Scale HC3 Resources - MS SQL Server Backup Options

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These points came from a planning discussion with a HC3 customer looking at various_ built in_ options for protecting and restoring SQL Server Databases running on their HC3 system. (of course using 3rd party backup software with SQL Server awareness is also an option)

Local DB VM Snapshots

• Make sure HC3 cluster is on 7.2 or higher and DB VM as Scale Guest Agent installed and running - this will coordinate VSS (volume shadow copy services) tasks with HC3 snapshots automatically
• If multiple DB's exist on the same VM - using processes for single file recovery from VM's snapshots may desirable to allow roll back of specific DB's vs. entire VM

Local Backup Only - Built in SQL Server DB backup to local dsk

• No snapshot and/or replication schedules configured for the target SQL backup volumes for best performance (requires support setup if other volumes are enabled for snapshots or replication only)
• Increase SSD Priority to exceed the largest backup file with some additional capacity.

Remote Backup Only - Built in SQL Server DB backup to remote file share (running on HC3 system)

• Create new backup VMs or migrate existing ones to the remote cluster.
• No snapshot and/or replication schedules configured for the target SQL backup volumes for best backup performance
• Best practice would be to run this VM on a separate HC3 system for isolation such as a single node system
• SQL Server agent needs to be run using windows account with access to backup share

Each option can utilize combinations of all these backup options

• Local snapshots of DB VMs (see guest agent / VSS discussion above)
• Replication of DB VMs
• Backups to local, remote, or local and remote VMs without snapshot schedules and/or replication
• Automated exports from Scale to a NAS device
• Any backups to a device external of Scale