Introduction to Using Oracle with EVM

Software Supported

Oracle Corporation Oracle8 has been qualified for use with SANworks Enterprise Volume Manager. For the Compaq Web site with the latest information on using EVM with supported software, see Supported Software Summary.

 

Using Oracle with EVM

By automating StorageWorks replication methods such as clone and snapshot, EVM provides you with the ability to create virtually instantaneous copies of databases that can be mounted on the original server or on other servers in the EVM Network. By combining EVM features with Oracle’s online (hot) backup mode, you can perform a wide range of tasks, such as running tape backups, creating hot standby storage units, data mining, and application testing with little or no interruption of normal database operations.

 

Using Oracle’s Online (Hot) Backup Feature

By using Oracle’s online (hot) backup feature, you can replicate the entire database, or selected tablespaces and files, while the database is open. When used with EVM, it is only necessary to leave the tablespaces in online backup mode for a few seconds while the BCV unit is split off from the source unit. In short, EVM eliminates the performance penalty normally associated with online backups and expands the backup window to 24 hours a day.

 

Interacting with Oracle through the EVM Application I/O Handler

You can design script files that issue SQL commands and run these scripts from the EVM job. You use the EVM Application I/O Handler to specify pre-split commands and post-split commands. The Application I/O Handler accepts standard path and file names as input.

EVM executes the pre-split script just before the BCV unit is split from the source unit. The post-split script is executed by EVM just after the split is completed.

For example, in the pre-split script you can place each tablespace in online backup mode. In the post-split script you can take each tablespace out of online backup mode.