Backup of Linux Cluster

[former_member343226]

Dear All,

Need your valuable input and help in doing a restoration test based on following:-

1. We have a Linux Cluster having 2 physical nodes running on Oracle Database.

2. Our backup software is Symantec Netbackup

3. Our backup policy includes the backing up of filesystem (with bare metal restore option) and database (full and incremental)

Requirement

A. We want to restore from the backup a complete system (requiring not to install the cluster, SAP, or Oracle). FYI: this was successful in doing a complete OS, DB, SAP restore for Oracle DB on a VM Standalone machine. But is not working for cluster.

B. We have tried restoration from Physical to Virtual but Symantec does not support

C. We want to adopt a method, other than option A which can help us restore in minimum time.

D. Also considering imaging / cloning option (Suggest any software that would work based on our requirements above 1,2,3).

Looking forward to your to the point inputs.

Thank you

[former_member188883]

Hi J K,

A. We want to restore from the backup a complete system (requiring not to install the cluster, SAP, or Oracle). FYI: this was successful in doing a complete OS, DB, SAP restore for Oracle DB on a VM Standalone machine. But is not working for cluster.

This can be done using file system backup. Stop the cluster services to avoid any failover condition.

Stop application and database and then initiate full offline file system backup on both the nodes.

B. We have tried restoration from Physical to Virtual but Symantec does not support

Which backup did you try to restore ? Share logs from symantec

C. We want to adopt a method, other than option A which can help us restore in minimum time.

You may look into flash recovery backup and restore solution. Secondly you may configure DR solution to minimize business impact.

D. Also considering imaging / cloning option (Suggest any software that would work based on our requirements above 1,2,3).

As your SAP system is on VM, check with relevant VM vendor for cloning solution.Solutions could be like VMmotion from VMware.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Deepak Kori

[former_member343226]

This can be done using file system backup. Stop the cluster services to avoid any failover condition.
Stop application and database and then initiate full offline file system backup on both the nodes.

We will try this option.

Which backup did you try to restore ? Share logs from symantec

We freshly installed linux. Did a fresh configuration of linux cluster with same ip addresses and configuration. After that we did a restore of selected sap/oracle directories (not root or filesystem ones in order to avoid the clash of cluster config). However, the oracle service failed to start. Its difficult to get the logs as we've removed the VM now which we used to test.

You may look into flash recovery backup and restore solution. Secondly you may configure DR solution to minimize business impact.

We have issue with the cluster currently, not the Database. If we don't consider the cluster or SAP Applications, we can modify the config file and make the database server in open state and read the tables. therefore, the database restoration is working fine, but cluster is not (due to which we cannot make the sap application up).

As we first want to clarify the restoration process first, DR will be the next phase.

As your SAP system is on VM, check with relevant VM vendor for cloning solution.Solutions could be like VMmotion from VMware.

Our SAP Linux Cluster is on a physical hardware as mentioned in the initial message, not VM. Can you suggest anything for Physical Linux cluster.

Thanks and Regards,

[former_member188883]

Hi JK,

We freshly installed linux. Did a fresh configuration of linux cluster with same ip addresses and configuration. After that we did a restore of selected sap/oracle directories (not root or filesystem ones in order to avoid the clash of cluster config). However, the oracle service failed to start. Its difficult to get the logs as we've removed the VM now which we used to test.

Oracle has some link files created under /var. so if you restore the full file system backup including OS binaries it should work fine. You may share the logs for oracle not starting . May be re-linking can resolve the issue.

We have issue with the cluster currently, not the Database. If we don't consider the cluster or SAP Applications, we can modify the config file and make the database server in open state and read the tables. therefore, the database restoration is working fine, but cluster is not (due to which we cannot make the sap application up).

Please discuss with cluster implementation vendor on which all configs to be adjusted when file system is restored.

Our SAP Linux Cluster is on a physical hardware as mentioned in the initial message, not VM. Can you suggest anything for Physical Linux cluster.

For Physical hardware, flash recovery solution can help. For OS file systems check with OS vendor on any replication s/w to have them in sync.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Deepak Kori