replication manager clone with r2 devices

Just to expand on this a bit, we have RM 5.2 and the hosts are Solaris 10. I am looking to place the production database in hotbackup mode, split SRDF after checkpoint, take database out of hotbackup mode, unmount the clone filesystems and destroy or deport the diskgroup, and finally clone from R2 to STD devices in remote location. This is the current process I follow with solutions enabler, can I do this with RM 5.2, using pre and post scripts by chance?

Hi Shawn

The issue here is going from R2 to STD...
Its very possible, but there are inherit risks when using scripting for SRDF, ie you need to have conditional checking before you move on and invoke RM or invoke another script.

Im sure we have people who can assist with this. If you know your local EMC Storage Architect or Implementation Specialist, they'll gladly offer advice and assistance to ensure best practices are followed.

Cheers
James

Thanks for the reply James, I figured it would be a headache to some extent. I have done all of my companies SRDF setup and configuration, so unless I don't fully understand what you are suggesting, we don't have an "EMC Storage Architect or Implementation Specialist". I was hoping to use RM and provide our Windows admins with a simple process to clone from so I can get some vacation time, but it sounds like I may just need to work on making my solutions enabler scripts more user friendly. Thanks for the input, and I welcome any other suggestions or advice from anyone.

Hi Shawn
Are you SRDF/A or SRDF/S?

What are the plans here? Are you trying to just get some copies to the R2 side and split them off forever and let other groups use them on a long term basis?


Well, RM can get you a BCV/R2 which is mountable and accessable by users.
You could then expire the replica, exclude the storage, lift the LDLs, break the STD<-> BCV association and turn the BCV into a STD or clone from the BCV.
But again, need to know what basis and regularity you are trying to do this...

If you are looking at migration, then there are good tools for that too..

RM 5.2 Product Guide

Creating an SRDF replica
When you create an SRDF replica, Replication Manager can use a
Symmetrix (R1/Standard) as the source and the target replica will be
created on a BCV of the R2. When you run the job to create a remote
replica using SRDF/S, Replication Manager performs the following
steps automatically:
1. Creates an SRDF R2 copy on the remote Symmetrix system.
2. Creates a BCV copy of the R2 on the remote Symmetrix system as
shown in Table 108 on page 251.

Remote SRDF/S
replication
Replication Manager can also create remote replicas using
TimeFinder/Mirror, TimeFinder/Clones, and TimeFinder/Snaps,
across an SRDF link. Creating these remote replicas requires two
Symmetrix storage arrays connected via an SRDF/S link.

Thanks again for continuing to try and help me through this James. We use SRDF/A, and your assumption is correct, I am looking to copy data to the remote location and split them off permanently, well permanently until the respective development team requests a fresh copy of the company wide production database. Our development instances (about 16 separate copies of production for the various teams and business units) are in the same location as our DR. Currently I am doing this using SE, I split off SRDF, then get a BCV copy of our DR instance, and from that BCV copy, I run timefinder clones to the development instances as requested. The frankenstien process I have put together may be inefficient but it works for me and I can work out any issues that pop up rather quickly. The only problem is that I must do all this work as is, I'm not strong enough at scripting to get the SE scripts usable by the Windows admins, and since they already use RM, I figured I'd just give this a shot instead.

From what you've posted, it sounds like it is quit possible, I just need to quit being lazy and RTFM. I started trying to fake my way through the process, but got a bit hung up when I went to chose the oracle database instance to set up, as I have a BCV copy and an SRDF copy, but couldn't tell which it was choosing. Instead of bothering you with my lack or RM experience, I'll go back and read a bit, and then re-post if I'm still stumped.

Again, thank you for your help and input James.

Isn't that what forums are for?

Very welcome, let us know how it goes!

Question.....do you have Recoverpoint?