SAN Remote Mirroring

I am researching if it is possible to remote mirror an entire instance of SQL
Server on a SAN? Specfically, we would like to install SQL Server program
files, data files and log files on SAN drives and then syncronously mirror
those to a remote SAN. The only articles I have found deal with doing a
split-mirror of a user database but still having to maintain logins, DTS
packages, etc. manually by recreating them on the remote side. The only
other info I have is that we also have DB2 and have been told by IBM that a
partial page write could occur so they don't recommend mirroring data but
since the log can deal with a partial page write that it would be possible to
mirror the log files. But, on the other side there would still have to
something setup to apply those logs.
--
bscgmccYou also should look at SQL Server Database Mirroring.
Ben Nevarez, MCDBA, OCP
Database Administrator
"bsc gmcc" wrote:
> I am researching if it is possible to remote mirror an entire instance of SQL
> Server on a SAN? Specfically, we would like to install SQL Server program
> files, data files and log files on SAN drives and then syncronously mirror
> those to a remote SAN. The only articles I have found deal with doing a
> split-mirror of a user database but still having to maintain logins, DTS
> packages, etc. manually by recreating them on the remote side. The only
> other info I have is that we also have DB2 and have been told by IBM that a
> partial page write could occur so they don't recommend mirroring data but
> since the log can deal with a partial page write that it would be possible to
> mirror the log files. But, on the other side there would still have to
> something setup to apply those logs.
> --
> bscgmcc|||The problem with replication, log shipping, database mirroring, etc. is that
it is at a database level. I need something to protect my entire instance
including master, model and msdb.
--
bscgmcc
"Ben Nevarez" wrote:
> You also should look at SQL Server Database Mirroring.
> Ben Nevarez, MCDBA, OCP
> Database Administrator
>
> "bsc gmcc" wrote:
> > I am researching if it is possible to remote mirror an entire instance of SQL
> > Server on a SAN? Specfically, we would like to install SQL Server program
> > files, data files and log files on SAN drives and then syncronously mirror
> > those to a remote SAN. The only articles I have found deal with doing a
> > split-mirror of a user database but still having to maintain logins, DTS
> > packages, etc. manually by recreating them on the remote side. The only
> > other info I have is that we also have DB2 and have been told by IBM that a
> > partial page write could occur so they don't recommend mirroring data but
> > since the log can deal with a partial page write that it would be possible to
> > mirror the log files. But, on the other side there would still have to
> > something setup to apply those logs.
> > --
> > bscgmcc|||What I would do is just make sure that the SAN hardware vendor and/or
Microsoft certify that this SAN remote mirror solution will work with SQL
Server.
By the way, by using Database Mirroring you do not have to worry (much)
about the original master and msdb databases. You just need to do the same
configuration (like logins, linked servers, jobs, etc.) in both servers.
Ben Nevarez, MCDBA, OCP
Database Administrator
"bsc gmcc" wrote:
> The problem with replication, log shipping, database mirroring, etc. is that
> it is at a database level. I need something to protect my entire instance
> including master, model and msdb.
> --
> bscgmcc
>
> "Ben Nevarez" wrote:
> >
> > You also should look at SQL Server Database Mirroring.
> >
> > Ben Nevarez, MCDBA, OCP
> > Database Administrator
> >
> >
> > "bsc gmcc" wrote:
> >
> > > I am researching if it is possible to remote mirror an entire instance of SQL
> > > Server on a SAN? Specfically, we would like to install SQL Server program
> > > files, data files and log files on SAN drives and then syncronously mirror
> > > those to a remote SAN. The only articles I have found deal with doing a
> > > split-mirror of a user database but still having to maintain logins, DTS
> > > packages, etc. manually by recreating them on the remote side. The only
> > > other info I have is that we also have DB2 and have been told by IBM that a
> > > partial page write could occur so they don't recommend mirroring data but
> > > since the log can deal with a partial page write that it would be possible to
> > > mirror the log files. But, on the other side there would still have to
> > > something setup to apply those logs.
> > > --
> > > bscgmcc|||Hi
I assume you are talking about SAN replication to a passive server? In which
case if you mirror your system database you should not need to maintain your
SQL logins or DTS packages held in msdb or on a replicated disc. If your
remote machine is on the same domain then Windows Authentication should be
fine.
John
"bsc gmcc" wrote:
> I am researching if it is possible to remote mirror an entire instance of SQL
> Server on a SAN? Specfically, we would like to install SQL Server program
> files, data files and log files on SAN drives and then syncronously mirror
> those to a remote SAN. The only articles I have found deal with doing a
> split-mirror of a user database but still having to maintain logins, DTS
> packages, etc. manually by recreating them on the remote side. The only
> other info I have is that we also have DB2 and have been told by IBM that a
> partial page write could occur so they don't recommend mirroring data but
> since the log can deal with a partial page write that it would be possible to
> mirror the log files. But, on the other side there would still have to
> something setup to apply those logs.
> --
> bscgmcc|||Is the remote instance of SQL going to be running.
There are a few ways it can be done to mirror the data. A software solution provided by your SAN manufacturer to snap the data and move it across the fabric to your remote san at a hardware level.
A software solution, using VSS can snap and move across fabric/network via a third party, such as backup provider. I use something similar to this method currently. (I do it on all the DB's incl model, master, temp, and logs, but no program files, although there is software that can).
With 2005 SP1 database mirroring is also a possible solution, but would not mirror program files, etc.