PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14 features many important transparent snapshots-related enhancements:
- Support for application consistency for Microsoft SQL Server using transparent snapshots—Application consistency for SQL Server with transparent snapshots is now supported, in addition to the Application Direct offering. SQL Server application-aware backups with TSDM are designed to operate with the embedded VM Direct Engine. Policies that feature SQL Server application-aware VM backups using VADP from previous PowerProtect Data Manager releases are not automatically migrated to TSDM. For more information, see Override protection engine.
- TSDM VIB life cycle improvements—The TSDM VIB life cycle had been greatly enhanced in this release. First, an upgrade option is now available in the PowerProtect Data Manager UI as well as through the PowerProtect Data Manager REST API. If an ESXi host is eligible for an upgrade, VIB status for the ESXi host is displayed as Ready for upgrade, and the Upgrade button is enabled. A message is also displayed to warn against performing upgrades while backups are running.
Figure 6. TSDM VIB upgrade option
- Support for TSDM VIBs with earlier PowerProtect Data Manager releases—Starting with PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14, TSDM VIBs can run earlier releases of PowerProtect Data Manager, unless stated differently in the PowerProtect Data Manager ESSM for your specific release.
- When automatic VIB management on a vCenter is disabled, ESXi hosts with VIB version N-4 and later will skip the VIB upgrade during the PowerProtect Data Manager upgrade. N-4 for PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14 means that PowerProtect Data Manager 19.10 and later releases will not be automatically upgraded.
- When automatic VIB management is enabled, all ESXi hosts with TSDM VIBs on that vCenter will be automatically upgraded.
- Support of VM image-based protection on Oracle Cloud VMware Solution (OCVS)—PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14 supports VM protection on OCVS. Both TSDM and VADP VM image-based protection is supported. PowerProtect Data Manager as well as PowerProtect DDVE can now be deployed on OCVS. Specifically, the PowerProtect Data Manager OVA was enhanced with an additional OCVS deployment option.
- Policy UI changes for TSDM—PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14 greatly enhances VM policy configuration by allowing you to explicitly select transparent snapshots (default) or the VADP protection mechanism. The protection mechanism changes are based on the selected backup options (see Criteria).
Figure 7. Policy creation flow improvements
- Restore plans—Restore plans can now be leveraged to orchestrate mass asset restore operations. Restore plans can be run ad hoc or can be scheduled, and restore plans can be reused or repurposed. A restore plan includes one or more restore groups that represent the assets to be restored, by a specific policy, by rule, or by manual selection. The restore group definition also includes copy selection, restore method and location, and network mapping as well as configuration. Restore plan functionality is limited to VM assets in PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14 that were backed up using transparent snapshots or VADP. For more information about restore plans, see the PowerProtect Data Manager Virtual Machine User Guide.
Figure 8. Restore Plans