White Paper

BACKUP ACCELERATION WITH EMC NETWORKER

AND SNAPSHOT MANAGEMENT
A Detailed Review

Abstract
IT departments are under pressure to deliver higher levels of
backup and recovery services than ever before to keep pace with
round-the-clock business operations. By combining
management of heterogeneous replication and snapshot
technologies with backup operations, EMC® NetWorker®
provides a unified “command-and-control” platform to deliver
unparalleled performance and reduced complexity for mission-
critical application and data protection.

February 2011
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respective owners.

Part Number H2807.3

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 2

Table of Contents
Executive summary.................................................................................................. 4
Audience ............................................................................................................................ 4
Snapshots and replication ....................................................................................... 4
Split-mirrors ....................................................................................................................... 5
Copy-on-write ..................................................................................................................... 5
Continuous data protection ................................................................................................ 6
EMC NetWorker and snapshot management ............................................................. 6
NetWorker Module for Microsoft Applications ..................................................................... 6
PowerSnap Modules........................................................................................................... 7
Snapshot-assisted backup ...................................................................................... 7
Instant backup ................................................................................................................... 7
Live backup ........................................................................................................................ 8
Proxy backup...................................................................................................................... 8
Snapshot-assisted recovery ..................................................................................... 9
Rollback ............................................................................................................................. 9
Rollforward ......................................................................................................................... 9
File-level recovery ............................................................................................................... 9
Restore from backup storage ............................................................................................ 10
Other snapshot-based options with NetWorker ...................................................... 10
SnapImage Module .......................................................................................................... 10
NetWorker direct SCSI access ........................................................................................... 10
EMC Replication Manager and NetWorker ......................................................................... 10
Considerations and recommendations ................................................................... 11
Components of the solution ............................................................................................. 11
Which solution is best? .................................................................................................... 12
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 12

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 3

Executive summary
In today’s highly competitive business environment, data and applications must be
available 24x7 and deliver consistent service levels, straining the resources of IT staff
and stretching IT budgets. Better service levels are expected while the volume of data
continues to grow. Companies are constantly evaluating new technologies to find
solutions that meet or reduce the storage management requirements of their
businesses.
Snapshot and replication technologies that create duplicate copies of data are
essential to meeting stringent recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point
objectives (RPO) in a frenetic 24x7 business environment. EMC® NetWorker®
combines these solutions with traditional and deduplication backup to accelerate
protection of data and applications and simplify management of a complete range of
recovery services.
This white paper discusses various snapshot and replication solutions and how
NetWorker integrates with each to provide tiered levels of backup and recovery
protection.

Audience
This white paper is intended for anyone who is using, considering, or selling
NetWorker.

Snapshots and replication

The decreasing cost of disk storage makes the use of snapshot and replication
technologies attractive for multiple purposes including fast disk-based backup and
recovery. By providing point-in-time virtual views or copies of file systems or
volumes, these solutions provide an excellent means of faster recovery, easier
management of large volumes of data, reduced exposure to data loss, and virtual
elimination of backup windows.
Referred to by various names depending on the solution including snaps, snapshots,
shadow copies, images, clones, and mirrors, there are typically two types of data
replication products available, hardware-based (sometimes called controller-based)
and software-based (also referred to as host-based). Hardware-based replication is
integrated into disk arrays and enables the storage subsystem to create replicas.
Typically these point-in-time snapshots are done at a block level and are generally
independent of the operating system or file system. Software-based snapshots are
implemented at the operating system and file system levels.
Snapshot data protection implementations vary by vendor including differing types
and capacity for the number of snapshots. Each technique has its own benefit and
requirements. The primary methods available are:
• Split-mirrors
• Copy-on-write

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• Continuous data protection

Split-mirrors
Split-mirror, also referred to as disk mirroring, is a replication technique that
duplicates every byte of the original data volume to another volume. These copies are
known as business continuance volumes (BCVs), mirrors, and clones. A mirror can be
temporarily suspended or split to create a point-in-time copy of data. During a split,
the disk subsystem temporarily stops making updates to the mirror copy, which
allows a frozen data point. The split-mirror can then be mounted read/write or used
for backup and recovery. A recovery will impact the production volume; all other
activities do not impact the production volume. After an offline backup is complete,
the mirror is established and resynchronized with the product volume. A full data
copy is available within the mirrored copy and therefore requires 100 percent of the
capacity of the source. For example, 1 TB of data requires 1 TB of disk space for a
mirror copy. With a mirror, if the original volume is lost, the alternate volume is an
exact copy of the original. The issue of disk space must be considered if the intent is
to store multiple copies.

Production view
of volume Original

Snapshot view
of volume Mirror

Figure 1. A mirror is a full data copy of the original volume.

Copy-on-write
Copy-on-write replication, also called snaps or snapshots, creates a virtual copy of an
original volume. When the snapshot is initiated, the file system is frozen and a cache
of disk space is created. Writes made after the initiation of the snapshot trigger a
copy of the original block(s) to the cache. The production disk contains all current
data, while the snap cache contains any original data that has subsequently been
altered. A snapshot can be mounted for read/write access, or used for backup and
recovery of the production volume. To recover the original disk to a point in time, the
data from the snap cache is moved back to the original to re-create the volume as it
existed at the time the snapshot was taken. Consequently, the copy-on-write
snapshot is dependent on the original volume and a mount or recovery operation
from the snapshot must hit the production disk. The required disk cache size will vary
depending on the rate of change as well as the frequency and retention period of
snapshots. Typically copy-on-write requires far less space than a mirror – on average
10 percent to 20 percent of the source volume size for each snapshot. Space
requirements depend on how many writes and changes are made to the source
volume and how long the snapshot is active.

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 5

 Production view
Original of volume

Snapshot view
Cache of volume

Figure 2. A copy-on-write snapshot relies on a cache area as well as the original

volume to restore to a point in time.

Continuous data protection

A new class of replication called continuous data protection (CDP) automatically
saves a copy of every change made to data while enabling the user or administrator
to restore data to any point in time. While this sounds similar to mirroring, the
differences lay in the capability of CDP-based solutions to capture and index every
version of the data versus capturing only the most recent copy. For recovery, CDP is
different from traditional backup in that you don't have to specify the point in time to
which you would like to recover until you are ready to perform a restore. CDP volumes
typically contain a full baseline copy of the production volume as well as byte- or
block-level differences introduced as incremental writes and changes are made to the
production system. This means that the CDP protection storage required is greater
than that of the production volume and will depend on the size of the volume, change
rate, and duration of the recoverable period.

EMC NetWorker and snapshot management

EMC NetWorker integrates management of multiple snapshot and replication
technologies with traditional backup and recovery to tape and disk – as well as next-
generation backup with deduplication. NetWorker provides the interface and
intelligence to trigger point-in-time data copies from a number of array-based and
host-based replication technologies. This capability coordinated with NetWorker
application modules enables capture of transactionally consistent data states to
ensure proper recovery and restart of applications such as Microsoft SQL Server,
Microsoft Exchange Server, and Oracle. Tying replication and backup together with a
single management tool is the ideal solution for simplifying recovery management.
The integration of snapshots and replication with backup and recovery is available via
two NetWorker options: NetWorker Module for Microsoft Applications and NetWorker
PowerSnap™ Modules. Both integrate with EMC and other industry-leading
replication technologies to manage the creation of point-in-time copies of data for
backup and recovery.

NetWorker Module for Microsoft Applications

To simplify protection and recovery of Microsoft environments, the NetWorker Module
for Microsoft Applications (NMM) provides a single, unified solution that leverages

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 6

Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) for snapshot-based protection and
recovery of Exchange, SQL Server, SharePoint, Hyper-V, and Active Directory.
Microsoft VSS provides a backup infrastructure for Microsoft Windows operating
systems and applications, as well as a mechanism for creating consistent point-in-
time copies of data. NetWorker and NMM make use of the VSS framework to enable
consistent and efficient protection and recovery for major Microsoft Server business
applications. This includes the following functionality:
• Enables creation of point-in-time copies of application data
• Leverages VSS software and hardware providers to enable flexible and efficient
copy creation
• Facilitates backup to secondary media while applications are online and in use

PowerSnap Modules
PowerSnap Modules coordinate with NetWorker application support for Oracle, SAP,
SQL Server, and IBM DB2 to create consistent replicas of messaging and database
applications that reside on the supported storage technologies. Similar to NMM, once
a point-in-time replica is created, PowerSnap verifies that the copy is clean and
mountable to ensure recoverability and to enable off-host backup and restore
operations to be performed as necessary. Snapshot policies are established and
assigned in the NetWorker’s management interface. In addition, PowerSnap provides
command line utilities to enable the browsing and management of replicas. From
these utilities administrators can accomplish the following:
• Recover whole snapshots
• Recover individual files and directories from snapshots
• Generate diagnostic reports
When recovery of an application from a snapshot is required, the restore process is
managed from the command line utilities or the PowerSnap-enabled Application
Module interface.

Snapshot-assisted backup
There are several backup types available when using NetWorker in conjunction with
snapshots.

Instant backup
A point-in-time copy of data that is initiated and stored as a snapshot session or
instance is called an instant backup. An instant backup is a block-level snapshot
created from the application server and made available on disk but not written to
tape. The snapshot is registered within the NetWorker media database to facilitate
tracking for recovery.

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 7

Live backup
Snapshots tend to be transient and therefore backup to another media is typically
done for disaster recovery. Once a replica is created, it can be mounted for backup to
another backup device, such as disk or tape – and now also can be directed to EMC
deduplication solutions including EMC Avamar® and EMC Data Domain®. In this
process, called live backup or rollover backup, data is sent to a secondary storage
medium and the snapshot can either be retained or deleted. This type of solution
protects the data from both physical failures (such as the destruction of storage) and
logical failures (such as an accidental deletion). Control of this process is
orchestrated using NetWorker snapshot policies. Figure 3 shows the Create Snapshot
Policy screen in the NetWorker Management Console.

Figure 3. Snapshot management policies in the NetWorker Management Console

Proxy backup
To lessen the impact on file and application servers a proxy client or proxy host can
mount and back up a volume or file system belonging to another client. The proxy
client moves the actual data created by the application server within the snapshot or
mirror to the backup storage such as tape or disk. While the proxy host is a server,
this type of backup is referred to as serverless because it does not require the original
application host to facilitate data movement. Figure 4 illustrates proxy host backup to
disk or tape.

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Figure 4. Backup from a snapshot via a proxy host

Snapshot-assisted recovery
There are several PowerSnap restore types.

Rollback
A rollback is the process of returning data to an earlier point-in-time copy in response
to a recovery operation, and is a complete restore from a point-in-time copy to a
standard volume without host involvement. Rollback restores are destructive by
nature and can occur without having to retrieve data from the secondary storage
(tape/disk).

Rollforward
A rollforward is the process of progressing data from a rollback using one or more
instant backups. For example, if three snapshots were created at 10 A.M., 11 A.M.,
and 12 P.M., the user can perform a rollback to the 10 A.M. snapshot and then a
rollforward to the 11 A.M. snapshot or even the 12 P.M. snapshot. You may perform a
rollback from a more recent copy to approximate the same effect.

File-level recovery
When NetWorker initiates an instant backup, it captures an index to enable file-level
recovery from a mounted replica. The recovery process is also referred to as instant
recovery or file-by-file recovery.

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 9

Restore from backup storage
Data that has been saved through the live backup process to tape or disk – including
Avamar and Data Domain – is recoverable in the same manner as any basic
NetWorker restore. Save sets and individual folders or files can be restored via the
recovery interface or from the command line.

Other snapshot-based options with NetWorker

SnapImage Module
A separate option for NetWorker, the SnapImage™ Module is a host-based software
snapshot capability that enables high-speed backup to disk and tape. SnapImage
provides live block-level backup targeted not at application servers, but at high-
density file systems that have millions of files and directories. These systems are
typically difficult if not impossible to back up in a reasonable time window. One of the
key differences between this solution and PowerSnap is that the snapshot taken is
not retained – it serves only the purpose of enabling efficient backup of a file system.
The SnapImage software runs on the host to be protected and takes a snapshot of its
file system, creating a list of blocks to back up. In the process, SnapImage also
generates a file catalog that is passed to NetWorker to enable individual file recovery.
Similar to the copy-on-write method, SnapImage creates a cache to track original
blocks as changes are made on the production file system during backup. The
SnapImage client communicates with tape devices using NDMP. During such
recoveries, the solution identifies the list of blocks required for NetWorker to bring
back the given file(s).

NetWorker direct SCSI access

Direct SCSI backup and recovery enable direct backup and recovery of Small
Computer System Interface (SCSI) devices without the requirement of mounting them
on the backup host if an access path is available to these devices over a storage area
network (SAN). You can also use this feature to migrate to the NetWorker software to
perform backup and recovery of business continuance volume (BCV) devices on an
EMC Symmetrix® server (as well as backup and recovery of raw devices) over a SCSI
bus.
The direct SCSI backup and recovery feature enables raw backups for the NetWorker
software directly by using a SCSI target, which is usually accessible from a SAN proxy
host. Typically, in a Symmetrix storage environment, these devices can be viewed
from a primary application host and from a proxy backup host. The direct SCSI backup
and recovery feature allows you to protect BCV devices from a proxy backup host as a
raw backup.

EMC Replication Manager and NetWorker

EMC’s Replication Manager is a software solution that manages the creation and
disposition of point-in-time replicas of databases and file systems. Like NMM and

Backup Acceleration with EMC NetWorker and Snapshot Management 10

PowerSnap, Replication Manager eliminates the need for complex scripting typically
involved with integrating replication technology and application environments and
automates the scheduling and expiration of replicas. Replication Manager’s value
proposition extends beyond backup and recovery, providing access to replicas for the
purposes of information sharing and repurposing for tasks such as reporting or
testing.
Replication Manager is a distinct standalone EMC product line; however, it can
integrate with third-party backup software such as EMC NetWorker to create tape
backups of replicas. When backing up to tape/disk with a traditional backup,
Replication Manager mounts the replica and starts a backup script automatically to
execute the backup job. In this way, it is possible to integrate NetWorker with
Replication Manager to perform live backup from replicas created by Replication
Manager. This solution is ideal in scenarios where PowerSnap is not a fit for a
customer requirement such as particular replication backup and recovery techniques
or operating system support. Additionally, PowerSnap and Replication Manager can
coexist on the same host, enabling a mix of technologies that best serves the
customer’s requirements.

Considerations and recommendations

Implementing snapshot and replication management in conjunction with backup
requires an investment not just in hardware and software but also in identifying
needs and requirements.
• What are the RTO and RPO requirements for applications and associated data?
• Are you unable to back up and recover servers or data in an acceptable backup
window?
• Who will perform data recovery?
How easy and transparent should the interface be?
• What technologies are currently in place (hardware and software)?
• What is the available IT budget and implementation timeframe?

Components of the solution

When considering the use of snapshot management with backup, it is important to
understand all of the software and hardware components that make up the solution.
The “stack” or list of technology components that must be in place and configured
correctly include the following:
• A supported storage array, such as EMC Symmetrix or CLARiiON®, or others, with
the appropriate level of supported firmware and API
• A supported snapshot software or CDP solution such as VSS, EMC TimeFinder® or
SnapView™, EMC RecoverPoint, or others

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• A supported operating system for the NetWorker server, client, and any proxy
hosts utilized as well as the necessary software and licensing
• As appropriate, a supported volume manager, multipathing, and/or cluster
solution
• The appropriate infrastructure such as SAN connectivity components or others
Note: EMC Consulting provides assistance to install and configure a complete backup
and recovery solution including snapshot management.

Which solution is best?

The answer to the question of which replication technology is best must be based on
the specific details about customer requirements gathered in an inquiry phase. The
types of applications and availability of supported environments may trigger the
choice of one implementation over another.
• Mirrors and clones are typically deployed for more critical data and in cases in
which data changes a great deal in a short time, but they come at a higher cost
than copy-on-write snapshots that can be used effectively for short-term
protection and for data with minimal changes over time.
• Customers with Microsoft Windows environments may favor a VSS
implementation over other options.
• To help protect environments that have large, highly dense file systems, some
customers may choose a solution such as SnapImage.
• CDP delivers the most aggressive RTOs/RPOs by enabling any-point-in-time
recovery and may be the right choice for high-value business applications and
databases.
As customer environments and requirements vary greatly, it is recommended that
NetWorker customers who want to invest in the capabilities of replication invest in
experienced help for assessment, validation, and implementation. EMC is uniquely
qualified to help customers assess needs centered on storage, backup, and
replication. EMC services help customers successfully plan, build, and manage
environments using a solutions framework that helps with the most demanding
challenges.

Conclusion
EMC has a complete recovery management vision supported by the most robust
portfolio of recovery management products on the market, which meet every
requirement of a deployment framework. NetWorker and its options for snapshot
management deliver on the promise of combining protection technologies to provide
higher degrees of protection and recoverability for business data and information
assets directly mapped to an organization's RPOs and RTOs.

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