So PowerProtect Data Manager (PPDM) 19.14...., you might be wondering, what exactly does this update bring to the table? Well, I've done some digging, and here's what I've found!
There's alot ! First and foremost, version 19.14 of PowerProtect Data Manager introduces some fantastic enhancements. The product Management and Engineering team have been hard at work addressing user feedback and fine-tuning the software with some brand-new features and improvements in existing ones. I've listed some of whats new directly below and will then cover the more important updates in detail further below. The list below is not exhaustive and updates include:
The UX/UI improvements including a new VM Asset View, Tree and Folder Views , new VM Asset Views, Protection Policies, and an option to set the Time Zone.
Quality and Serviceability Improvements include Debug Logging Levels for all Adhoc Workload Protection and Restore Jobs and Log Level Propagation and API Changes
The Enhancemebts for K8s include Multi-stream PVC Backups, allowing DataMover selection for VMware CSI backups.
VMware-related are Asset Recovery with Restore Plans, TSDM VIB Lifecycle Improvements, Policy UI Changes for TSDM.
Other updates include
PPDM Supportability Tool for Consistency Checks on Backup Copies, Scheduled Reporting For Email Distribution, Configurable ports for PPDM Agents, Reporting Log Bundle Enhancements, PPDM Indexing and Search, Oracle Agent Installer Improvements, Oracle Data Guard for OIM
And Now ...
Storage Direct with PowerStore
A new data protection solution for storage arrays with 19.14. PowerStore Manager with PowerStore and PowerProtect does not require any additional backup software. This enables backup administrators to perform data protection for block volumes and volume groups on PowerStore storage arrays using PowerProtect Data Manager (PPDM). The backups are running directly on the PowerStore.
With PPDM controlling both the PowerStore and PowerProtect appliances, you now have enhanced backup orchestration, crash-consistent backup and recovery (note: application-consistent backup and recovery coming in a future release), and centralized management of all your data. As well as a direct connection to high-performance-based backups and recover, you also now have the ability to use PowerStore snapshots. The Local PowerStore snapshots are managed by PPDM in the same protection policy configured to perform backup to PowerProtect DD.
PPDM supports data protection of both block volumes and network-attached storage (NAS) devices on PowerStore storage arrays. However, the NAS share protection is supported through NAS protection engines and not with this integration and release.
Storage Direct Workflow Summary :
PPDM requests backup of block volumes and volume groups.
PowerStore uses a bit map of storage to determine changed blocks,
Deduplicates with DDBoost, and writes directly to a volume on the PowerProtect DD; Retention Lock is applied on PowerProtect DD.
PowerStore snapshots can also be managed.
Volumes are available for instant access or differential recovery to PowerStore
PPDM is integrated with PowerStore management through the storage array REST APIs. PowerProtect DD series appliances are the target protection storage to protect the resources (volumes and volume groups) on PowerStore. From PowerStore, the snapshot data is sent to PowerProtect DD through DD Boost over IP. When incremental backups are performed, only the unique data is traversed through the network to create a remote snapshot on the PowerProtect DD series appliances. The data then can be replicated to a different PowerProtect DD appliance The data can also be sent on to a number of cloud providers supported by PowerProtect DD as part of the cloud tier feature for long-term retention (LTR) or archival.
Have a look at the 3 short demos below, showing using PPDM with PowerStore.
Part 1 : Setup, Discovering the Powerstore as an Asset
Part 2: creating the Protection Policies
Part 3: Performing Restore of Block Volume Data from Backup and Snapshot copies - Use Cases
So in summary, we have centralized protection policies that manage automatic snapshots, backups, and replication operations, including the running of snapshots and backups from the PowerStore. There is also support for manual backup, snapshot, and replication operations and the Same protection policy will cover the Management of local snapshot and backup operations to PowerProtect DD and any cloud tiering from DD. The actual Integration between the PowerStore is without the use of any Storage Direct agent deployments.
PowerProtect Data Manager Restore Plan
PPDM now can restore multiple VMs at the same time using a Restore plan. You won't have to go through lots of different wizards in the UI. the Assets within the Restore Plan are differentiated by groups which is a new feature in 19,14
K8s Related Enhancements
Adding a Kubernetes cluster as an asset source in PPDM enables you to protect namespaces and persistent volume claims (PVCs) within the cluster. The Cloud Native Data Manager (CNDM) is an integrated microservice component of PPDM which communicates with the kube-apiserver of the cluster. This component is responsible for APIs for the backup and restore process. The PowerProtect controller is the component which is installed on the Kubernetes cluster when the cluster is discovered by PPDM. The PowerProtect controller is responsible for the backup and restore of persistent volumes. Velero is a component that is pushed into the Kubernetes cluster by the PowerProtect controller. It is responsible for the backup and restore of metadata.
Parallel Protection of K8S Clusters
This refers to simultaneous and independent backups of multiple Kubernetes (K8S) clustersso running backup processes in parallel. Organizations deploy multiple K8S clusters to manage different applications or environments. Protecting these clusters and their associated workloads is essential. How does this work ?
Firstly identify and target multiple K8S clusters for backup to ensures that each cluster's resources are independently backed up. Each backup process operates within the context of its respective K8S cluster, ensuring resource isolation and minimizing any potential impact on the cluster's performance or availability. This isolation prevents one cluster's backup process from interfering with another. Teh load is dynamically distributed across available resources, such as network bandwidth, CPU, and storage I/O.
Multi-stream PVC Backups
As Kubernetes applications grow in complexity and size, ensuring efficient and timely backups becomes crucial. Traditional single-stream backups for Kubernetes PVCs can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. However, with multi-stream PVC backups, the backup process is split into parallel streams, enabling concurrent data transfers and significantly reducing backup windows. The PVC backup process is divided into multiple parallel streams. Each stream is responsible for backing up a portion of the PVC's data simultaneously, harnessing the potential of parallel processing.
The backup workload is devided evenly across the available streams, ensuring a balanced and efficient utilization of resources such as network bandwidth and storage I/O. While the backup streams operate independently, mechanisms are in place to ensure synchronization and consistency across the data being backed up. This ensures a coherent backup state and guarantees data integrity. Once all the backup streams have completed their tasks, the individual backup data from each stream is aggregated to form a complete backup of the PVC. During the restore process, the backup software reconstructs the original PVC from the backup data obtained from the multiple streams. By leveraging parallel streams, multi-stream PVC backups drastically reduce backup windows for kubernetes applications.
VMware-related Enhancements
Application Aware Protection and Restore with Transparent Snapshots
MSSQL Application Aware Protection and Restore with Transparent Snapshots is a powerful feature offered by PowerProtect Data Manager that revolutionizes the backup and restore process for Microsoft SQL Server databases. By combining transparent snapshots and application-aware intelligence, this feature provides Transparent Snapshot (TSDM) App Aware capabilities and enables customers to no longer have to "stun" or quiesce Microsoft SQL Server databases when backing up.
PPDM can protect VMware VMs in a reliable t manner using VMware vSphere Storage APIs - Data Protection (VADP). These VADP snapshots are reliable, proven, and certified by VMware, and can be used as part of backup operations.
However, the VADP snapshot process pauses the execution of the VM and allows in-flight disk I/O operations to be completed. When it comes to traditional backup methods, SQL Server databases often require "stunning" or quiescing, which interrupts services, introduces latency, and prolongs backup windows. When you create a snapshot of a high-transactional application, such as a database, there can be adverse effects. These effects include lengthy backup windows and application timeouts when the stun occurs.
Transparent snapshots leverage the vSphere API for I/O (VAI/O) Filtering framework. By deploying the transparent snapshots data mover (TSDM) component within your VMware ESXi infrastructure, you seamlessly integrate PPDM and enable application-aware backups for SQL Server.
MSSQL Application Aware Protection ensures that the backup process understands the inner workings of your SQL Server databases. It communicates with the databases at the application level, utilizing advanced APIs and intelligence to maintain data consistency and integrity throughout the backup operation. This eliminates the need for 'stunning', enabling non-disruptive backups while your SQL Server applications continue running smoothly.
Now, let's explore how this feature enhances the restore process. With transparent snapshots and MSSQL Application Aware capabilities, PPDM enables granular, item-level restores and database recovery directly from the snapshots. This means you have the flexibility to restore specific tables, sets of records, or entire databases as needed, without relying on full backups or complex recovery procedures.
PPDM transparent snapshots use the vSphere API for I/O (VAI/O) Filtering framework. The transparent snapshots data mover (TSDM) is deployed in the VMware ESXi infrastructure through a PowerProtect Data Transparent snapshots architecture using Transparent Snapshots Manager VIB.
The restore process becomes faster, more efficient, and less resource-intensive by eliminating unnecessary steps and providing direct access to the data within the transparent snapshots. This addition means non-disruptive backups, application-level intelligence, granular recovery options, and much faster backups.
App-aware protection for SQL with Transparent Snapshots Demo
Oracle Cloud VMware Solution (OCVS) support
What does PPDm suport with OCVS mean ? Dell and Oracle have partnered to provide a data protection solution for VMware workloads running in Oracle Cloud VMware Solution (OCVS).
The Oracle Cloud VMware Solution (OCVS) support is a service provided by Oracle that enables customers to run their VMware workloads natively within the Oracle Cloud infrastructure. It offers a fully compatible and consistent VMware environment, allowing organizations to migrate their existing VMware-based applications and workloads to the cloud seamlessly.
OCVS ensures compatibility with VMware vSphere, vCenter, and other VMware tools and technologies. This allows customers to manage their OCVS environment using their existing VMware management tools and processes. They in addition provide dedicated, bare metal VMware stacks, offering high performance and isolation for customer workloads. Each VMware stack is provisioned exclusively for a customer, ensuring resource isolation and security.
The infrastructure supports various networking options to connect VMware workloads with other Oracle Cloud services and this enables seamless integration with other Oracle Cloud services, such as Oracle Autonomous Database, Object Storage, and Identity and Access Management. Migration tools and services are offered to simplify the process of migrating on-premises VMware workloads to the Oracle Cloud. It also supports hybrid deployment scenarios, allowing customers to seamlessly extend their on-premises VMware environment to the cloud.
Protecting workloads on Oracle Cloud VMware Demo
Support of VM Image based Protection on Oracle Cloud VMware Solution
VM Image-based Protection on Oracle Cloud VMware is a feature that provides backup and recovery capabilities for virtual machines (VMs) running on the Oracle Cloud VMware Solution. It allows you to create and manage backup copies of your VM images, ensuring data protection and enabling rapid recovery in the event of data loss or system failures.
Oracle Database Appliance (ODA) qualification
PPDM now has support for ODA. Oracle Database Appliance (ODA) is the easiest and most affordable way for small or medium-size organizations to run Oracle databases and applications and is an ideal platform for remote and edge computing environments. Customers reduce Oracle Database deployment times and management workloads using a prebuilt integrated system with management automation.
Oracle Database Appliance (ODA) is the process of verifying and ensuring that an Oracle partner or individual has the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively deploy, configure, manage, and support Oracle Database Appliance systems. To become qualified in Oracle Database Appliance involves a certification process by Oracle. These cover various aspects of Oracle Database Appliance,
Further Reading below :
This article has been written by Faisal Choudry from DELL
Faisal Choudry has extensive experience and a genuine interest in implementing Data Protection and Recovery strategies, whether it involves safeguarding against Disasters, Cyber attacks, or both. He has actively participated in several large-scale DR and failover (audited) testing projects and has authored multiple papers on the subject. Faisal has also contributed to the engineering, development, and early implementations of various products, including VxRail and VCF on VxRail, vBlock, and SAP HANA.