Introduction to Data Protection:

Backup to Tape, Disk and

Beyond

Jason Iehl, NetApp

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Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Abstract

Introduction to Data Protection: Backup to Tape,

Disk and Beyond
Extending the enterprise backup paradigm with disk-based
technologies allow users to significantly shrink or eliminate
the backup time window. This tutorial focuses on various
methodologies that can deliver an efficient and cost
effective disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) solution. This
includes approaches to storage pooling inside of modern
backup applications, using disk and file systems within
these pools, as well as how and when to utilize virtual tape
libraries (VTL) within these infrastructures

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About the SNIA DMF

This tutorial has been developed, reviewed and approved

by members of the Data Management Forum (DMF)
The DMF is an industry resource to those responsible for the accessibility
and integrity of their organization’s information
The DMF focuses on the technologies and trends related to Data
Protection, ILM and Long-term digital information retention

DMF Workgroups:
Data Protection Initiative Information Lifecycle Long-term Archive and
(DPI) Management Initiative Compliance Storage
(ILMI) Initiative (LTACSI)
Defining best practices for Developing, educating and Addressing the challenges
data protection and recovery promoting ILM practices, of retaining, securing, and
technologies such as Backup, CDP, implementation methods, and preserving digital information
Data deduplication and VTL benefits for the long-term

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Backup to Tape, Disk and Beyond

Fundamental concepts in Data Protection

Overview of Backup Mechanisms
Backup Technologies
Appendix

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

© 2009 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved. 5
Data Protection

Data protection is about data availability

There are a wide variety of tools available to us to achieve data protection,

including backup, restoration, replication and recovery.

It is critical to keep focused on the actual goal -- availability of the data -- and
to balance how we achieve this by using the right set of tools for the specific
job.

Held in the balance are concepts like data importance or business criticality,
budget, speed, and cost of downtime.

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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The Process of Recovery

Detection
Corruption or failure noted
Diagnosis / Decision
What went wrong?
What recovery point should be used?
What method of recovery -- overall strategy for the recovery?
Restoration
Moving the data
From tape to disk, or disk to disk, from the backup or archive (source), to the primary
or production disks.
Recovery – Almost done!
Application environment perform standard recovery and startup operations
Any additional steps
Log replays for a database
Journals replays for a file system

Test and Verify

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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 Traditional Recovery

Last Known- APPLICATION

Analyze Application
Good Image DOWNTIME
Restarted

Modifications Since Last Image Analyze Restore* Recover

Recovery Point Objective Drives Recovery Time Objective

*10TB = 4 hours from disk, 12.5 hours from tape

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Protection Based on Recovery

Years Days Hrs Mins Secs Secs Mins Hrs Days

Recovery Point Recovery Time

Protection Methods Recovery Methods

Tape Backups Capture on Write Synthetic Backup Instant Recovery Disk Restores Tape Restores
Vaults Disk Backups Real Time
Replication Point-in-Time
Archival Snapshots VTL Roll Back Search & Retrieve

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Methodologies of Backup

Cold
Offline image of all the data
As backup window shrinks and data size expands, cold backup becomes
untenable.
Cheapest and simplest way to backup data
Application Consistent
Application supports ability to take pieces of overall data set offline for a
period of time to protect it - application knows how to recover from a
collection of individual consistent pieces.
No downtime for backup window.
Crash Consistent or Atomic
Data can be copied or frozen at the exact same moment across the entire
dataset.
Application recovery from an atomic backup performs like a high availability
failover.
No backup window.

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Protection Design Trade-offs

What’s most important:

Backup Performance
Shorter backup window?
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
Speed of recovery
How much does it cost to be down?
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
Amount of data loss
How far back in time to recover data?
Move data offsite for DR or archive
There are trade-offs everywhere
Newer technology alters but cannot remove trade-offs
Where is the bottleneck?
Need to identify the priority order, and establish SLA targets for each data
What is the cost of losing data?

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Backup to Tape, Disk and Beyond

Fundamental concepts in Data Protection

Overview of Backup Mechanisms
Backup Technologies
Appendix

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

© 2009 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Backup Topology Components
Agent
Manages the collection of the data and Metadata according to the level
requested by the backup server
Storage Node or Media Server
Collects the data from the Agent
Read and writes to a secondary storage device
Backup Server
Typically single point of administration
Owns the Metadata catalog
May offer DR for catalog data
Application Server
Server that owns (produces) the data
Maybe structured or unstructured data
Secondary Storage
Target for the backup data
Traditionally removable media with many moving to disk-based backup
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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Local Data Mover
AGENT LAN

Media
Server CATALOG

Application SAN / SCSI Backup

Server Server

Data
DATA Metadata

Secondary
Storage

Sometimes known as LAN-Free

Application server reads and writes the data locally
Application server acts as a media server
Storage is accessible by the application server
Minimal LAN impact
Only Metadata transfers to the backup server
May impact bandwidth on application server when backup occurs
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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LAN Backup

AGENT LAN Media

Server

CATALOG

SAN / SCSI
Application Backup
Server Server

Data
DATA Metadata

Secondary
Storage

Backup server receives data and Metadata from

application server across the LAN
LAN is impacted by both backup and restore requests
Application server may be impacted by storage I/O
CIFS, NFS, iSCSI, NDMP, or vendor specific
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(Application) Server-free Backup

AGENT LAN

Media
Server CATALOG

Application SAN / SCSI Backup

Server Server

Data
DATA Metadata
MIRROR
Secondary
Storage

The application server allocates a snapshot/mirror of the primary storage

volume to a media server that delivers the data over the LAN or SAN
Media server must understand the volume structure
Mirror: Application server impacted when creating the mirror
Snapshot: Application server impacted by volume access
Metadata go to the backup server
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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Server-free (Server-less) Backup

AGENT LAN

Media
Server CATALOG

Application Backup
Server Server
SAN / SCSI
Data
DATA Metadata
SNAPSHOT DATA
MOVER Secondary
Storage

Backup server delegates the data movement and I/O processing to a “Data-mover”
enabled on a device within the environment
SCSI Extended Copy (XCOPY or “Third-Party Copy”)
Metadata still sent to the backup server for catalog updates
Much less impact on the LAN
Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP)
NDMP is a general open network protocol for controlling the exchange of data between two
parties
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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Traditional Backup Schedules

Full Backup
Everything copied to backup (cold or hot backup)
Full view of the volume at that point in time
Restoration straight-forward as all data is available in one backup image
Huge resource consumption (server, network, tapes)
Incremental Backup
Only the data that changed since last full or incremental
Change in the archive bit
Usually requires multiple increments and previous full backup to do full
restore
Much less data is transferred
Differential backup
All of the data that changed from the last full backup
Usually less data is transferred than a full
Usually less time to restore full dataset than incremental
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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What gets backed up and how

File-level backups
Any change to a file will cause entire file to be backed up
Open files often require special handling SW
Open files may get passed over – measure the risks
PRO: File level backup simplifies both backup and recovery
CON: Small changes to large files result in large backups
Block-level backups
Only the blocks that change in a file are saved
Requires additional client-side processing to discover change blocks versus
entire file
PRO:
Reduce size of backup data thus improving network utilization
In some cases may speed backups
CON: Client-side impact may affect client performance
Increases backup and restore complexity

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

© 2009 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Synthetic Backup & Incremental
Forever
Synthetic Full Backups
Incremental backups are performed each day
Full backups are constructed from incrementals typically weekly or
monthly
Less application server and network overhead

INC INC INC INC INC

Incremental Forever
FULL

Incremental backups are performed every day

Primary backups are often sent to disk-based targets
Collections of combined incrementals used for offsite copies
Usually consolidate images from clients or application and create tapes

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

© 2009 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Backup to Tape, Disk and Beyond

Fundamental concepts in Data Protection

Overview of Backup Mechanisms
Backup Technologies
Appendix

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

© 2009 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction to Tape
Sequential access technology
Versus random access
Can be removed and stored on a shelf or offsite
Disaster Recovery
Encrypted, Archived for compliance?
Reduce power consumption
Media replacement costs
Tape life, reusability Tape Library

Performance and Utilization

Can accept data at very high speeds, if you can push it
Streaming and multiplexing
Typically Managed by backup and recovery software
Controls robotics (Inventory)
Media management

Tape is not Dead!

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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Introduction to B2D
What?
Backup to Disk / Disk to Disk Backup
Disk as a primary backup target
LAN
Why?
Performance and reliability
Reduced backup window
Disk
Greatly improved restores Backup
Target
RAID protection Server SAN
Eliminate mechanical interfaces
Eliminate (tape) multiplexing
Fewer shared devices

Considerations Tape
Fibre Channel Disks versus ATA versus SAS Library

I/O random access vs. MB/s sequential

SAN, NAS or direct Attached
May require updates to backup software or extra modules
Consider a mix of Disk and Tape
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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Introduction to VTL
What:
Open systems Virtual Tape Libraries
Fits within existing backup environment
Easy to deploy and integrate Backup
Server
Benefits of B2D by emulating existing tape format
VTL
Incremental changes to existing environment*
Leverage current processes and people
Reduce / eliminate tape handling
IP / FC
SAN

Why:
Improved performance and reliability (see B2D) Tape
Library
Reduced complexity versus straight B2D or tape
Unlimited tape drives reduce device sharing, improve backup times *
Enables technologies such as remote replication, data deduplication

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Introduction to CDP

What:
Continuous Data Protection
Capture every change as it occurs App
May be host-based, SAN-based, array-based Server

Protected copy in a secondary location

Capture
Recover to any point in time Point

How: Normal
Path

Block-based Backup
Path
File-based
Application-based
Record of

Why:
Protect
Updates
Storage Object

Implementations of true CDP today are delivering zero data loss, zero backup
window and simple recovery. CDP customers can protect all data at all
times and recover directly to any point in time.

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Introduction to Data Deduplication

What?
The process of examining a data-set or I/O stream at the sub-file level and storing
and/or sending only unique data
Client-side SW, Target-side HW or both
Why?
Check out SNIA Tutorial:
Reduction in cost per terabyte stored
Understanding Data
Significant reduction in storage footprint Deduplication
Less network bandwidth required
Considerations
Greater amount of data stored in less physical space
Suitable for backup, archive and (maybe) primary storage
Enables lower cost replication for offsite copies
Store more data for longer periods
Beware 1000:1 dedupe claims – Know your data and use case
Multiple performance trade-offs
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
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Next Steps in Data Protection
Choose the appropriate level of protection
Assess risk versus cost versus complexity
Include your “customers” in your decisions
Match RPO, RTO goals with technology
Consider resources required to support your decisions
Consider centralized versus distributed solutions
Performance is ALWAYS a consideration
Assess your system today for strengths and weaknesses
A new box or new SW may NOT be the answer
When in doubt, call in the experts

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Where to Get More Information

Related tutorials
Trends in Data Protection and Restoration Technologies
Deduplication – Methods of Achieving Data Efficiency
In the Face of Litigation: Best Practices for Retention,
Discovery, and Deletion
A Crash Course in Wide Area Data Replication
Visit the Data Management Forum website
http://www.snia-dmf.org
Data Protection Buyers Guides available
Chapters on Continuous Data Protection, Deduplication,
and Virtual Tape Libraries
Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond
© 2009 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Q&A / Feedback

Please send any comments on this tutorial to SNIA at:

[email protected]
The DMF would like to thank the following individuals for
their contributions to the development of this tutorial:

SNIA Data Protection Initiative

SNIA Data Management Forum
Michael Fishman Nancy Clay Philippe Reynier
Mike Rowan SW Worth Jason Iehl

It’s easy - Find a passion

to get
- Join a committee
involved
- Gain knowledge & influence
- Make a difference
with the
DMF ! www.snia.org/dmf
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Thank you for your feedback

Questions and Answers

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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APPENDIX

31
Backup versus Mirroring

Backup
Protecting data by making copies or allowing copies to be generated from
saved data
Examples: snapshots, split mirrors, VTL, tape, CDP
When?
Multiple Recovery Points needed
Recovery from data corruption
Archival and indexing
Mirroring/Replication
Protecting data by moving the data, usually as it changes, to a remote copy.
Synchronous or Asynchronous mirroring
When?
ƒ Disaster Recovery Time Objective (DR/RTO centric usually)
ƒ Data Migration
ƒ Content Distribution

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Introduction to Snapshots

A disk based
A fully usable copy of a
“instant copy”
that captures
the original data
“ defined collection of data that
contains an image of the data
at a specific as it appeared at the point in
point in time. time at which the copy was
Snapshots can initiated. A snapshot may be
be read-only or either a duplicate or a
read-write. replicate of the data it
represents.
www.snia.org/dictionary

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Snapshot of Networked Storage

Terminology: Snapshot, Checkpoint, Point-in-Time, Stable Image = Any

technology that presents a consistent point-in-time view of changing data. Many
implementations exist.
Why? Allows for complete backup or restore, with application downtime
measured in minutes (or less)
Most vendors: Image only = (entire Volume)
Backup/Restore of individual files is possible
If conventional backup is done from snapshot
Or, if file-map is stored with Image backup

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Snapshot Comparison

Full Copy Snapshot Differential Copy Snapshot

No cost during “snapshot” process Less storage consumption - typically 10-20%
Upsides Can be used for DR - independent copy Depends on churn
Typically can take advantage of cheaper disk

Massive storage cost Performance impacts while snapshot exists

Downsides 1x of storage per RPO Multiple implementations to optimize performance impact
Like disk - expensive Most vendors don’t offer multiple implementations - pick at onset
Often in the same disk frame Leverages main copy - not DR capable
Loss of DR component
Consider re-sync time in schedules

Disaster Recovery Backup source

Applications Near zero backup window Near zero backup window
24x7 operations
24x7 operations
Faster restore
Can do no-copy restore Fast restore
Most run-books require copy copy based by definition
Can help with data repurposing Can help with data repurposing
Beware performance impact

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Performance Considerations
Performance
Caching on storage node for multiplexing and stream management
Cache to Virtual Tape or Disk prior to tape
Synthetic full backup – offload backup engine
faster backup = Incrementals
faster restore = restore from full session
Smart recovery functions
Most recent image
Consistent view = true image
Minimize downtime
time to diagnose
time to restore
Lost time + downtime = total loss time

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Backup Scaling

LAN Constant change and heterogeneity in

NAS
technologies
ƒ Operating Systems
ƒ Disk Storage Appliances
ƒ Network Architectures / Topologies
SAN ƒ Tape Storage Devices
Challenge
ƒ Protect mission-critical data
ƒ Timely backup and restore
ƒ Administration overhead
TAPE

ƒ Optimize storage resources

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Flexibility

Heterogeneous Environment
Multiple platforms (HW / OS)
Multiple tape drives & libraires
Multiple applications
NAS and SAN
Snapshot facilites
Advanced Tape Management
Tape mirroring
Off-site storage
Multiplexing
Advanced Library Management
Sharing, partitioning
Port handling
Security
Authentication & Encryption
DMZ / Firewall support

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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Manageability

Centralized Administration
Web GUI & smart interface
Backup strategies
Scheduling
Onsite and offsite mmedia management
Centralized Supervision
Real-time monitoring
Alarms
Event log
SNMP compliant, integration with
Frameworks
Bill back

Introduction to Data Protection: Disk, Tape and Beyond

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