Snapshots provide a fast and space-efficient way to protect Oracle databases. When using snapshots with Oracle databases, keep in mind these important considerations to ensure a successful database recovery:
- All Oracle database LUNs must be protected as a set in the same volume group. Enable the attribute Apply write-order consistency to protect all volume group members so that the snapshot applies to a single point in time to the member volumes of a volume group.
- Snapshots do not replace Oracle RMAN for regular database backups. However, they offer additional protection to the database and allow offloading RMAN processing to an alternate host.
- Snapshots can be created or deleted manually or automatically based on the PowerStore protection policy.
- Special consideration of using BEGIN and END backup might be necessary before and after a snap is taken of pre-12c Oracle databases. For more information, see Oracle documentation and the section Oracle Support MOS notes.
PowerStoreOS 3.5 has enhanced how snapshots can be created. With PowerStoreOS 3.5, snapshots can be created as secured snapshots. For more information, see the section Secure Snapshots. By default, these snapshots reside in and consume PowerStore storage. With PowerStoreOS 3.5, snapshots can be taken and stored directly to a PowerProtect DD series appliance, freeing up valuable storage in PowerStore for application data. For more information, see the section PowerProtect DD.
PowerStore has three data-recovery mechanisms that behave differently depending on the usage scenario.
- Thin clone: A thin clone takes an existing snapshot from a parent volume and creates a child volume from that point in time.
- Refresh: Using the refresh operation, snapshot data can replace existing data in the volume. The existing data is removed, and snapshot data from the new source is copied to it in place.
- Restore: The restore operation replaces the contents of a parent storage resource with data from an associated snapshot. The operation resets the data in the parent storage resource to the point in time that the snapshot was taken.