About NetBackup Snapshot Client for SQL Server
NetBackup for SQL Server includes support for snapshot backups. The snapshot technology uses SQL Server VDI (virtual device interface) quiescence to affect a momentary freeze on database activity. Then the agent can back up and restore SQL Server objects by taking snapshots of the component files. Data is captured at a particular instant. The resulting snapshot can be backed up without affecting the availability of the database. These snapshots are backed up to the storage unit.
A separate Snapshot Client license provides additional features for snapshot backups. You can configure the snapshot image for Instant Recovery and you can configure an alternate client to perform the snapshot backup.
The following NetBackup Snapshot Client features are available for use with NetBackup for SQL Server:
Snapshot backup | A point-in-time, read-only, disk-based copy of a client volume. NetBackup backs up data from the snapshot, not directly from the client's primary or original volume. |
Instant Recovery | Makes the backups available for recovery from the local disk. The snapshot can also be the source for an additional backup copy to tape or other storage. |
Off-host backup | Shifts the burden of backup processing onto a separate backup agent, reducing the backup impact on the client's computing resources. The backup agent sends the client's data to the storage device. |
Although all of these features are provided through Snapshot Client support for SQL Server, not all snapshot methods are supported. For information on how to select a method, see the NetBackup Snapshot Client Administrator's Guide. For a description of snapshot methods available for use with NetBackup for SQL Server, see the NetBackup Snapshot Client compatibility list.