What tools to use to protect against data loss disasters

A SnapVault secondary storage device can be located offsite, any distance from the primary storage units that it is backing up.

Data recoverability: In event of a data-loss disaster at a primary storage site, data that is backed up to the SnapVault secondary storage can be restored to primary storage units that have not suffered physical damage or that have been replaced either at the disaster site or at an alternate location.

Currency of restore: Data can be restored from the time that the last Snapshot copy was created on the secondary storage system.

Connection requirements: DSL connections or faster are recommended between the primary and secondary storage systems. Even connections with very low bandwidth, such as 56 Kbps, are possible.

Routers, switches, and DNS servers should be preconfigured to direct users to alternate primary storage sites if the primary storage system that they first attempt to access becomes unavailable.

Advantage: Centralized, inexpensive off-site backup

A SnapMirror destination storage device can be located offsite, any distance from the source system whose volumes it is mirroring.

Data availability: In event of a data-loss disaster at a source site, SnapMirror data at the destination site can be made quickly available at the destination site.

Data recoverability: SnapMirror data can be restored to source storage units that have not suffered physical damage or that have been replaced either at the disaster site or at an alternate location.

Currency of restore: Data can be restored from the time of the last SnapMirror Snapshot copy transfer from source to destination.

Connection requirements: DSL connections or faster are recommended between the source and destination. Even connections with very low bandwidth, such as 56 Kbps, are possible. Routers, switches, and DNS servers should be preconfigured to direct users to the destination storage site if the source they are attempting to access becomes unavailable.

Advantage: Combined off-site protection and availability

Synchronously mirrored MetroCluster storage systems can be located at different sites, up to 100 km from one another.

Data availability: In event of a data-loss disaster at one site, data that has been mirrored to the partner site can be made quickly available.

Data recoverability: This data can also be mirrored to source storage units that have not suffered physical damage or that have been replaced either at the disaster site or at an alternate location.

Currency of restore: Data can be restored from the time of the last NVRAM checkpoint.

Connection requirements: Data ONTAP cluster connections supplemented with switches and DSL or faster connections are required. Routers, switches, and DNS servers should be preconfigured to direct users to the MetroCluster partner if the clustered system that they first attempt to access becomes unavailable.

Advantage: Combined real-time off-site protection and availability.