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kpsreenath
Yak Posting Veteran
52 Posts |
 Posted - 2006-02-21 : 09:24:58
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| Hi allI am asked to investigate the options of taking multiple databases in a single snapshot in sql 2000 using veritas.As far as my understanding goes, there is something called Virtual Backup Device API which allows to take the snapshots. I got this from an article " SP3 now provides server-side support for freezing and capturing multiple databases in a single snapshot through the VDC_PrepareToFreeze command. "Basically to keep things simple, we need to find a way to freeze all the databases , then execute a volume level snapshot from Veritas. Then once the snapshot is complete, unfreeze the databases.How do I go about? Anyone has information or have implemented this feature.Any articles or any information regarding the same would be highly helpful.Thanks in advanceSreenath |
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blindman
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
2365 Posts |
Posted - 2006-02-21 : 09:44:08
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| I NEVER recommend using Veritas for direct database backups. Without fail, every single client I have seen do this (including my own consulting firm) thought they were getting backups, but upon investigation found that their Veritas backups were failing on the database files. Typically, they have gone months without ever getting a valid backup of their databases.Backup your databases to files using SQL Server commands, and use Veritas to backup the files to tape. |
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JamesH
Posting Yak Master
149 Posts |
Posted - 2006-02-21 : 10:07:53
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| You should do a search on VDI (Virtual Device Interface) from Microsoft. What the freeze does is stops writing to the transaction log long enough to do a split mirror or write-at-once (Both at the hardware level). It does include some samples and help files written in C.I would recommend that you use SQL Server to its' own backups. If performance is an issue for you then you might want to look at SQL 2005 and backup striping.Here is the link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=416f8a51-65a3-4e8e-a4c8-adfe15e850fc&DisplayLang=enHTH,JamesH |
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kpsreenath
Yak Posting Veteran
52 Posts |
Posted - 2006-02-21 : 10:14:09
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| We have a direct Backup using the Brightstor. This is an alternative to whatever we have currently and a management decision to use this. This is one of the tasks given to me by my big BOSS :-(. I dont have the option other than proving it by implementing.Do you have any documentation on how to implement this VDC_PrepareToFreeze command.Any articles or any information regarding the same would be highly helpful.Thanks |
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eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
3575 Posts |
Posted - 2006-02-21 : 10:42:17
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| Veritas VSFW supports this VDI integration. the latest version is 4.3 MP1, but be forwarned this software is a little tricky to setup.There are specific hardware and software compatibilities that you need to be aware of. This information is available from the veritas (now symantec) website. You can also download a free trial of the software to test this out.Split mirror or snapshot backups (which is what you are talking about) are not trivial to setup and configure for SQL Server. In order for these snapshot solutions to work well, each datbase needs to be on a separate volume, which is a bit of a pain.Keep in mind that these snapshot solutions are usually put in place for large databases because the normal methods of backup are too slow. If that is the situation you are in, you might be better off looking at products like SQL litespeed or Idera SQL Safe that accelerate the basic backup capabilities builtin to SQL Server.-ec |
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Volume level snapshot from Veritas