HP XP7 Replication Manager Configuration Guide (TK981-96012, May 2014)

3 Setting up Application Agent
This chapter describes the Replication Manager Application Agent, the system requirements, and how
to install the software on backup servers and database servers.
About Application Agent
Application Agent extends the functionality of Replication Manager to include application awareness,
which allows application resources to be managed using the Replication Manager interface.
Specifically, Application Agent allows Replication Manager to create and restore replicas of MS
Exchange and SQL Server databases. By linking Application Agent with DBMS products on application
servers, the databases can be backed up and restored.
Application Agent internally manages the relationships between these backup objects and their
associated logical units within storage systems, the relationships between primary and secondary
volumes, and the backup history. Application Agent also provides information to Replication Manager
whenever necessary.
The following describes how Application Agent controls other software components:
• Application Agent pauses databases in storage systems to ensure reliable backup operations.
• Using RAID Manager, Application Agent backs up or restores volumes that have already been
operated on using the functions built into the storage systems.
• Application Agent operates in conjunction with other backup management products to perform
tape backup and restore operations, such as NetBackup and Backup Exec.
TIP:
Application Agent uses a command line interface (CLI) to communicate with RAID Manager, the
Logical Volume Manager (Windows standard LDM or Veritas Storage Foundation), and other backup
management products. Such products must be installed before using Application Agent.
Application Agent functions
Application Agent has the following functions:
• Creating and restoring database replicas
• Data management across storage systems
• Managing generations
Creating and restoring database replicas
Application Agent creates and restores replicas of storage groups (databases) using the volume
replication function in the storage system to perform high-speed disk-copying operations. A storage
group is a group containing one or more MS Exchange 2007 information stores. Storage groups can
be used to manage multiple information stores at the same time.
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