Legato Storage Manager Administrator's Guide Release 8.0.4 A58373-01 |
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# 1
Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of Legato Storage Manager (LSM) for Oracle. It surveys the major features and functionality of LSM and explains how LSM operates in conjunction with the other components of an integrated Oracle backup and recovery system.

##### Major Topics:

- What is Legato Storage Manager?
- Overview of LSM Features
- Overview of Oracle Backup and Recovery System
- Additional Legato Documentation

## What is Legato Storage Manager?

LSM is a comprehensive Oracle data storage management system. LSM augments the Oracle backup and recovery subsystem in Oracle7 on Windows NT or Oracle8 by means of its media management functionality.

LSM provides Oracle data storage management service to the Oracle Server. You use LSM to configure the Oracle backup devices and the storage volumes in those devices. LSM interacts with the backup/restore utility on the Oracle Server during Oracle backup and restore operations. That utility is Enterprise Backup Utility (EBU) in Oracle7 on Windows NT and Recovery Manager (RMAN) in Oracle8.

You initiate an Oracle backup or restore by running the appropriate backup/restore utility on the Oracle Server. During the backup, LSM receives the Oracle data from the Oracle utility and stores that data on the backup volumes. During the restore operation, LSM retrieves the required data from the backup volumes and passes it to the Oracle utility. LSM also maintains information records about the Oracle backups in its online index files, using this information to track the backed-up data.

As part of an overall Oracle backup and recovery system, LSM provides:

- Complete storage device and volume management services
- Convenient tracking of Oracle backup data on storage volumes
- Management of Oracle backup data throughout a complete data life cycle
- Complete disaster recovery protection for Oracle databases

## Overview of LSM Features

LSM has two major components:

- LSM Server
- LSM Administrator GUI

As the main component of LSM, the LSM Server comprises all the programs and information files essential to running LSM. The LSM Server is the component that uses the Oracle backup devices and volumes and maintains information about Oracle backups in its online index files.

You must install the LSM Server on the same Windows NT or UNIX machine as the Oracle Server. You must also connect the Oracle backup devices to the Oracle Server machine.

The LSM Administrator GUI is a graphical user interface to access the LSM Server and its resources. You can run the LSM Administrator GUI to connect to and configure the LSM Server, storage devices, and storage volumes. You can also use the LSM Administrator GUI to monitor the status of Oracle backup and restore operations.

The LSM Administrator GUI can run on the Oracle Server machine. You install both the LSM Server and LSM Administrator GUI components during the LSM installation procedure on the Oracle Server machine. In addition, you can install and run the LSM Administrator GUI separately on a Windows NT or Windows 95 platform.

Figure 1-1 illustrates the general organization of LSM and its major components.

#### Figure 1-1 LSM Components

In Figure 1-1, the LSM Server has been installed on a UNIX system with the Oracle8 Server, and the LSM Administrator GUI has been installed on a separate Windows NT or Windows 95 system on the network. The LSM Administrator GUI connects to the LSM Server over the network. The LSM Server uses the two online index files shown-the client index and media index-to store information about the Oracle backups. It uses this information to manage the life cycle of the Oracle backup data and enables LSM users to browse this index information.

Note: LSM has a subset of the features in the Legato NetWorker upgrade product from Legato Systems Inc. The upgrade product consists of the latest combination of Legato NetWorker and BusinesSuite Module for Oracle. Information about upgrading from LSM is available in the LSM splash screen that appears when you start the LSM Administrator GUI. For more information about upgrading from LSM, contact your Legato representative.

You use LSM to configure and manage the storage devices connected to the Oracle Server as well as the storage volumes used in those devices. LSM stores the backup data passed from the Oracle Server's backup/restore utility on storage volumes mounted in the devices. During Oracle data recovery, LSM retrieves the backed-up Oracle data from the appropriate storage volumes and passes it to the Oracle utility.

You start an Oracle backup or restore by running one of the two following programs:

- Command-line interface of the Oracle backup/restore utility on the Oracle Server
- Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM) Backup Manager

The Oracle backup/restore utility-either the Enterprise Backup Utility (EBU) in Oracle7 or Recovery Manager (RMAN) in Oracle8-creates the Oracle backup data objects and then passes them to LSM.

As an optional component of the Oracle backup and recovery system, OEM Backup Manager is a graphical user interface to the Oracle backup/restore utility. OEM Backup Manager directs the Oracle utility on the Oracle Server to perform the backup. You must install OEM Backup Manager on a Windows NT or Windows 95 system, which can be either the Oracle Server machine or a separate machine on the network.

It is possible to install the LSM GUI on the same machine as OEM Backup Manager. Again, you can use the LSM Administrator GUI to connect to and configure LSM Server, manage the storage devices and volumes, and monitor the status of Oracle backups and restores. You can also configure and use LSM by means of LSM command-line utilities on the Oracle Server.

LSM supports the backup of Oracle tablespaces, datafiles, control files, and archived logs. However, it only supports the backup of Oracle data on the Oracle Server machine-not the backup of any other filesystem data on that machine or the backup of data on any other machine connected to the same network.

Note: If you want to back up non-Oracle filesystem data on the Oracle Server in addition to Oracle data, you can contact your Legato Systems Inc. representative for more information.

LSM supports a maximum of four concurrent tertiary storage devices (tape only) and a maximum of four Oracle data streams being backed up simultaneously to the available storage devices. LSM does not support certain other features of the upgrade Legato NetWorker storage management product, such as autochangers (or jukeboxes), cloning, and scheduled Oracle backups.

In summary, the following list outlines the major features of LSM, running on the same machine as the Oracle Server:

- With Oracle7, support for Windows NT 4.0 only
- With Oracle8, support for Windows NT 4.0, AIX 4.1.4, HP-UX 10.20, and Solaris 2.5.1
- LSM configuration and use by means of the LSM Administrator GUI, which can run on either the Oracle Server or a separate Windows NT or Windows 95 machine
- Configuration and management of the storage devices and volumes used for Oracle backups
- Support for backup and restore of Oracle tablespaces, datafiles, control files, and archived logs
- Support for backup and restore of only Oracle data on the Oracle Server- not other filesystem data on that machine or data on another machine on the network
- During Oracle backup, storage of the Oracle data objects created by the Oracle backup/restore utility onto volumes in the backup devices
- During recovery of Oracle data, retrieval of the appropriate Oracle data objects from appropriate storage volumes
- Monitoring of the progress of Oracle backup and restore operations
- Management of the Oracle backup data life cycle by means of two online indexes
- Browsing of online index information for Oracle backups
- Support for up to four concurrent storage devices
- Support for up to four simultaneous data streams

LSM does not support certain features of the standard Legato NetWorker storage management system-autochangers, cloning, and scheduled backups.

## Overview of Oracle Backup and Recovery System

LSM functions with the components of the standard Oracle backup and recovery subsystem to produce a comprehensive Oracle data storage management system. To implement a well-defined Oracle backup and recovery strategy, you need to understand how LSM and the Oracle components work together. The following two sections present the functional details for Oracle7 and Oracle8.

### Oracle7 on Windows NT

During Oracle7 backup and restore operations, LSM interacts with the Oracle7 backup and recovery subsystem. The Oracle7 backup and recovery subsystem consists of the following main components:

- Oracle7 Server
- EBU
- EBU Catalog
- OEM Backup Manager (optional)

Figure 1-2 illustrates the functional relationship between LSM, EBU, and the Oracle7 Server.

#### Figure 1-2 Oracle7 Backup and Recovery System

EBU is the main Oracle7 backup/restore utility for backing up, restoring, and recovering Oracle7 databases. It uses information from the EBU Catalog to locate, back up, restore, and recover datafiles, control files, and archived logs.

EBU simplifies Oracle backup and recovery procedures by providing a way to:

- Configure frequently executed backup operations
- Generate a printable log of all backup and recovery actions
- Use the EBU Catalog to automate restore and recovery operations
- Perform parallelization of backups and restores
- Back up an entire database, selected tablespaces, or selected datafiles while the database is open

The EBU Catalog is a repository of information maintained by EBU. Oracle7 EBU uses the information in the EBU Catalog to determine how to execute requested backup and restore actions.

The EBU Catalog includes information about the following types of objects:

- Datafile and archivelog backup sets and backup pieces
- Archived redo logs and copies of them
- Tablespaces and datafiles at the target database

For more detailed information about EBU and the EBU Catalog and Oracle7 backup and recovery operations, refer to the Oracle7 Enterprise Backup Utility Administrator's Guide.

Before running an Oracle7 backup or recovery, you must properly install and configure LSM software on the Oracle7 Server. The LSM installation automatically configures the Oracle7 Server as a storage management client of the LSM Server. Then, you can use the LSM Administrator GUI to configure the necessary backup devices and label backup volumes. For more information about LSM configuration, see Chapter 2, "Preparing to Use LSM".

In providing storage management services for Oracle7 Server data, LSM uses the Oracle Media Management (MM) Application Programming Interface (API). LSM interacts with the Oracle7 EBU through the MM API.

To initiate an Oracle7 backup, you must run either the EBU command-line interface or the OEM Backup Manager GUI, with the proper administrative privileges. The OEM Backup Manager, in turn, generates commands for EBU. The `ebu` process interacts with the LSM Server through the MM API to coordinate a backup of the Oracle7 Server database files.

At the end of the Oracle7 backup, LSM updates the online client and media indexes with information about the backup media used and the Oracle data stored on it. LSM takes care of the storage management tasks while EBU takes care of passing the data from Oracle7 to LSM. LSM automatically backs up the client and media indexes once every day as part of the regular LSM Server bootstrap backup.

When you initiate an EBU restore request, the MM API translates the object names requested by EBU into a format understood by the LSM Server and forwards it to the LSM Server. The LSM Server searches its online media index for the media containing the objects requested and recovers the data to the Oracle7 Server.

### Oracle8 on UNIX and Windows NT

LSM interacts with the Oracle8 backup and recovery subsystem during Oracle8 backup and restore operations. The Oracle8 backup and recovery subsystem comprises the following major components:

- Oracle8 Server
- Recovery Manager (RMAN)
- Recovery Catalog (optional)
- OEM Backup Manager (optional)

Figure 1-3 illustrates the architecture of the overall Oracle8 backup and recovery system and shows the functional relationship between LSM, RMAN, and Oracle8 Server.

#### Figure 1-3 Oracle8 Backup and Recovery System

RMAN is the main Oracle8 backup/restore utility for backing up, restoring, and recovering Oracle8 databases. It uses information from an Oracle8 database's control file or Recovery Catalog to locate, back up, restore, and recover datafiles, control files, and archived logs.

RMAN simplifies Oracle backup and recovery procedures by providing a way to:

- Configure frequently executed backup operations
- Generate a printable log of all backup and recovery actions
- Use the Recovery Catalog to automate restore and recovery operations
- Perform automatic parallelization of backups and restores
- Find datafiles requiring a backup based on user-specified limits on the amount of redo that must be applied
- Back up an entire database, selected tablespaces, or selected datafiles

The Recovery Catalog is a repository of information maintained by RMAN. Oracle8 RMAN uses the information in the Recovery Catalog or database control file to determine how to execute requested backup and restore actions.

The Recovery Catalog includes information about the following types of objects:

- Datafile and archivelog backup sets and backup pieces
- Archived redo logs and copies of them
- Tablespaces and datafiles at the target database
- Stored scripts (for example, user-created sequences of RMAN commands)

Although a Recovery Catalog is not mandatory, Legato recommends using a Recovery Catalog, especially if you have 20 or more datafiles. If you do not use a Recovery Catalog, the following functions are not supported:

- Point-in-time recovery
- Stored scripts
- Restore and recovery when the control file is lost or damaged

For more detailed information about RMAN and the Recovery Catalog and Oracle8 backup and recovery operations, refer to the Oracle8 Server Backup and Recovery Guide.

Before running an Oracle8 backup or recovery, you must properly install and configure LSM software on the Oracle8 Server. The LSM installation automatically configures the Oracle8 Server as a storage management client of the LSM Server. Then, you can use the LSM Administrator GUI to configure the necessary backup devices and label backup volumes. For more information about LSM configuration, see Chapter 2, "Preparing to Use LSM".

You can start an Oracle8 backup or recovery by issuing the appropriate commands to RMAN through its command-line interface. Alternatively, you can start the backup or recovery by means of the OEM Backup Manager, the optional graphical user interface to RMAN. The OEM Backup Manager generates RMAN commands that are sent to the Oracle8 Server, providing a simple interface. Oracle Enterprise Manager enables users to perform backup and recovery by means of the point-and-click method. For information about performing backup and recovery using Oracle Enterprise Manager, refer to the Oracle8 Enterprise Manager User's Guide.

The RMAN command-line interface starts Oracle8 Server processes on the database to be backed up or restored (the target database). These Oracle8 Server processes perform the backup or restore. For example, during an Oracle8 backup, the Server process reads the datafile, control file, or archived redo log being backed up and writes it to the LSM Server, through the MM API. The LSM Server, in turn, stores the Oracle data to the appropriate backup tape device.

LSM includes a Media Management Library (MML). It is integrated with Oracle8 during LSM installation on the Oracle8 Server. The LSM installation links the media management software routines of the LSM library with the Oracle kernel software. This allows the Oracle8 Server processes to call the MM API routines to back up and restore Oracle datafiles to and from the media controlled by LSM.

At the end of the Oracle8 backup, the LSM Server updates the online client and media indexes with information about the backup media used and Oracle data stored on it. LSM takes care of the storage management tasks while RMAN passes the data from the Oracle8 Server to LSM. LSM automatically backs up the client and media indexes once every day as part of the regular LSM Server bootstrap backup.

When you initiate an RMAN restore request, the MM API translates the object names requested by RMAN into a format understood by the LSM Server and forwards it to the LSM Server. The LSM Server searches its online media index for the media containing the requested data objects. It reads the media and passes the data back to the Oracle8 Server process, which writes the Oracle data to the disk.

## Additional Legato Documentation

To take best advantage of the information in this Legato Storage Manager Administrator's Guide, use it in conjunction with the information available in the following documentation.

### UNIX Online Help

Note: Since the online help component in LSM is the same as that in the Legato NetWorker upgrade product, you might see "NetWorker" references in the online help. For any reference to "NetWorker," substitute "LSM." Also, note that several features documented in the online help are not supported by LSM - such as authorization and registration, archiving, cloning, and using jukeboxes (or autochangers).

The UNIX version of the LSM Administrator GUI includes online help. This online help contains specific information about the GUI, including context-sensitive help in each window that describes the purpose of the window and the information to enter in each field in the window. Other help topics describe LSM features and provide the step-by-step instructions for carrying out LSM functions with the GUI.

To access the online help, select the Help menu displayed in the GUI. There are four choices:

- On Window provides context-sensitive help about the current window.
- On Topic supplies a list of help topics from which to choose.
- On Help gives information about how to use the online help system itself.
- On Version provides information about which version of LSM is installed on your system.

The UNIX version of the LSM Administrator GUI also provides Help buttons in most of the dialog boxes. Clicking the Help button in an LSM dialog box displays the help topic associated with that LSM feature.

### UNIX Online Manual Pages

The manual (man) pages provided with the UNIX version of LSM are a reference for the syntax and function of the LSM commands you issue from the command line. To view a man page, you can perform the following steps:

1. Verify that the MANPATH environment variable includes the path to where you installed the LSM man pages.
2. At the shell prompt, enter the `man` command plus the name of the LSM command. For example, to view the man page for the `nsrmm` command, you can type the following `man` command:

       man nsrmm

To print a copy of the entire collection of LSM man pages, enter the `troff` command at the shell prompt with the options shown in this example:

    troff -t -man `nsr_man -l`| lpr -t -P printer-name

The command for your machine might vary (for example, your print command might be `lp` instead of `lpr`), depending on the operating system and the version of PostScript software you have installed.

### Windows Online Help

Note: Since the online help component in LSM is the same as that in the Legato NetWorker upgrade product, you might see "NetWorker" references in the online help. For any reference to "NetWorker," substitute "LSM." Also, note that several features documented in the online help are not supported by LSM - such as authorization and registration, archiving, cloning, and using jukeboxes (or autochangers).

The Windows NT version of the LSM Administrator GUI has an extensive online help component. You can access the online help both by selecting Help Topics from the Help menu and by clicking the Help button in dialog boxes.

Click the Help Topics toolbar button or select Help Topics from the Help menu to display the Help Topics dialog box, common to most online help systems running on Windows computers. The Help Topics dialog box provides a contents tab, index tab, and keyword search feature to help you find the help topic you need.

Click the Contents tab (the default tab) to display a table of contents organized into books and topics. Double-click a book to display the additional books and/or topics the book contains. Double-click a topic to open the Help dialog box in the upper right corner of your computer screen. You can move and resize the Help dialog box.

Click the Index tab to display a scrollable index of keywords and terms, much like an index found in a printed book. Double-click the keyword or term that pertains to the subject on which you want help. If there is only one relevant topic, it automatically appears. If there are multiple topics, you can select the one you want to see.

Click the Find tab to display a help wizard that leads you through a process to find help topics based on keywords you enter.

LSM also provides Help buttons in most of its dialog boxes. Click the Help button in an LSM dialog box to display the help topic associated with that LSM feature.

When a help topic appears on your computer screen, you can move and resize the window just like with any other Windows help topic. The Help window also contains buttons that enable you to print the topic, view the previous topic, or return to the Help Topics dialog box.

#### `How Do I' Help

The `How' Do I help feature provides online information for commonly used LSM functions. `How Do I' help is similar to Windows online help and has its own Help Topics dialog box. Select `How Do I' from the Help menu to access `How Do I' help.

#### `What Is This' Help

The `What Is This' help feature on many Windows NT and Windows 95 applications provides a short description of each feature in the LSM Administrator GUI program. You access this help by clicking a button, icon, or other graphical feature with the right mouse button. Right-click the mouse on these items to display a pop-up menu next to the pointer. Here you can select the `What Is This' command, as well as other commands. Selecting the `What Is This' command displays a pop-up box that contains information about what the item is and what actions you can take with it.

#### `Field' Help

The `Field' Help feature appears when you click the `Field' Help button in certain dialog boxes. Because of LSM's architecture, the items that appear in a dialog box can vary depending on the configuration of the LSM Server to which you are connected. To meet the dynamic nature of these dialog box contents, `Field' Help provides a dynamic help system based on the items you see on screen.

Dialog boxes with `Field' Help still have buttons for accessing the Windows online help. The online help topic for a dialog box indicates whether you need to access `Field' Help to view a description of the dialog box contents.

### Windows Command-Line Utilities Help

Available with the Windows NT version of LSM, the Command-Line Utilities Help files provide highly technical information about certain LSM commands. Some of these commands are not represented in the Windows interface. In some cases, the Command-Line Utilities Help files provide additional information about using LSM hidden attributes.

The Command-Line Utilities Help files are HTML files in the DOCS\CLUHELP subdirectory on the Oracle7 for Windows NT or Oracle8 for Windows NT CD-ROM that also contains LSM. These files are not installed on your local disk during Oracle or LSM installation. You must access them directly from the CD-ROM.

Note: You must use a web browser to view these files. Do not attempt to use the AcrobatTM Reader.

To view the Command-Line Utilities Help files, follow these steps:

1. Load the Oracle7 for Windows NT or Oracle8 for Windows NT CD-ROM in the appropriate drive.
2. Start your favorite web browser and select the Open File command or equivalent.
3. Select INDEX.HTM in the DOCS\CLUHELP subdirectory to start the Command-Line Utilities Help files home page.
4. Follow the instructions on the home page to obtain information about a specific command utility.

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