Design considerations

DD Boost technology

During the database backup operation with Oracle RMAN, the Oracle database sends backups to the Data Domain system through the Fibre Channel or Ethernet network. We selected DD Boost over Ethernet protocol to take advantage of the proven performance and deduplication features of DD Boost technology. In this configuration, both the DD Boost feature and distributed segment processing (DSP) are enabled. DD Boost software runs on both the Oracle database server and the Data Domain system. As shown in the following figure, for each backed-up segment, the DD Boost software determines if the segment is unique (that is, it has not been previously stored in the Data Domain system). When DD Boost confirms that the segment is unique, the segment is compressed and transferred over the network and stored on the Data Domain system. The deduplication and compression processes ensure that only unique data is compressed and sent over the network and stored in the Data Domain system.

During the first full database backup, because no data from this database has been stored in the Data Domain system, all the data segments from the backup are unique. As a result, each data segment from the first full backup is compressed, sent over the network, and stored in the Data Domain system. Starting with the second full backup, DD Boost software backs up only those unique data segments that have not been previously stored in the Data Domain system.

Figure 13.     DD Boost software determining if segment is unique