EXTENDING THE SYBASE SYSTEM 10 BACKUP SERVER
SQL-BackTrack for Sybase and SYBASE Backup Server with System 10
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Database administrators managing high volume transaction systems or mission
critical applications need powerful and flexible backup and recovery tools.
SQL-BackTrack for Sybase, from DataTools, Inc., is just such a tool,
allowing automated, unattended backups, incremental backups, object-level
backup and recovery, and data archiving.
SQL-BackTrack uses Sybase-defined interfaces to build its enhancements on
existing Sybase backup functions. It is available today for Sybase 4.2 to
10.x, and DataTools plans to support future versions of Sybase.
SYBASE System 10 establishes a strong foundation for building
enterprise-wide client/server applications. As part of the System 10
release, the Sybase backup and recovery functions are managed by the SYBASE
Backup Server. The SYBASE Backup Server will improve backup performance and
add a number of new features. SQL-BackTrack will extend the basic functions
of the Backup Server, adding a number of features that DBAs need to manage
their database backups in a distributed, networked environment.
This paper describes how SQL-BackTrack will extend the backup/recovery
functions of the SYBASE Backup Server to create an unparalleled backup and
recovery product.
ABOUT SQL-BACKTRACK FOR SYBASE
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SQL-BackTrack for Sybase, already available to Sybase 4.x users, provides a
wide range of backup and recovery functions, including:
Simplified operation for backup and recovery
- Automated, unattended backups
- Online history for simplified recovery
- Remote backups
- Integration with file system backups, through optional modules
A wide range of backup options
- Logical and physical format backups
- Archiving of databases or database objects
- Object-level backups and recoveries
- True incremental and transaction log backups
- Data encryption
- Data compression
Media support
- Support for ANSI-labeled tapes
- Support for writing multiple backup files to a single tape
- Jukebox and tape stacker support
SYBASE BACKUP SERVER
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One important component of SYBASE System 10 is the SYBASE Backup Server.
Many of the new features in the SYBASE Backup Server are available today to
SQL-BackTrack users running SYBASE SQL Server 4.x. These include:
- Multiple dumps to a single tape
- ANSI-labeled tape support
- Remote backups
- Unattended backups
SQL-BackTrack takes advantage of other System 10 improvements and features:
1) An open API for the Backup Server
The SYBASE Backup Server communicates with the SQL Server through defined
Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs). These RPCs are defined in an open
Application Program Interface (API). SQL-BackTrack will use this
Sybase-defined API to access the dump data.
2) Improved performance
SQL-BackTrack will take advantage of System 10's improved performance in
the DUMP/LOAD DATABASE functions. SQL-BackTrack additionally will improve
the Backup Server performance by writing larger block sizes to tape,
compressing data before sending it to the dump device, and implementing
incremental dumps.
3) Multiple simultaneous backups from the same or different servers
SQL-BackTrack already supports multiple processes for Sybase 4.x; you can
perform multiple physical backups remotely of separate servers, or perform
multiple logical backups of a single server. With the SYBASE Backup Server,
SQL-BackTrack will be able to perform multiple physical backups of a single
server. (Some device limitations will remain. For example, you still cannot
perform multiple simultaneous backups to a single tape device.)
Table 1 shows the enhancements SQL-BackTrack for Sybase makes to both
Sybase 4.x and Sybase System 10 with the Backup Server.
Table 1: SQL-BackTrack and Sybase Features
Syb 4.x SQL B/T Syb 10 SQL B/T
w/Syb 4.x w/Syb 10
BACKUP OPERATION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automated, no yes yes (user yes
Automated, no yes yes (user yes
unattended writes
backups scripts &
tracks media
Remote no yes yes yes
backups
Simultaneous no yes yes yes
dumps
Integration no yes no yes
with file
system backups
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKUP FORMATS
BACKUP FORMATS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logical no yes no yes
Logical no yes no yes
format
backups
Physical yes yes yes yes
format
backups
Version- no yes no yes
independent
backups
Hardware- no yes no yes
independent
backups
Operating no yes no yes
system-inde-
pendent backups
Transaction yes yes yes yes
log backups
Incremental no yes no yes
backups
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECOVERIES
RECOVERIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Object- no yes no yes
Object- no yes no yes
level recovery
Recovery no yes no yes
"as of"
a date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKUP MEDIA
BACKUP MEDIA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSI labeled no yes yes yes
ANSI labeled no yes yes yes
tapes
Multiple dumps no yes yes yes
on a single tape
Backups yes yes yes yes
spanning tapes
Tape jukebox no yes no yes
support
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, SQL-BackTrack provides the following function, not available
In addition, SQL-BackTrack provides the following function, not available
with System 10 and the SYBASE Backup Server alone:
1) Automated backups and media tracking
Although you can automate System 10 backups by writing scripts and tracking
media yourself, SQL-BackTrack is designed for true automated, unattended
backups. It maintains a backup history to track your backups and the media
to which they are written. When it is time to recover, SQL- BackTrack
automatically prompts you for the correct tape to load and finds the
correct file(s) on the tape.
2) Logical format backups and recoveries
Using logical format backups, you can archive databases or groups of
database objects in a machine- and version-independent format. This means
that you can archive data for years and then be able to recover to a
different version of SQL Server, different operating system, or different
hardware architecture. Physical format recoveries require the same
hardware, operating system, disk size, etc.
You can use logical backups to access 4.x backups from System 10. You can
save your 4.x databases as logical format backups, then recover them from
System 10, because logical backups are version-independent.
3) Object-level backup and recovery
You can recover individual database objects such as tables, stored
procedures or views, even from full physical database backups. If a single
table of the database becomes corrupted, you do not need to recover the
entire database. Furthermore, you can recover the table while the database
is online.
Object-level backups can be used for archiving data. For example, you could
back up groups of related objects with referential integrity requirements.
Or, you could copy a single stored procedure from one database to another,
using two simple commands.
4) Incremental backup support
SQL-BackTrack supports incremental backups in addition to transaction log
backups. Incremental backups only write data changed since the last backup
(or backup of a lower level, if you are using backup levels). This saves
significant media space and time. The online history feature of
SQL-BackTrack tracks the backups and automatically applies the incrementals
on recovery.
5) Simplified recovery through an online history
SQL-BackTrack maintains an online history of your database backups, which
includes where the backup resides. When you recover, it automatically finds
the backup, or prompts you for the appropriate tape(s) to load,
and applies any incremental backups appropriately. You can recover "as of"
a specific date by including a simple option on your recover command. The
online history simplifies the DBA's tasks of tracking backups and managing
media pools.
6) Data compression
You can make better use of your backup media by compressing your databases
on backup. For physical format backups, compressed backups are typically
40% of the size of uncompressed backups. Compressed logical format backups
are typically only 15% of the size of uncompressed physical backups.
Using SQL-BackTrack's data compression, you could easily back up a seven to
eight gigabyte database to a standard Exabyte 8500 (five GB) tape.
7) Security
You can set up separate user-ids for backup and recovery, to restrict who
can recover data from your databases. For particularly sensitive data, you
can encrypt the data on backup by providing an encryption key. The data
cannot be recovered without the encryption key.
8) Integration with file system backups
Optional modules are available for popular file system backup programs that
integrate SQL-BackTrack database backups with file system backups. This
provides a number of benefits:
- Combining database backups with file system backups reduces hardware
costs by allowing you to centralize your backup operations on the system
with the appropriate backup devices.
- Implementing database backups as part of the automated file system
backups frees the DBA for other tasks.
- You can apply a corporate-wide protection scheme for off-site rotation,
media pools, etc., instead of maintaining separate database backup
procedures.
- You can make better use of expensive high-end tape and optical robotic
media handlers by writing all your backups to the device.
ENTERPRISE-WIDE CLIENT/SERVER COMPUTING
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SYBASE System 10 establishes a groundwork for building powerful
enterprise-wide applications. SQL-BackTrack for Sybase supports this goal
by providing DBAs with a powerful tool for backing up and recovering
databases in a distributed, networked environment. Some of these
capabilities are:
- Performing automated, unattended backups, even to jukeboxes
and stackers
- Copying objects or databases across servers, platforms, or
SYBASE versions in distributed environments
- Archiving objects or databases in a platform and
version-independent format
- Backing up multiple servers remotely across a network
- Recovering individual objects, even from full physical backups
- Recovering databases or database objects easily using an online
backup history
These are the capabilities that DBAs need to build the distributed,
enterprise-wide applications of tomorrow.
For more information on SQL-BackTrack for Sybase, contact DataTools
at (415) 842-9100. DataTools is a Sybase Open Solutions Partner
and a member of the Sybase Synergy Program.
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