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EMC Backup and Recovery for SAP
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on Windows Server 2003
Enabled by EMC CLARiiON CX3, EMC Disk Library, EMC Replication Manager, EMC NetWorker, and Symantec Veritas NetBackup Reference Architecture
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Copyright © 2008, 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Published January 2009
EMC believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date. The information is subject to change without notice.
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About this Document
Purpose... 5
Audience ... 5
Scope... 6
Chapter 1 Solution Overview The business challenge ...7
The technology solution ...7
Chapter 2 Solution Details Component overview ...9
Hardware resources ...12
Software resources... 13
Additional solution details... 13
Chapter 3 Conclusion
Contents
Contents
Purpose This document describes the reference architecture for the EMC Backup and Recovery for SAP Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on Windows Server 2003 as tested and validated by EMC Global Solution Centers.
The purpose of this solution is to showcase the integration of backup tools such as EMC NetWorker and Symantec Veritas NetBackup, with EMC replication technologies, to implement a typical SAP backup process with no required downtime and without affecting the performance of the SAP production system.
This solution also showcases typical recovery processes, which includes restoring from a backup copy performing activities on the backup copy, and, if necessary, restoring back to the production server running on a Microsoft Windows cluster.
The backup and restore processes that are presented in this document highlight possible scenarios, and are by no means an exhaustive study of backup and restore policies or procedures.
The EMC Backup and Recovery for SAP Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on Windows Server 2003 solution uses the EMC CLARiiON CX3-40c for SAP primary storage and the EMC Disk Library (EDL) DL-4206 for storing the backups. EMC Replication Manager handles the replication job from the production system (source) to the backup host as well as the eventual recovery to the production host. The solution validates two scenarios: one with EMC NetWorker managing the backup and restore process and one with Symantec Veritas NetBackup.
Audience This document is intended for technical staff interested in evaluating or
implementing an automated backup and recovery solution for an SAP production database by leveraging EMC hardware and software in an enterprise
About this Document
About this Document
environment. Executives evaluating such a solution will also find this document useful.
Scope This document provides an overview of the EMC Backup and Recovery for SAP Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on Windows Server 2003 solution. An architectural overview and descriptions of the hardware and software components used in the solution are also included.
Note: This document describes only the features and methodologies specific to this solution. For more detailed information on specific components of this solution, or other EMC solutions, consult the appropriate EMC and third-party documentation.
1
The business challenge
SAP customers face many challenges trying to meet their backup and recovery requirements. Large databases with hundreds of gigabytes take an extremely long time to back up using traditional backup-to-tape methods. If an online backup must run into busy production hours, it would affect overall SAP production system performance and make it difficult to choose an appropriate point in time if recovery is needed. System maintenance windows are generally too short to accommodate a full offline backup, while longer SAP downtime to perform an offline backup is not practical because of the criticality of business uptime.
Therefore, an efficient and non-disruptive SAP backup methodology greatly improves the availability and business value of an SAP implementation.
The technology solution
One of the most efficient ways to eliminate the need for production downtime and to reduce the time required to perform full SAP backups is to leverage the replication technologies available in storage systems. Split-mirror replication technology can be used to make replicas of SAP production volumes that can be mounted to another server (backup host) and backed up from there without affecting the production system.
Not only does this approach minimize the effect of the backup process on the production system, but it also provides an additional level of protection and the ability to execute a faster operational recovery from the backup host. This host can be used as a secondary system if the primary system becomes unavailable.
Solution Overview
Solution Overview
The backup management software can still be used to manage backups while taking advantage of these replication technologies at the storage level. The EMC® Backup and Recovery for SAP Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on Windows Server 2003 solution integrates with industry-leading backup products (EMC NetWorker® and Symantec Veritas NetBackup) to manage the backup process.
These tools use EMC Replication Manager to perform the replica at the storage level and then perform the backup from the backup host to an EMC Disk Library (EDL) virtual tape library. EDL eliminates the problems of physical tape backups while preserving the same backup methods and tools used for tape. Ultimately virtual tape can be archived to physical tape at a later time. The process of archiving from virtual tape to physical tape is beyond the scope of this Solution.
2
Component overview
This solution includes components from EMC, Symantec Veritas, SAP, HP, Dell, Microsoft and Cisco. This section briefly describes the EMC, SAP and Symantec Veritas components.
EMC NetWorker EMC NetWorker helps protect data by simplifying and centralizing backup and recovery operations. With its record-breaking performance, NetWorker is the ideal backup software for small offices as well as large data centers. It ensures reliable backup and recovery across local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and storage area network (SAN) environments. NetWorker simplifies management with one solution for multiple platforms such as UNIX, Microsoft Windows, Linux, and VMware virtualized systems.
Symantec Veritas
NetBackup Symantec Veritas NetBackup is an enterprise backup and recovery software for heterogeneous operating environments and storage infrastructures. It supports a wide variety of agents and options for different operating systems, databases, and applications.
EMC Replication
Manager Replication Manager automates and simplifies management of disk-based replicas. It orchestrates critical business applications, middleware, and underlying EMC replication technologies to create and manage replicas at the application level for a variety of purposes, including operational recovery, backup, restore, development, simulation, and repurposing. Customers interested in reducing manual scripting efforts, improving recovery, and creating parallel access to information can implement Replication Manager to put the right data in the right place at the right time.
Solution Details
Solution Details
EMC CLARiiON
CX3-40c The CLARiiON® CX3 UltraScale™ architecture, based on a high-performance, high-availability design, enables the CX3 UltraScale series to address a broad range of application environments. The CX3 UltraScale series systems are built on a redundant modular architecture and run the FLARE® storage operating environment. The innovative UltraScale architecture incorporates state-of-the-art CPUs and the highest performing memory subsystem, leveraging low-latency, high-bandwidth PCI Express interconnect technology. The CLARiiON CX3-40 is the performance workhorse of the series, outperforming competitors' largest midrange arrays at a lower price.
EMC Disk Library An alternative to traditional, tape-based offerings, the EMC Disk Library (EDL) family integrates high-capacity, low-cost drives; tape-emulation software; and powerful functionality to deliver a simple-to-deploy and easy-to-use disk-based backup/restore offering. The DL4000 series provides full end-to-end 4 Gb/s bandwidth for high-performance backup environments that are up to five times faster than physical tape.
SAP ECC6 SAP ECC6 (ERP 2005) is a world-class, fully integrated solution that fulfills the core business needs of midsize and large organizations across all industries and market sectors. Powered by the SAP NetWeaver technology platform, SAP ECC6 helps enterprises perform financial analysis, human capital management, procurement and logistics, product development and manufacturing, and sales and service, supported by functionality for analysis, corporate services, and end-user service delivery. Together with SAP NetWeaver and repository of enterprise services, SAP ECC6 can serve as a solid business process platform that supports continued growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
SAP NetWeaver SAP introduced SAP NetWeaver in 2002 in an effort to integrate people, information and processes into one common application platform. SAP NetWeaver works with existing IT infrastructures and provides the ability to flexibly and rapidly design, build, implement, and execute new business strategies and processes.
Component overview
Figure 1 illustrates the overall architecture of the solution.
Figure 1 Solution architecture overview
SAP SAP SAP SAP
Replication Manager (Windows)
EMC NetWorker server (Windows)
Ethernet 1 Gb/s
Production 2 Gb/s FC SAN
Veritas NetBackup server (Windows)
CX SAP WE1
(source cluster)
SAP WE1 (NetWorker storage node)
SAP WE1 (NetBackup media server)
GEN-001012 SAP DB
SAP DB
EDL storage
Solution Details
The solution uses the following hardware and software components.
Hardware resources
This solution uses the following hardware configuration.
Table 1 Hardware resources
Equipment Quantity Configuration
EMC CLARiiON storage array 1 CX3-40c 146 GB 15k drives
Fibre Channel switch 1 Cisco MDS 9509
64 ports
Network switch 1 Cisco 3560G
64 ports
SAP servers 4 (2 for source cluster + NetWorker storage
node host + NetBackup media server host)
HP DL580 G5
4 quad-core CPUs, 16 GB RAM
EMC Replication Manager server 1 Dell PowerEdge 1950
Two dual-core 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processors; 6 GB memory; two 73 GB 10k internal SCSI disks
EMC NetWorker Server 1 Dell PowerEdge 2650
2 CPU/4 GB RAM
NetBackup Server 1 Dell PowerEdge 2650
2 CPU/4GB RAM
EMC Disk Library 1 DL-4206
Hardware resources
Software resources
This solution uses the following software.
Additional solution details
The following sections provide additional details about the solution.
Storage design The SAP executables (SAP kernel) are installed on local drives on the SAP servers. These local volumes are not backed up by the process described in this solution. The SAP database is spread over multiple volumes that contain the database files. An additional volume is used for the database transaction logs that are also replicated as part of the backup process. These volumes (database data and logs) are hosted on the EMC CLARiiON array.
It is important to note that the transaction logs generated in-between the described replications should be backed up independently by traditional means and kept available to be applied to the backup host replica if necessary (for example, if the source host is completely unavailable).
Table 2 Software resources
Software Version Configuration
Miicrosoft Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit R2-SP2 Installed on SAP servers
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP2 Installed on SAP servers
SAP ERP 2005 ECC 6.0 ABAP-only installation
EMC PowerPath® 5.1.0 Used to provide path failover and load
balancing of disks
Miicrosoft Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition 32-bit R2 SP2 Installed on Replication Manager, NetWorker, NetBackup servers
EMC Replication Manager 5.1.2.0 Installed on Replication Manager server
EMC Admsnap 2.24.0.0.0 Installed on all SAP servers
EMC Navisphere® CLI 6.24.1.5.0 Installed on all SAP servers
EMC Navisphere Agent 6.24.1.5.0 Installed on all SAP servers
Symantec Veritas NetBackup 6.5 Media Server for Windows
EMC NetWorker 7.4 SP2 Agent for Windows, Storage Node for
Windows
IBM Tape Drivers 6.1.9.3 for x64 Windows IBM tape drivers in exclusive mode for Windows
Solution Details
Both the production cluster hosts and the backup hosts used to mount the replica to perform the backup are connected to the same EMC CLARiiON array. This allows for the replication of the production database to the backup host within the same storage array. The EMC Disk Library (EDL) is only visible to the backup hosts since the backup operation is performed at these hosts only.
The EDL is configured to emulate an ADIC Scalar i2K autochanger with four IBM TS3580 LTO3 tape drives. Virtual tapes are created within the tape library and managed by a volume pool within the backup management software (EMC NetWorker or Symantec Veritas NetBackup). The backup process is configured to take advantage of multiple streams within each tape drive as well as
multiplexing of backup sessions on all available drives.
Backup process
design The backup process leverages the EMC CLARiiON’s ability to perform a split mirror replication while the SQL Server database is online. Using the Virtual Device Interface (VDI) split operation supported by SQL Server 2000 and later, the database is fully available for reads while all transaction commits are suspended until the split operation is completed. This activity is recorded in the SQL Server logs as a full database backup. The recording of this event serves a very useful purpose for SAP Basis administrators to monitor the process and status of the SAP systems.
This recoverable copy of the database volumes is then mounted on the backup host. From this host, the backup management software initiates a file system backup to the EDL. This mounted replica can then be used for an operational recovery of the SAP system without having to restore from tape (unless the recovery requires an older backup image).
The end-to-end backup process is initiated and managed by either EMC NetWorker or Symantec Veritas NetBackup (referred to as backup management software from here on).
The backup management software integrates with EMC Replication Manager (RM) to perform the replica in the array just before performing the file system backup on the backup host. RM manages the required storage devices and keeps
Hardware resources
Figure 2 Backup with Split Mirror Architecture with Replication Manager
1. EMC NetWorker or Veritas NetBackup calls Replication Manager (RM) as a pre-backup call to start the Virtual Device Interface (VDI) process.
2. RM starts the online split using VDI to split the mirror from the source to the target and then mounts the backup host.
3. EMC NetWorker or Veritas NetBackup initiates the file system backup on the target host.
4. EMC NetWorker or Veritas NetBackup manages the backup of the target system to the EMC Disk Library (EDL).
SAP SAP SAP
1
2
3 4
SAP WE1 Backup host SAP WE1
(Source cluster)
CX
EDL storage
GEN-001026 Replication Manager
(Windows)
Backup management server Ethernet 1 Gb/s
Production 2 Gb/s FC SAN
Solution Details
Recovery process
design The recovery process is implemented by reversing the steps performed in the backup process to re-create the original SAP system at a specific point in time.
The Backup Management software manages the restore from the EDL back to the backup host (if necessary) in which the SAP system can be started after applying all necessary transaction logs from the source database. After this, the business users can perform an operational recovery at this host and ensure the system's validity. EMC Replication Manager can then be used to restore this repaired copy of the database back to the source system by re-synchronizing this updated replica with the original devices in the source system. This is done with the source cluster up and running because RM has the capability to freeze the production database cluster while the restore is taking place. This feature eliminates many administrative and operational problems present with manual restore processes.
SAP SAP SAP
5
4 1 3
2
SAP WE1 Backup host SAP WE1
(Source cluster)
Replication Manager (Windows)
Ethernet 1 Gb/s Production 2 Gb/s FC SAN
Backup management server
Hardware resources
1. The restore is started from EMC NetWorker or Veritas NetBackup (backup software).
2. The backup server restores the backup from the EMC Disk Library (EDL).
3. Archive logs are copied from the SAP source system or otherwise restored to the target backup node for application of the transaction logs.
4. Logs are applied to the database on the backup host.
5. The restored copy is brought back to the source cluster.
Solution Details
3
Building an SAP environment that enables an efficient and non-disruptive backup and recovery strategy is a complicated endeavor. This reference architecture depicts a validated design using an EMC CX3-40c storage system, an EMC Disk Library DL-4206, EMC Replication Manager, and EMC NetWorker as well as Symantec Veritas NetBackup. This solution provides the following benefits to the management of a complex SAP infrastructure:
• Reduces the impact of backup processes on production systems compared to traditional backup strategies that require jobs to run directly on production hosts.
• Utilizes the same operational procedures for backup administrators to manage SAP backups along with other applications from a centralized location and with a familiar user interface while at the same time leveraging EMC's most powerful replication technologies at the storage level.
• Eliminates downtime caused by offline backups; increasing the availability of the production environment during backups.
• Eliminates reliability and security concerns associated with tape backups and physical tape libraries.
• Allows SAP Basis Administrators, Windows Administrators, Backup Administrators, and SQLServer Administrators to maintain a consistent view of the backup process, eliminating the need for cross-functional teams or processes.
• Increases the speed of point-in-time recovery, because data retrieval is faster from disk than from tape. Also, the use of a production replica mounted on a backup host provides a first line of protection for fast operational recoveries.
Conclusion
Conclusion
EMC can help accelerate assessment, design, implementation, and management while lowering the implementation risks and cost of a backup and recovery solution for an SAP environment running on Windows / SQL Server.
To learn more about this and other solutions contact an EMC representative or visit www.EMC.com/solutions/sap.
