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AppSync protects Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, VMware datastores, SAP, and Windows and UNIX file systems.
When performing service plans and repurposing workflows, AppSync performs three main phases: application discovery, application storage mapping, and the application protection or copy phase.
Application discovery: AppSync identifies the application, checks if the application is in a good state for protection, and continues to the mapping phase.
Application storage mapping: AppSync maps the application to the storage system to identify the volume, LUN, or device details, such as WWNs and their storage-layout information. AppSync checks if the storage configurations, such as the replication session, are in a good state for protection. If not, an appropriate error is displayed.
Application protection: AppSync offers different ways of protecting applications. AppSync can place the application in a state to create an application-consistent copy on the array, and resume the application. It can also do nothing with the application and create a crash-consistent copy.
With block storage, AppSync creates local copies using the bronze service plan or a local repurposing workflow.
With block storage and asynchronous replication sessions configured:
Note: See the “Repurposing” section in the AppSync User and Administration Guide for more details about repurposing copies on PowerStore. This section includes details about how AppSync manages PowerStore thin clone technology.
Figure 3 shows the events during a typical bronze service plan that are involved in protecting an Oracle database on a PowerStore appliance.
Figure 4 shows the events during a typical silver service plan. This example contains an Oracle database on a PowerStore appliance using asynchronous native replication. This allows replication between two PowerStore appliances for additional protection.
Figure 5 shows the events of a typical gold service plan. The Oracle database on a PowerStore appliance is snapped locally for local protection and remotely using asynchronous native replication to another PowerStore appliance. The gold service plan combines the bronze and silver service plans to achieve a consistent point in time with two copies being created at once. This provides the end user with improved redundancy and recoverability.