HP StorageWorks Fast Recovery Solution XP SW Administrator's Guide

Windows Server 2003

HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution

administration guide

EVA4000 EVA6000 EVA8000

product version: 02.01.00

first edition (July 2005)

part number: B9552-96006

This guide describes how to use the fast recovery solution with Microsoft Exchange 2003

the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

This document contains proprietary information, which is protected by copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated into another language without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The

information is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind and is subject to change without notice. The warranties for Hewlett-Packard Company products are set forth in the express limited warranty statements accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.

Printed in the U.S.A.

HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

first edition (July 2005) part number: B9552-96006

2 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

About this guide 7

IMPORTANT: firmware and software dependencies 7 Prerequisite information 8 HP storage web site 8 Helpful web sites 8 HP technical support 9 HP sales and authorized resellers 9

Document conventions and symbols 10 Revision history 11 Warranty statement 12

1Overview 15

FRS feature summary 16

High availability using FRS 16 FRS overview 17

Additional FRS capabilities 18

Functional components 18

Exchange 20

FRS 20

Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) 21

HP VDS/VSS Hardware Providers 23

HP disk arrays 23

Contents 3

2Configuration 25

Typical FRS server configuration 26

Required hardware components 27 Required software components 28 Important limitations 29 Important general configuration notes 29 Important performance issues 30

Important Exchange 2003 configuration notes 30 Configuration summary 31 Configuration details 32

Configuring the Command View workstation and software 32

Configure production and recovery servers 33

Configuring the EVA disk array 34

3 Installation 39

Installing HP VSS HWP 40 Installing FRS on recovery and production servers 41

Installing integrity checking components 43 Enabling the FRS license using AutoPass 44

Installing a permanent license before trial expiration 44

Installing a permanent license after trial expiration 44

Permanent license installation 45

Instance count check 47 Recovery server XML files 48 Uninstalling FRS 49

4 Using FRS 51

Using FRS 52

Opening FRS 52

Using the main window 53

Adding server instances 55

Deleting server instances 56 Creating shadow copies 57 Executing an FRS recovery 60

Deleting old point-in-time copies 64

Recovery log analysis 65 Command line interface 66

Available commands 67

Example commands 70

Command line error codes 72

4 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

5Troubleshooting 75

Troubleshooting 76

Checking logs 76 Troubleshooting checks 76

FRS error messages 78

Maintenance 78 Recovery 79 Terminating processes 80

Glossary 81

Index 85

Contents 5

6 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

About this guide

This guide provides information about configuring and using HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solutions (FRS) in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment running Exchange 2003. FRS enables quick recovery of Exchange storage groups.

FRS combines LUN copy creation and database recovery features for use with HP StorageWorks EVA disk arrays. Using the Microsoft VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service), FRS creates and manages recovery-ready copies of the production Exchange 2003 storage groups to be used in the event of a disaster. FRS allows you to recover storage groups in minutes rather than the hours typically required for a conventional restore from backup.

Unless otherwise noted, the term disk array refers to the disk arrays listed on the front cover of this guide.

Related information

For information about the disk arrays, please refer to the owner’s manuals.

IMPORTANT: firmware and software dependencies

This guide describes FRS behavior based on features implemented in the latest disk array firmware and software versions. FRS may not work if incompatible software versions are used. Check the Readme file to verify that you have the correct versions.

About this guide 7

Prerequisite information

The instructions in this guide are intended for system administrators who have the following skills and knowledge:

• A background in direct access storage device subsystems and their

• Familiarity with EVA and related disk array management software

• An understanding of VSS installation and configuration of the

• Familiarity with the Windows Server 2003 operating system

• Familiarity with Exchange 2003 administration

HP storage web site

For the most current information about HP StorageWorks products, visit:

http://h18006.www1.hp.com/storage/enterprisestorage.html

For information about product availability, configuration, and connectivity, contact your HP support representative.

basic functions

such as CommandView EVA

recovery volumes within VSS

Helpful web sites

For third party product information, see the following web sites:

http://www.hp.com/go/storage

http://www.hp.com/support

8 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003:

HP technical support

In North America, call technical support at 1-800-633-3600, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Outside North America, call technical support at the location nearest you. The HP web site lists telephone numbers for worldwide technical support at:

Collect the following information before calling:

For continuous quality improvement, calls may be recorded or monitored.

HP strongly recommends that customers sign up online using the Subscriber’s choice web site at Subscribing to this service provides you with email updates on the latest product enhancements, newest drivers, and firmware documentation updates as well as instant access to numerous other product resources.

http://www.hp.com/support

• Technical support registration number (if applicable)

• Product serial numbers

• Product model names and numbers

• Applicable error messages

• Operating system type and revision level

• Detailed questions

. From this web site, select your country.

http://www.hp.com/go/e-updates

HP sales and authorized resellers

To reach HP sales or find a local authorized reseller of HP products, call 1-800-282-6672 or visit the HP How To Buy web site:

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/howtobuy.html

You can also find HP sales and resellers at Contact HP.

About this guide 9

http://www.hp.com

. Click

Document conventions and symbols

Table 1. Document conventions

Convention Element

Blue text (Figure 1) Cross-reference links

Bold Menu items, button names, key names, tab names, and group box names

Italics Text emphasis and document titles

Blue underlined sans serif font (www.hp.com

)

Caution Indicates that failure to follow directions could result in damage to

Web site addresses

equipment or data.

Warning

Indicates that failure to follow directions could result in bodily harm or death.

10 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003:

Revision history

July 2005 New EVA FRS manual

About this guide 11

Warranty statement

HP warrants that for a period of ninety calendar days from the date of purchase, as evidenced by a copy of the invoice, the media on which the Software is furnished (if any) will be free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use.

DISCLAIMER EXTENT ALLOWED BY LOCAL LAW, THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED TO YOU “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. HP SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE, ACCURACY OF INFORMATIONAL CONTENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusions

of implied warranties or conditions, so the above exclusion may not apply to you to the extent prohibited by such local laws. You may have other rights that vary from country to country, state to state, or province to province.

WA R NI N G THAT USE OF THE SOFTWARE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. HP DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, VIRUS-FREE OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. HP DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR RELATED DOCUMENTATION IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY HP OR HP’S AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY.

. EXCEPT FOR THE FOREGOING AND TO THE

! YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE

12 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003:

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY LOCAL LAW, IN NO EVENT INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE WILL HP OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFIT, LOST DATA, OR DOWNTIME COSTS), ARISING OUT OF THE USE, INABILITY TO USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE OF THE SOFTWARE, WHETHER BASED IN WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Your use of the

Software is entirely at your own risk. Should the Software prove defective, you assume the entire cost of all service, repair or correction. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you to the extent prohibited by such local laws.

NOTE

. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LOCAL LAW,

THESE WARRANTY TERMS DO NOT EXCLUDE, RESTRICT OR MODIFY, AND ARE IN ADDITION TO, THE MANDATORY STATUTORY RIGHTS APPLICABLE TO THE LICENSE OF THE SOFTWARE TO YOU; PROVIDED

, HOWEVER, THAT THE CONVENTION ON CONTRACTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS IS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED AND SHALL NOT GOVERN OR APPLY TO THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS WARRANTY STATEMENT.

About this guide 13

14 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003:

Overview

This chapter presents a technical overview of the HP StorageWorks Fast Recovery Solution (FRS) and explains how it operates with Microsoft’s operating system, VSS service, and applications as well as HP StorageWorks Hardware Providers.

When you have read this chapter, you should have a functional understanding of FRS that will prepare you to install it and get it working.

Overview 15

FRS feature summary

HP StorageWorks FRS provides these features:

• Supports HP StorageWorks EVA disk arrays

• Provides fast recovery of large Microsoft Exchange 2003 storage groups

• Minimizes downtime from an Exchange corruption

• Independently recovers Exchange storage groups

• Supports multiple instances of production Exchange 2003 servers from a single FRS server (and a single Command View workstation)

• Supports Microsoft Cluster Services

• Includes Command Line Interface (CLI) feature for FRS copy creation and deletion of point-in-time copies

• Creates and maintains multiple point-in-time recovery LUNs

High availability using FRS

HP provides a total high-availability solution package from high-end storage to software and support. Fast Recovery Solutions is part of the high-availability offering, which includes:

• Servers and software

• Disk arrays

• HP StorageWorks Business Copy EVA

• CommandView EVA

• Fast Recovery Solutions for EVA

• Storage consulting services and post-sales total solution support

16 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

FRS overview

FRS is a Windows server tool designed to enable fast recovery when an Exchange storage group maintained on an HP disk array becomes damaged.

(1) Use Production Server to store production data on array primary volume.

Store

Production Server w/FRS FRS Recovery Server

(2) Use FRS GUI on Recovery Server

to copy production data to secondary array volume.

Disk Array

Primary

Copy

Secondary

(3) In the event of production data damage,

restore primary data from the seconda ry data

using the FRS GUI on t he Recovery Server.

Restore

Recovery Data (read-only) is routinely available on the secondary disk for data mining or transport.

The FRS life cycle can be summarized as follows:

• (1) The production server maintains production storage groups or databases on specified production volumes of the disk array.

• (2) The FRS GUI runs on the recovery server. It captures copies of the Exchange storage groups from the production volumes and stores them on recovery volumes of the array. FRS creates, maintains, and manages these “recovery-ready” copies.

• (3) When a data corruption occurs, the administrator uses the FRS graphical user interface to replace the damaged storage group or database with the most recent known good recovery-ready copy.

Overview 17

Additional FRS capabilities

FRS can create and maintain copies of storage groups or databases for multiple production servers. The FRS user interface allows Exchange instances to be added or deleted from FRS management at will.

FRS supports Microsoft clustering. Without compromising the cluster or taking it offline, FRS provides quick database recovery.

Database integrity checking is included in FRS. FRS interacts with the Microsoft Exchange eseutil integrity checking tool for Exchange to check database copies and recovered databases, ensuring they are free of logical and physical corruption.

FRS performs both point-in-time and roll-forward recovery.

Functional components

The process of creating and managing recovery copies on the disk array using FRS involves the following components:

• Exchange

• HP FRS

• Windows VSS Service

• HP VSS Hardware Provider

• HP Disk Array System

18 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

Production Server

Management

MS Exchange

Application(s)

Microsoft Volume

Shadow Copy Service

HP EVA VSS

Hardware Provider(s)

Hardware Provider

Disk Array

HP FRS

Management

Provider

Application(s)

Recovery Server

Management

HP FRS GUI

Application(s)

Array

Management

Command

Application(s)

Device

Overview 19

Exchange

FRS

Exchange runs on the Producton Server and writes data to primary disk array volumes. FRS protects Exchange by creating and managing shadow copies of Exchange storage groups.

Software components called “writers” interface with Exchange to coordinate volume shadow copy creation. Some operating system writers come with Windows, while others, such as the Exchange writer, come with the application software.

Upon request from FRS for a shadow copy, the writer flushes the application buffers and holds I/O to the application. It then notifies the VSS hardware provider that it is ready for a shadow copy, and the VSS HWP copies the production volume to a recovery volume. When the copy is complete, VSS releases the application to resume normal operation. This process ensures consistent data even though the application is still running.

FRS consists of two sets of components: one set of production server components, and a separate set of recovery server components, including a graphical user interface. FRS as a whole is referred to by Microsoft as a “requestor” application that requests service from VSS.

The FRS GUI runs on the recovery server and provides user control of FRS on the production server. You can use the FRS GUI to make shadow copies of the data on the production LUNs, and use the GUI to recover the complete dataset from a copy on the recovery LUNs.

FRS on the production server interacts with the Windows VSS service and HP Hardware Provider (HWP). When FRS requests it, this service and provider combination coordinates with the writer and application to create a volume shadow copy of the production data on the production array LUNs.

The complete recovery-ready copy is placed on recovery array volumes. FRS presents the recovery volumes to the recovery server through VSS. This enables you to use the recovery server to archive the recovery data to backup tapes at any time. In the event of production data corruption, you

20 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

can use the FRS GUI to restore the production volumes from the most recent data copy or another point-in-time copy on the recovery volumes.

Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)

Microsoft’s VSS manages creation and maintenance of shadow copies of production data for backup and recovery. This service works under the control of the FRS interface and the Windows OS file system services.

When requested by FRS, VSS coordinates with the writer and hardware providers to perform shadow copying of production data to the recovery volumes. The shadow copies contain static copies of all files, such as databases, transaction logs, and checkpoint files.

Copy terminology

Understanding how Microsoft VSS terminology corresponds to standard IT industry terms for data copying makes it easier to understand what VSS does. The following paragraphs explain the terminology.

Microsoft generally refers to a VSS copy as a “volume shadow copy.” When created using HP FRS and HWP, this type of copy is a static replica of an original volume’s contents. It is keyed with a GUID to allow identification of the parts of a shadow copy set that span multiple volumes. Microsoft also refers to a VSS copy as a “plex,” commonly known in the IT industry as a “split mirror.”

When you use an EVA array to make the shadow copy, the array makes what is known as a “snapclone.” An EVA Snapclone is a complete clone copy of a specified Virtual Disk (LUN). EVA snapclones are available almost immediately. This is accomplished by creating a point-in-time copy and making it immediately available by pointing to data on the original volume while continuing to copy data to a secondary volume in the background. When copying is complete, the snapclone is a static point-in-time copy of the original.

The shadow copies made on the EVA array using VSS, FRS, and HWP are always static, point-in-time copies.

Overview 21

VSS process flow

The following steps show the VSS process flow:

1. A Requestor application (FRS) initiates a Volume Shadow Copy.

2. FRS requests that the Volume Shadow Copy service create a shadow copy of a selected set of storage groups.

3. VSS tells the Writer and application to prepare for a shadow copy. The Writer reports which LUNs to copy, flushes cache, and holds I/O.

4. VSS tells the disk array through HP HWP to create a shadow copy of the production storage volume.

5. VSS releases the writer application to resume normal operations.

6. The Requestor (FRS) presents the recovery LUNs to the recovery server using VSS, waits for normalization, runs integrity checking, verifies backup integrity, truncates logs upon success, and tells the writer that the backup was successful.





Application (Exchange)

and Writer



Requestor

(FRS)







Virtual Disk Service

22 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

VSS Service

HP HWP

Disk Array

HP VDS/VSS Hardware Providers

Windows Server 2003 sees, partitions, mounts, and manages file systems on the disk array using its own software providers. HP’s Hardware Providers extend the array management capabilities of Windows and its applications to include functions normally performed using the disk array’s proprietary control software. These functions include managing disk array LUNs and ports and performing volume copy operations.

HP’s Business Copy (BC) application, which resides on the disk array and is licensed in Command View, works with the VSS and the HP HWP components to enable the array to make VSS shadow copies. For functional purposes, you can think of BC as a part of the hardware providers, even though it is installed separately.

For more information about the HP Hardware Providers, refer to the HP EVA Hardware Providers Administration Guide.

HP disk arrays

The HP EVA array works with FRS, Microsoft VSS, and HP VSS HWP to perform snapclone creation, storage, and management. FRS takes advantage of the many advanced capabilities of the EVA disk array to provide multiple recovery options.

Overview 23

24 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

Configuration

This chapter explains how to configure the servers and the disk array before you install FRS.

If you have not read Chapter 1 Overview to understand how FRS works, HP recommends that you do so before attempting to install and use FRS.

Configuration 25

Typical FRS server configuration

The following figure shows a typical FRS configuration.

Note that any firewall must be open between the FRS servers and the Command View server. Anything that slows down access to the CV server will cause VSS timeout failures.

Corporate LAN (TCP/IP)

DCOM/RPC (servers in same domain)

FRS

Production

Server

FC SAN

FC Switch

PRODUCTION SERVER S/W: Windows 2003 Server MS Exchange HP VSS HWP HP FRS HP MPIO FF

FC SAN

Optional Firewall

(open between CV and servers)

CV Workstation

BC License

HP MPIO FF

EVA

Disk Array

FC SAN

DCOM/RPC

FRS

Recovery

Server

FC SAN

FC Switch

RECOVERY SERVER S/W: Windows 2003 Server HP VSS HWP HP FRS (GUI included) HP MPIO FF eseutil.exe ese.dll

26 HP StorageWorks EVA Fast Recovery Solution for Windows Server 2003: Administration Guide

Required hardware components

• HP StorageWorks Disk Array: EVA disk array 4000/6000/8000 with a Windows workstation running Command View EVA.

• Production Server with Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition. This server runs Exchange and manages storage and retrieval of application data on the production volumes of the array. Server specifications must meet minimum Microsoft OS requirements.

• Recovery Server with Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition. The recovery server contains the FRS GUI and manages the array recovery volumes and recovery administration. Server specifications must meet minimum Microsoft OS requirements.

• Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) in each server for connecting to the disk array via a Fibre Channel SAN.

• Fiber cables and fabric switches to connect the hosts to the array.

• Ethernet Network Interface Cards or available network interface port in each server for connecting to Ethernet LAN. Important: The Windows Network Connections control panel Advanced Settings must be set to list first the network that provides communication between the FRS servers and the CV server.

Configuration 27

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