White Papers

3 TR1081 | Microsoft SQL Server Database Protection Using EqualLogic Auto-Snapshot Manager / Microsoft Edition
1 Introduction
Database protection and disaster recovery are among the top concerns for SQL Server database
administrators. Requirements for reducing database backup windows and restore times continue as
demands increase for continuous SQL Server database uptime. PS Series arrays provide administrators the
ability to create volume based copies of data using snapshots, clones and replicas. These copies are
known as “point-in-time” copies of volume data.
The Dell
™
EqualLogic Host Integration Tools for Windows
®
includes Auto-Snapshot Manager/Microsoft
Edition (ASM/ME) – enabling the ability to create data- and application-consistent Smart Copies of NTFS
volumes, Exchange Server databases, Hyper-V Virtual Machines, SharePoint databases and Farms, and SQL
Server databases. ASM/ME offers application-consistent Smart Copies of SQL Server databases utilizing
the built-in snapshot, clone and replication facilities in PS Series arrays. With ASM/ME, a SQL Server
administrator can:
 Manage multiple SQL Server instances and hosts to create Smart Copies of SQL databases, where
the copy operation is coordinated with SQL server operations.
- Use the ASM/ME GUI or built-in scheduler to create Smart Copy sets
- Set up automatic e-mail notification of ASM/ME events
- Create and manage scripts using the Command Line Interface to coordinate all the operations
available through the GUI.
 Allow system or database administrators to recover/restore SQL databases in the following ways:
- In-place SQL Server database and volume recovery on stand-alone and clustered systems
- “Side-by-side” SQL Server database and volume recovery on the same instance or to new
locations using transportable Smart Copies
- Recover/Mount database copies on a new system for testing, development, or reporting/data
mining operations
- Use Smart Copy replicas at a remote location for disaster recovery
 Additional support for SQL Server databases with ASM/ME
- Support for using template volumes and thin-clones
- Support for database volumes configures with EqualLogic Synchronous Replication
Note: For supported versions of SQL Server and PS Series firmware see the latest Host Integration Tools
for Windows – Release Notes.
The capabilities of ASM/ME extend the use of SAN protection facilities beyond storage administrators, to
server and database administrators. This raises the productivity of database administrators, and allows
them to utilize efficient SAN copy capabilities without requiring SAN privileges. ASM/ME automates data
protection operations thus minimizing the time-consuming daily management and maintenance of SQL
Server database protection. As result data availability and productivity is significantly increased. Auto-
Snapshot Manager can maintain data availability at a high level of assurance using Smart Copy
technologies and PS Series arrays.