft SQL Server Database Protection Using EqualLogic Auto-Snapshot Manager / Microsoft Edition
The Smart Copy restore options for replicas include:
Mount as read-only – This operation imports the replica set (and pauses all incoming replication)
and mounts the selected replica (not the entire replica set) as a read only volume so that it can be
used as backup if necessary. When finished, the replica must be un-mounted which demotes the
replica set and allows replication to continue.
Restore selected database – This option will selectively restore a database from the replica smart
copy. This option is only available to the local SQL Server instance.
Clone and Restore as New – This option will create a clone of the replica smart copy, mount and
attach the cloned database to the SQL instance you choose. This option is useful if the intent is to
use the database to offload operations that require a running copy of the database such as
offloading reporting or test operations at the DR site.
Clone – This option will create a clone of the selected replica. Once the clone is created, this
option offers the ability to mount the replica clone without disrupting replication processes on the
original database volumes.
To perform these operations, ASM/ME must be running in the SQL instance at the remote site and have
access to the ASM/ME backup documents. See the Best Practices section on ASM/ME Backup
Documents for information on how to secure and manage these documents.
8.5 Data Mining or Offloading Operations with Smart Copy Replicas
Offloading operations using database replica Smart Copies is easy with ASM/ME and can be a useful
option if the infrastructure exists in the data center. Using a remote site for operations such as data mining
or reporting operations can be done using Smart Copy replicas by using the Mount as read-only, Clone,
or Clone and Restore as New options from the restore options. It’s important to note that the Mount as
read-only operation will pause inbound replication on the volumes that make up the database smart copy.
The Mount as read-only option promotes the replica set and mounts the selected replica Smart Copy to
the host of your choice. The mounted replica is read-only and available for backup and mining
operations. This operation will pause replication on the replica set until it is un-mounted.
The mounted smart copy replica will be designated with an “i” in the smart copy icon. To un-mount and
resume replication, right-click the replica Smart Copy in ASM/ME and choose Unmount and Resume
Replication as shown in Figure 32.