What’s new with the Dell AppSync 4.6 release?
Wed, 22 Mar 2023 21:21:49 -0000
|Read Time: 0 minutes
AppSync Overview
Dell AppSync is a software package that can simplify and automate the process of generating and consuming copies of production data. At a high level, AppSync can perform end-to-end operations such as quiescing the database, snapping the volumes, and mounting and recovering the database. For many end users, these manual operations can be complex without AppSync, because of different applications and storage platforms.
AppSync provides a single pane of glass, and its workflows work the same, regardless of the underlying array or application being protected. AppSync natively supports Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, SAP HANA, VMware, Kubernetes, and file systems from various operating systems. The product also provides an extensible framework through plug-in scripts and REST API to deliver a copy data management solution for custom applications.
What’s new with the Dell AppSync 4.6 release?
The new version of AppSync, 4.6, was released on 03-22-2023. In this blog, we will go over some of the enhancements. This release brings many improvements to the application integration. SAP HANA now has PowerMax Scale out support. The Rancher distribution, PowerStore platform, and Microsoft SQL Server 2022 database are now supported with AppSync Kubernetes use cases. This release of AppSync also supports the newly released VMware 8.x and increases the SCSI controller limit. The Oracle database discovery process has also been improved, and Microsoft SQL Server 2022 use cases are supported for existing SQL service plans.
The SAP HANA scale-out architecture has two types. Shared NFS/File only and non-shared (shared folder on NFS file and data + log) on block iSCSI storage. AppSync 4.6 supports implementing this scale-out configuration on PowerMax 10.0+ storage with the file side implemented by SDNAS. Check out the screenshots below showing AppSync discovering the PowerMax NAS Servers and allowing users to choose the preferred NAS interface for the mount.
This AppSync 4.6 release allows customers to run AppSync Kubernetes use cases and workflows on PowerStore storage. Previous Kubernetes support with AppSync included support for SLES and Red Hat on bare metal and the Red Hat Openshift container platform, but with this new release of AppSync, we also support the SUSE Rancher distribution. Support for the Microsoft SQL 2022 database has also been added for Kubernetes use cases. Check out the screenshot below showing the new RKE or Rancher Kubernetes Engine cluster type.
This release of AppSync also supports VMware 8.x and increases the SCSI controller limit. AppSync now supports 64 disks per VMware paravirtual SCSI controller.
The AppSync Oracle database discovery process has also been improved with the 4.6 release. Oracle discovery can now be done using the PMON process and does not require an entry in the /etc/oratab file. This streamlined process involves AppSync checking every Oracle PMON process running on a given host to derive the corresponding SID and database name.
To improve the total customer experience, AppSync has added the ability for users to use and schedule maintenance mode. This allows users to suspend all scheduled jobs to perform maintenance activities as needed. Users can then perform whatever tasks they need to accomplish and not encounter any failed AppSync jobs or false alerts. They can also easily see which hosts are in maintenance mode and which are not. Alerts are also raised when hosts are put in and removed from maintenance mode. Check out the screenshots below showcasing the new exciting maintenance mode feature.
Conclusion
I have outlined some of the Dell AppSync 4.6 release features. For more information, check out these resources:
- Dell Technologies Main Info Hub
- Dell Technologies AppSync Info Hub
- AppSync 90-day Trial Download
- Dell Technologies PowerStore Info Hub
- Dell Technologies PowerMax Info Hub
Author: Andrew Sirpis
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sirpis-2091162/