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Introduction
Businessesof all sizes must take backup and disaster recovery seriously. Ascompanies grow and data becomes more and more prevalent, users of alltypes, either internal or external, require access to all thisinformation. This is essential at a time when even the smallestbusiness may find operations impossible with any single point offailure. With the launch of MS SQL Server 2005, MS SQL Servers arebecoming increasingly popular for use in mission criticalenvironments. With such important dependencies on software solutions,recovering from failures is crucial for business continuity.
Toinitiate movement towards redundancy and failure protection,Microsoft offers SQL Server Log Shipping (SQL Server 2000 and 2005)and SQL Server Database Mirroring (SQL Server 2005) in its coreproducts. In addition to Microsoft, third party vendors, includingMicrosoft Gold Certified Partners such as Sonasoft, provide enhancedsoftware solutions that simplify disasterrecoveryscenarios through easy to use Management Console and automating mostof the manual steps. These components are focused on minimizingdowntime while maximizing data retention in the event of catastrophicfailure.
HighAvailability Solutions for SQL Servers
FailoverClustering
MicrosoftClustering enables users to prevent against hardware failures bystringing redundant hardware, called nodes, together through acentral cluster manager that coordinates load balancing and dataactivity. Microsoft SQL Server supports bothactive-active and active-passive cluster environments. As protectionagainst hard disk failure, RAID configurations are also common. However, from a performance standpoint, this significantly slows downI/O in the subsystems due to writing the data to multiple disks atthe same time. Again RAID option is to protect against any hard diskfailure but it cannot prevent site disasters.
Indirect contrast to this storage dependency, using a Standby solutionprevents against hardware, software and storage failures. Standbyservers or databases are normally installed on unique, usuallygeographically independent, SQL Servers which serve as a barrier tofailures of any type. SQL Server Clustering environments are morecost-intensive compared to the Standby option. The primary reasonfor this is the high hardware and software requirements. Onthe other hand, a Standby server does not have any special hardwarerequirements and is simply a software solution to meet disasterrecovery needs. An additional cost, LAN connectivity is requiredbetween SQL Server cluster nodes to send and receive what is called aheartbeat signal, among other communications.
SQLServer Native Backups/Restores
Asimple and inexpensive solution to recovering from failure is to takebackups of all your databases. Out-of-the-box Microsoft SQLServer disaster recoveryoperation allows for Native SQL Server Backups that can take full,differential or transaction log backups of a database. Anotherdisadvantage to SQL Server Native Restore procedures involves highdowntime. In cases of disastrous failure, time is a crucial factor. Unfortunately, significant delays are introduced when trying to findthe correct backup files and locations from which to restoredatabases. Typically, when these restores need to be performed, theinability to restore is something most organizations cannot tolerate.
AutomatedStandby Solution
AStandby Server is a server where the data from the primary databasesis restored periodically using scripts, Microsoft Log Shipping orthrough a third party software. It acts as a hot standby which can bepromoted to a primary role if the primary server goes down sothat business operations continue to function. An automated standbysolution bridges the gap between a highly expensive FailoverClustering solution and time-consuming Native SQL Server Backups andRestores. An automated standby solution provides ahigh-availability solution, protecting data from hardware andsoftware failures as well as from human errors.
SonasoftStandby Solution
TheSonasoft Standby Solution builds easy-to-manage standby plans thateffectively replicate your data without interfering in normalbusiness operations. Because the Sonasoft StandbySolution transfers only data that has changed since the last backupas well as uses high speed compression through the network to thestandby server, data transmission can be handled by a low-bandwidthT1 or a low-cost DSL line. When disaster strikes, roleswitching is just one click away, as a series of complex databaseoperations are performed in the background to switch the destinationserver(s) to the primary role. Sonasoft's product, SonaSafe for SQLServer contains a unique architecture that not only creates easy touse backup tasks and schedules, but allows for efficient and simplerecovery options all while minimizing chances of data loss.
Conclusion
Standbyservers are a cost-effective and viable way for businesses tomaintain SLA and business continuity efficiently. While othersolutions do exist, they are limited by either being error-prone orfailing to protect against site failures. One can deploy standbyservers using third-party software that utilize easy to useinterfaces for a fraction of the cost associated with somealternatives as discussed above. Also, these standby servers can befunctional for reporting or testing purposes.Next Paragraph..
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