Backup & Restore
Backup of the entire Information Store for a database server (SQL*Server 2000/2005, Oracle and DB2) without agents and without taking the server offline. The most time- and cost-effective method for disaster recovery purposes.
The DS3 DataVaulting service supports “hot”, online backup of Microsoft SQL*Server, Oracle and DB2 enterprise-class databases. For each of these databases, the entire data store is backed up without agents and without affecting end users. Due to DS3’s unique delta-blocking capabilities, each backup captures all changes (logically equivalent to a “full” tape backup) while dramatically reducing the amount of data transmitted and stored (logically equivalent to an “incremental” tape backup). During a restore, simply select the date of backup and the DS3 DataVaulting system handles the reconstruction of the database — no need for you to track the “full” and the “incrementals”.
How it works
Backup — On a scheduled or an on-demand basis, the DS3 Gateway will access the target SQL*Server, Oracle or DB2 database and use an Application Programming Interface (API) to perform a database dump. During this process, pending transactions are committed and transaction logs are truncated. The database dump is a temporary file on the DS3 Gateway that is then scanned and the changed blocks (“delta blocking”) are compressed, encrypted and transmitted to the data center.
The first time this action is performed, the entire database is dumped and transmitted (creating a “master”). During subsequent back ups, only the updates are transmitted (creating a “delta”). The DS3 DataVaulting system never accesses the underlying database data files directly and therefore, there is never an issue with open and locked database files. The database does not have to be taken offline to perform the back up.
Restore — During a restore, the DS3 Gateway will restore the database(s) (depending on how the backup was configured) to the target database server. The target database server can be the original backed up server or a new, different server.
The DS3 Gateway always keeps a copy of the latest snapshot of the database. Past experience has shown that most database restores are for the latest backup and therefore, most database restores are accomplished quickly over the local LAN. If older data is required, the DS3 DataVaulting service can access the data in the DS3 data center through the WAN or DS3 can ship a portable data vault to your site within 24-48 hours of a disaster being declared. As with all DS3 activities, there is no extra charge for shipping the portable data vault.
Security
During the creation of the backup sets, credentials are entered and stored on the DS3 Gateway in an encrypted fashion The backed up data is encrypted while it is being transmitted to the data center and when it is stored there. At no point will DS3 personnel have access to the data in the DS3 data center.
What is Supported
- The DS3 DataVaulting service supports the following enterprise-class databases:
- Microsoft SQL*Server 2000, Oracle 8.x, 9.x, 10g on Windows and Unix/Linux, DB2
- For Microsoft SQL*Server 2000 and Oracle on a Windows 2000/2003 server, the DS3 Gateway will be a Windows 2003 Server. For Oracle on a Unix (e.g. Solaris) server and DB2, the DS3 Gateway will be a Linux server.
Technical Specifications
- Backups and restores are performed at the database level, thereby executing in a time and resource efficient manner for DR purposes
- All backups are performed without taking the database server off-line
- Restores of the latest backup can be performed quickly over the local LAN via the DS3 Gateway
Support for SQL*Server 2000, Oracle 8/9/10 and DB2
