NetWorker Module - PowerSnap for Network Appliance

Online Protection for Oracle Data

Impact-free protection for Oracle data stored on NetApp Filers

NetWorker PowerSnap Module for Oracle and NetWorker PowerSnap for NetApp combine to deliver online "snapshot" backup and recovery of Oracle databases stored on NetApp Filers. Managed by NetWorker, these components are fully integrated with NetApp Snapshot technology and Oracle to provide automated protection and optimize database performance. This solution enables you to take multiple snapshot backups instantly, recover a damaged database in minutes, or perform serverless backups to tape for disaster recovery. With the NetWorker PowerSnap solution for NetApp, you can maximize your Oracle service levels, dramatically reduce downtime costs and lower overhead.

The NetWorker PowerSnap solution for NetApp extends NetWorker functionality to protect Oracle databases in seconds and without impacting Oracle performance, using NetApp Filer snapshots. Incremental snapshot backups can be performed automatically or "on demand" and at multiple times (e.g. hourly), to lower your exposure to database corruption errors and reduce downtime costs. For disaster recovery, full backups are completed automatically to tape and serverless – data travels directly from the NetApp Filer to tape devices, so that Oracle server performance is never degraded.

Recovering a corrupt Oracle database from tape can be time consuming and costly – a 300GB database for example may require hours to recover. This NetWorker PowerSnap solution uses the snapshot capability of NetApp’s Data ONTAP operating system to quickly recover a corrupt Oracle database and minimize downtime costs. Simply select the snapshot backup desired and within minutes your database is restored. A NetWorker PowerSnap solution helps keep your Oracle data safe and highly available.

The NetWorker PowerSnap solution for NetApp includes two key components. NetWorker PowerSnap Module for Oracle is a host-based component that ensures database integrity during snapshot backups and full backups, and facilitates database recovery using snapshot roll back. NetWorker PowerSnap for NetApp is a storage-based component for managing NetApp Filer snapshots via the Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP). NetWorker automatically manages both components during backup and recovery operations.

The NetWorker PowerSnap solution fully leverages NetWorker’s backup scheduling, efficient indexing, and advanced media handling including library and dynamic drive sharing to keep overhead low and service levels high. These combined features further simplify, centralize and automate Oracle information protection, thus reducing overhead and total cost of ownership.


Features & Benefits

Total Information Protection for Oracle Databases Stored on NetApp Filers

    PowerSnap for NetApp is a fully programmed solution that delivers online protection of Oracle data stored on NetApp Filers

    Overall storage management of an Oracle database can be simplified using NetApp filers that are easy to install and economical to manage

    Using NetApp Snapshot™ technology, backups can be performed in seconds and Oracle recovery time is dramatically reduced – avoiding costly downtime


Online "Snapshot" Backups

    The application server running the database is under backup load for seconds only – just the time it takes to take the NetApp Snapshot

    From the perspective of the database server, backup is a matter of seconds regardless of the size of the database

    Any size Oracle database can be fully backed up without impacting access to the database.

    Backups can be scheduled at any time of the day, simplifying management.


Fast Recovery from Logical Errors

    Oracle data can be recovered in minutes from the online Snapshot versus having to read the data from tape media

    Increase the protection of your Oracle data from logical errors (dropped tables, missing or corrupt data)

    The number of full backups to tape media may be reduced (having additional snapshot backups means that less backups on tape media are required)

    PowerSnap for NetApp manages the snapshots like any other backup media automatically for backup scheduling and also automatically during the recovery process


Simplified Management

    The operation of PowerSnap for NetApp does not require special Oracle knowledge

    Upon setup, database administrator skills are not necessary to perform basic backup and recovery operations

    All backup operations are fully automated and perform according to a schedule maintained by NetWorker


Reduced Strain on the Application Server during Backup

    For full backups the data is automatically copied directly from the Network Appliance Filer to tape

    No additional strain is placed on the database server during the backup process

    The tape device is locally attached to the NAS devices or to another NAS device (Three Party Copy)


Requirements

Database Server Requirements

    The database server that is hosting Oracle must be running Sun Solaris 7 or greater.

    The Oracle base must be version Oracle 8.x or Oracle9i.

    The database server is licensed with NetWorker PowerSnap Module for Oracle v3.2

NetApp NAS Filer Requirements

    The NetApp NAS Filer must be running OnTap 6.x

    The NetApp NAS Filer must have the Snap-Restore license enabled.

    The NetApp NAS Filer is equipped with a local tape library, or Three Party Copy is installed.

NetWorker Server Requirements

    The NetWorker Server must be version 6.x

    The NetWorker Server is licensed for usage with NDMP with the NetWorker NDMP Client Connection License.