Fast and Simple Disk-to-Disk Disaster Recovery with ExpressDR

Fast and Simple Disk-to-Disk Disaster Recovery with ExpressDR

Introduction
Meltdown! One of your servers a critical component of your business has just failed. Permanently. Your files are lost. Your applications are history. Your data is gone. Your operating system irreparably damaged. What do you do when the root volume or system drive of a server or workstation crashes? Traditional approaches to disaster recovery include manual reinstallation, recovery through operating system utilities, and bare metal recovery from tape. This paper introduces a new endto-end enterprise-wide strategy for Windows environments that: maximizes and simplifies continuity of business (COB) in the event of server failure or catastrophic site failure. optimizes data integrity and consistency through frequent backups and recoveries to past points in time. provides powerful and effective tools for maintenance and activation of disaster recovery (DR) sites. maintains scalability while meeting continuity of operations planning requirements for enterprises of all sizes. simultaneously supports routine backup and restore obligations. ating system, search for software sources, reinstall each application and patch, configure system settings, build partitions, add drivers, and finally restore your data and files. With manual reinstallation, the frustration factor is high and the productivity loss is significant. If your failure is catastrophic and you lose multiple servers, a complete restoration using this approach might prove to be unattainable.

Traditional Disaster Recovery Approaches

The importance of comprehensive data protection and disaster recovery planning is a given. Some of the pitfalls of inadequate preparation include unmanageable recoveries, misplaced software CDs and other source media, recovered files that are not current, omitted application patches and upgrades, prolonged business interruption, and a frustrated overextended labor force. An examination of the traditional disaster recovery approaches highlights many of these snares.

Operating System Utilities

Another widespread approach is restoration via an operating system utility. This method exposes you to the risk of significant data loss due to the amount of time between the backup and the server failure. System backups through operating system utilities tend to be executed infrequently for three reasons: 1. These backups require full backups each time and therefore are enormous consumers of bandwidth and storage space. 2. These backups often conflict with your regular data backup schedules. 3. In many cases the operator needs to boot into DOS or otherwise manually initiate the system backup. This requirement is bothersome and disruptive and may need to be done for each machine being backed up. As a result, upon recovery of your most recent system backup, you may find yourself significantly removed from your Recovery Point Objective (RPO). The optimal RPO is recovery as close as possible to the data state as of the

Manual Reinstallation
Reinstallation is the most commonly applied approach to server disaster recovery. To accomplish this, you need to replace the failed device or volume, install an oper-

Unique Attributes of Disk-to-Disk Disaster Recovery Frequent non-disruptive node backups Perpetual block-level incremental backups (incrementals forever) Disaster recovery backups that are integrated into your regular data

backup routine An extremely simple recovery interface A very fast one-step recovery mechanism Flexibility to initially recover only the most critical elements Recovery of any past backup Continuation of operations during almost the entire recovery process

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moment of failure. The consequences of restoration via operating system utility may be outdated system and security configurations, missing or fragmented applications, and files that are obsolete.

For the backup process: frequent, scheduled node backups to disk that do not interfere with other operations. perpetual block-level incremental backups after the initial image-based base backup. disaster recovery backups that are integrated into your regular data backup scheme. For the recovery process: an extremely simple interface for initiating the bare metal recovery. a very fast one-step recovery mechanism. the flexibility to initially recover only the most critical elements to save time. the ability to recover any past backup, which is a necessity in the event of server, operating
BACKUP STORAGE GROWTH MODEL

system, application, or data corruption. the ability to continue working during almost the entire recovery process.

Bare Metal Recovery from Tape

Enterprises that are better prepared have a bare metal recovery from tape solution in place. This approach to system recovery involves laboriously mounting tapes and incrementally restoring and reassembling the former contents of your volume still a brainintensive and time-consuming process.

Key Tactical Components

Several key components contribute to this disk-to-disk disaster recovery strategy. Among them are Backup Express, Syncsort OSSV, NetApp NearStore systems, and ExpressDR. Straightforward integration of these components provides enterprisewide COB solutions for even the most complex Windows environments.

The New Strategy: Disk-to-Disk Disaster Recovery

Leveraging the most state-ofthe art hardware and software innovations is a fresh, new approach to data protection. Disk-to-disk disaster recovery is simple to use, is lightningfast, and contains none of the hazards of the traditional approaches. Server recovery, including system recovery, is hassle-free, provides nearly uninterrupted business continuity, and results in restored files, applications, and configurations that are extremely close to the data state as of the moment of failure. This simple yet comprehensive strategy, developed by Syncsort Incorporated through a partnership with Network Appliance (NetApp), contains the following unique and highly beneficial backup and recovery attributes:
950

Backup Express
Backup Express is Syncsort's high-performance enterprise data protection solution. It integrates heterogeneous snapshot, image, and rapid recovery options, and controls backup and restore operations for the entire enterprise environment with a single catalog and browser-based GUI.

FILE-LEVEL BACKUP: WEEKLY BASE, DAILY INCREMENTAL BLOCK-LEVEL INCREMENTALS FOREVER 907 TB 900 MODEL ASSUMPTIONS: 12 TB STARTING 2% DAILY CHANGE 4% MONTHLY DATA GROWTH 850 S T O R A G E S A V I N G S

Syncsort OSSV
Syncsort OSSV is the Backup Express Open System SnapVault agent for Windows. Syncsort OSSV enables block-level data transfer with file-level restore. Syncsort OSSV accesses the source disk directly, bypassing the file system, and transfers data at nearly raw disk speed. More remarkably, after the initial base backup, Syncsort OSSV uses block-level incremental (BLI) backups, assuring that only the absolute minimum amount of data (i.e. the changed blocks of

150

100

50

42 TB

0 DAY 1 DAY 7 DAY 30 DAY 365

Figure 1 Storage Savings: Block Level Incremental Versus Traditional Methods

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changed files) is transferred; block-level backups transfer up to 90% less data than conventional file-level backup. Over time, BLI

results in significant storage savings when compared to traditional backup methods (see Figure 1 on the previous page).

NetApp NearStore Systems

NearStore systems from Network Appliance provide the ideal destination device (or "secondary system") for this disk-to-disk disaster recovery solution. NetApp NearStore systems offer economical, high-capacity disk-based storage and rapid disk-based access to reference data, while supporting and complementing Syncsort OSSV and Backup Express.

1. Use Backup Express to perform frequent node-level Syncsort OSSV backups.

ExpressDR
ExpressDR, available from Syncsort with Backup Express, is a high-performance bare metal recovery product which, when compared to conventional disaster recovery techniques, dramatically simplifies both the backup and recovery process. Express-DR eliminates the need for tapes, for distinct disaster recovery backups, for system reboots at backup, and for manual reinstallation at recovery.
BACKUP EXPRESS
ExpressDR

Routine Block-Level Incremental Backup of Entire Node

2. To start system recovery, boot up a bare machine by inserting the Express DR CD. 3. Provide target and destination information in response
to the ExpressDR recovery dialog.

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rt I nco rpo rated

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Backup Location

Restore Target

To take advantage of ExpressDR, you use Backup Express to perform regular Syncsort OSSV backups of your Windows nodes to a NearStore system or other NetApp high-capacity disk-based filer. Then, if the need to perform an ExpressDR recovery arises, simply boot up an adequately sized "bare machine" by using the ExpressDR CD provided with Backup Express, provide minimal information about the backup job and NearStore system or filer, and select the backup instance you wish to recover (see Figure 2). ExpressDR recovers your operating system, system and security configurations, and complete point-in-time backed up files and data to the bare machine. Unlike other disaster recovery products, most requisite network, SCSI, and hardware drivers are installed automatically on the bare machine. In the final step of an ExpressDR recovery, ExpressDR

Backup Instance Selected for Recovery

Click Next for Complete Recovery

Figure 2 Figure 2

ExpressDR: How It Works in Three Easy Steps ExpressDR: How It Works in Three Easy Steps

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TIME AND ACTION 11:00 A.M.

INCREMENTAL BACKUP OF NODE 1. SYNCSORT OSSV BACKUP

SECONDARY STO

READ-ONLY SNAPSHOTS

Meeting Enterprise Objectives by Integrating Components

When used with other key components of this disaster recovery strategy, ExpressDR can achieve much more than straightforward server recovery. Following are several objectives that can be met with this overall strategy.

12:00 P.M.
NODE FAILURE

1:00 P.M. 1:10 P.M.

NEW HARDWARE AVAILABILTY RECOVERY BEGINS

2. BOOT MACHINE FROM ExpressDR CD

X
3a. FOLLOW STEPS IN ExpressDR DIALOG

Objective 1. Maximize and simplify continuity of business (COB) in the event of server failure or catastrophic site failure.
The combined Syncsort/NetApp disk-to-disk disaster recovery strategy provides both the flexibility to initially recover only the most critical elements in order to save time and the ability to continue working during as much of the recovery process as possible. Suppose you have just suffered a hit to your server. You immediately assess the tradeoff between recovery time and recovery completeness. If you have the luxury of time, you'll rapidly begin to restore your entire server in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. But if your recovery time window is short, recovering the system drive, boot drive, and operating system are your priorities. The applications and data can be restored later when the frenzy has dissipated. ExpressDR offers this flexibility. You accomplish it through simple selection in the ExpressDR recovery dialog. ExpressDR ensures that critical elements, such as the operating system, boot drive, system drive, and Backup Express catalog are always recovered. Now suppose you also need immediate full access to the data for critical production purposes. With this disk-to-disk solution, you

1:10 P.M. 1:30 P.M.

3b. RECOVER DATA FROM SNAPSHOT RECOVERY CONTINUES

(e.g., 50GB @ 150 GB/hr)

1:30 P.M.
RECOVERY COMPLETED BUSINESS AS USUAL

Figure 3

ExpressDR: Fast Bare Metal Recovery

At noon, the source server (primary) fails. At 1:00 p.m., replacement hardware is obtained and at 1:10, recovery is initiated by booting up the bare machine with the ExpressDR CD. The ExpressDR recovery dialog prompts for minimal information and lists the snapshots on the secondary system available for selection. From 1:10 to 1:30, data including the operating system is transferred from the 11:00 a.m. fully synthesized base backup snapshot on the secondary. At 1:30, full recovery to the 11:00 a.m. state is completed. Business continues as usual.

applies configuration changes and reboots the machine. Once rebooted, the machine contains your recovered environment, operating system, applications, and data.

Critical Server Recovery: an Illustration

To illustrate a critical server recovery, Figure 3 depicts a complete disaster recovery scenario for a single server using ExpressDR. The following is a description of the timeline: At 11:00 a.m., Backup Express performs a routine Syncsort OSSV block-level incremental backup to a NetApp NearStore (secondary) system.

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can recover the minimum necessary elements for operation as described above by using ExpressDR, then simply map to your latest synthesized point-intime backup snapshot on an iSCSI-connected NearStore volume. You have instant access to your data without a data transfer. The Instant Availability feature of Backup Express provides this capability, rapidly enabling nearly seamless business continuation. To complete the scenario, you later restore applications and data to an available functioning volume and, during a few moments of downtime, synchronize the day's changes with the restored data, unmap the backup snapshot, and then map the up-to-date reconstituted volume. Despite critical server failure, this comprehensive solution allows you to first restore only the critical elements required for operation, have instant access to the backup snapshot on the NearStore, and then, at a brief, convenient window of opportunity, resync all the data including any data that has been modified since the initial ExpressDR recovery.

With the disk-to-disk approach, your node is backed up to a large disk-based unit or filer. The complexities of tape storage are eliminated. Physical-level disk access at backup bypasses the file system for significant increase in performance and minimal CPU impact. Syncsort OSSV uses advanced snapshot technologies that enable all your applications to remain open and live during backup, eliminating business interruption and eradicating the need for a backup window. After the initial base backup of your node, incremental backups (which are both fast and small) are automatically performed. There's no need to ever do another base backup of the node. This capability is often called "incrementals forever. Syncsort OSSV backs up only changed blocks (as opposed to changed files). The backup of just the small changes in a large file can be hundreds of times smaller and faster than traditional incremental backups. For all these reasons, it is prudent and effortless to schedule Backup Express to back up your critical servers many times a day. In most cases, they can be backed up every hour. Then, at recovery, your reconstituted server is extremely current and up to date. But suppose your server became corrupted before the last backup. With typical mirroring solutions, you could be in trouble because of the inability to roll back to a previous point. Yet the Syncsort/ NetApp disk-to-disk disaster recovery solution allows you to easily roll back to any past backup.

This is accomplished without monopolizing space on the secondary by exploiting groundbreaking technology. Through careful data management on the NearStore, each block-level incremental node backup is stored and immediately synthesized with the previous node backups as a full backup image. You can select for recovery any of the incremental backups and it appears as a full base backup "snapshot" as of that point in time. The ExpressDR interface prompts you to choose from a list of backups, allowing the rollback capability to be extremely effortless. In contrast, many popular backup products waste precious minutes at restore time "reconstructing" the snapshot from the many incremental backups that were done. ExpressDR wastes no time reconstructing the snapshot. Further, Backup Express employs the industry's most sophisticated technologies to optimize data transfer. Transfer rates over a LAN generally approach or exceed 150 GB per hour.

Objective 2. Optimize data integrity through frequent backups and recoveries to past points in time.
Successful server recovery hinges on complete and up-to-date backups. Critical servers and active workstations ought to be backed up many times each day at the node level. And your recovery application must have the ability to roll back to past backups. Due to space, bandwidth, and time limitations, multiple daily node backups are not generally performed with many backup products. The Syncsort/NetApp solution overcomes this in a variety of ways:

Objective 3. Provide powerful and effective tools for maintenance and activation of disaster recovery sites.
Disasters are unpredictable. Your disaster recovery plan must take into account the possibility that your backup secondary system crashes. Or even that you need to move operations to a remote disaster recovery (DR) site. Redundancy of backed up snapshots is imperative. By replicating to a second filer at your company's DR site, you prepare for this eventuality. The unique Backup Express/Network Appliance partnership supports this capability in an extremely powerful way.

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HEADQUARTERS

WAN
FREQUENT SNAPMIRROR DATA TRANSFERS

DISASTER RECOVERY SITE

From this standpoint, the disk-todisk disaster recovery strategy is extraordinarily scalable.

OSSV BACKUP

ExpressDR RECOVER

Backup Express GUI

Objective 5. Simultaneously support routine backup and restore obligations.

Bare Machine (Windows)

W Server Destination Filer (Secondary)

(BLOCK-LEVEL INCREMENTALS) Alternate Secondary

ExpressDR Interface

Figure 4

Disaster Recovery Site Maintenance and Activation

running with up-to-date operating systems, applications, files, and data.

All well-equipped enterprises invest in DR sites. Unfortunately, in many cases, the DR site fails to be adequately maintained. For example, say that at your main data center at headquarters, your system administrators are busy solving the multitudes of day-today problems that arise. Occasionally, amidst the turmoil, they install software upgrades or security patches on your critical application servers. The likelihood that the same upgrades and patches are installed at your DR site in a timely fashion is scant. The solution to this problem is embedded in the Backup Express/ Network Appliance strategy, and it works like this (see Figure 4). After each locally scheduled node backup at headquarters, a data transfer from the secondary system (backup destination filer) across the WAN to an "alternate secondary system" at the DR site takes place. Only the changed blocks are transferred. The content of the alternate secondary remains identical to the content of the secondary at the main headquarters site. Now, suppose a catastrophe occurs at headquarters. Personnel at the DR site only need to perform simple ExpressDR recoveries from the alternate secondary to bare machines at the DR site. In a short time, the DR site is up and

Objective 4. Maintain scalability while meeting continuity of operations planning requirements for enterprises of all sizes.
The Syncsort/NetApp strategy leverages Backup Express and other key components for comprehensive protection of multiple servers in both local and remote locations. Backup Express is easily deployed on all servers, but has the unique property that it is controlled from a single "master server" with a single central catalog. Further, with permissioning, Backup Express can be accessed by administrators through a browser-based GUI from any Windows node on the network. Syncsort OSSV backups can be performed over LAN, SAN, or WAN connections from many servers to a single NearStore system or to multiple NearStore systems. Data from remote sites, such as branch offices, can be backed up to headquarters or backed up locally then transferred to headquarters by using NetApp's SnapMirror application. For compliance purposes, all data can be streamed to tape and/or transferred to NetApp disk storage at the DR site.

To optimize your disaster recovery investment, your approach should not require distinct disaster recovery backups. With Backup Express, disaster recovery backups can be integrated into your regular data backup scheme. Your regularly scheduled incremental node backups and your disaster recovery backups are one and the same. From the same backup instance, you can restore individual files and folders or the entire node. However, if you already have a backup/restore implementation in place, Backup Express with ExpressDR can complement it without interfering with it for disaster recovery purposes.

The Bottom Line for Disaster Recovery

ExpressDR provides a unique disk-to-disk bare metal recovery data protection strategy for Windows environments that maximizes business continuity in every disaster scenario in a cost-effective manner. The fundamental advantages are simplicity of recovery, optimal data integrity and consistency, and minimal business disruption in the event of system failure for enterprises of all sizes. By exploiting ExpressDR and other Syncsort and Network Appliance applications such as Instant Availability, SnapVault, and SnapMirror you can be confident that your vital servers, workstations, and enterprises will be recovered quickly, easily, and with complete, reliable, up-to-date data.

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Syncsort Incorporated, 2005 All rights reserved. Backup Express is a trademark of Syncsort Incorporated. SnapVault and NetApp and NearStore and the Network Appliance logo are registered trademarks and Network Appliance is a trademark of Network Appliance, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other company and product names used herein may be the trademarks of their respective companies.