In our environment, we have several cases where the DBAs schedule hot
backups and we backup the flat file, and some cases where we use scripts
to shutdown the db and back it up in place.
The problem with the agent is that it requires the DBAs to learn a new
process/tool for doing restores, and requires more
management/administration effort for us.
If we just backup a flat file, DBA can request the restore, we give them
the file and tell them where it is.
With the agent, they have to learn how to do the restores themselves. We
have to allow user initiated restores which gives us less flexablility
in what we do with the system.....in other words, we have an SLA for
restores.....if we need to bring the system down for an emergency, and
we can get it down, reboot, and then process the restore within the SLA,
great....
If DBA is doing their own restores, we have no idea when a restore job
is going to pop up......if the server is down for an emergency reboot
for some reason, we have to make sure all client teams who do user
restores are notified, or we have to deal with getting called and paged
asking why the system is down and they can't do restores, while we're
already busy dealing with a serious issue.
Paul
> -----Original Message-----
> From: briandiven AT northwesternmutual DOT com
> [mailto:briandiven AT northwesternmutual DOT com]
> Sent: May 11, 2005 6:53 PM
> To: cballowe AT gmail DOT com; Paul Keating;
> veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> Subject: RE: [Veritas-bu] SQL agent any pros and cons?
>
>
> In our case it is more than a 2 step process since the file
> based disk backup needs to be removed after the backup.
> Depending on how you implement this, there may also be a
> timing issue ... did the SQL team get their backup to disk
> before NBU scheduled and accomplished the backup? If the
> timing isn't right and coordinated, you could miss capturing
> the backup and then deleting the current file system backup
> as part of post-processing.
>
> We are going down the same path as you because it gets
> multiple fingers out of the backup process, eliminates
> multiple and dependent tasks, reduces and almost eliminates
> risk regarding the ability to restore, and puts the
> backup/restore process where it belongs in our business.
>
> Regarding the cost, we use VMWare on our Windows servers and
> the SQL agent is licensed by physical server. We are
> consolidating our SQL servers onto a few physical servers.
> This should reduce our costs almost 5 times.
>
> We are still finalizing our decision on using the SQL agent,
> but it appears pretty obvious if implemented correctly and
> the infrastructure supports it financially. I've also
> noticed several posts regarding reporting software and I want
> to see how well these backups can be reported on from an
> admin to mgmt level.
>
> Good topic !
>
> Brian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> [mailto:veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu]On Behalf Of Charles
> Ballowe
> Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 4:59 PM
> To: Paul Keating; veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> Subject: Re: [Veritas-bu] SQL agent any pros and cons?
>
>
> That's not necessarily a con - it's integrated well with the SQL
> Server backup and recovery methods. If you're doing a dump to disk,
> even if you can restore the dump to the client from the master server,
> a SQL admin must initiate the process to restore the database from
> that dump. The agent reduces this to a one step process rather than 2.
>
> On 5/11/05, Paul Keating <pkeating AT bank-banque-canada DOT ca> wrote:
> > Con: IIRC, the restore must be initiated from the client?
> >
> > Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> > > [mailto:veritas-bu-admin AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu] On
> Behalf Of Jerry
> > > Sent: May 11, 2005 4:39 PM
> > > To: Hindle, Greg; veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> > > Subject: Re: [Veritas-bu] SQL agent any pros and cons?
> > >
> > >
> > > Here's my "paper" (quick version):
> > >
> > > Pros:
> > > * Saves disk space. Backups up right to tape.
> > > * Faster. One step, write to tape.
> > > * Calls the same APIs the SQL backup does when it goes
> > > to file.
> > >
> > > Cons:
> > > * Cost Money
> > > * Funky interface/setup
> > > * jobs show up twice for every one job. There is a
> > > job that kicks off another job that communicates back
> > > to the server (dbbackex I believe is the binary).
> > >
> > > --- "Hindle, Greg" <Greg.Hindle AT constellation DOT com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > My boss wants me to write up a paper with the pro's
> > > > and cons of using
> > > > the Netbackup SQL agent. Has anyone out there done
> > > > this? Any help or
> > > > suggestions would be very helpful. We currently have
> > > > SQL dump to a flat
> > > > file and we then back this up to tape but he wants
> > > > to know if this is
> > > > better or should we be using the SQL backup agent
> > > > instead....
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Greg
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >>> The information contained in this e-mail
> > > > transmission is privileged and/or confidential
> > > > intended solely for the exclusive use of the
> > > > individual addressee. If you are not the intended
> > > > addressee you are hereby notified that any
> > > > retention, disclosure or other use is strictly
> > > > prohibited. If you have received this notification
> > > > in error, please immediately contact the sender and
> > > > delete the material.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________
> > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we.
> > > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Veritas-bu maillist - Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> > > http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu
> > >
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Veritas-bu maillist - Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> > http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Veritas-bu maillist - Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
> http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu
>
>
|
