D-RP-OE-A-24 Dell RecoverPoint Operate Achievement Questions and Answers

In Unisphere for RecoverPoint, the “Manage Recovery” wizard is the tool that allows administrators to manage and monitor all currently accessed copies that are undergoing testing, failover, and production recovery. This wizard provides a centralized interface for overseeing the recovery operations and ensuring that they are proceeding as expected. It includes features to:

View the status of recovery operations.

Manage failover and failback processes.

Monitor the progress of data synchronization and access during testing1.

This wizard is an essential part of the RecoverPoint management suite, providing administrators with the capabilities needed to ensure the continuity and integrity of their data protection processes1.

After running the balance_load command on a RecoverPoint cluster, if the administrator did not capture the output, the RecoverPoint Cluster Load report can be found at the specific URL provided by the RecoverPoint management interface.The correct URL format to access this report is https://Cluster_Management_IP/info/load_balancing/, where Cluster_Management_IP is replaced with the actual IP address of the RecoverPoint cluster management interface 1.

The steps to locate the report are

The “Detect Bottlenecks” tool in Unisphere for RecoverPoint is designed to analyze the performance of Consistency Groups and identify any potential bottlenecks that may be affecting replication efficiency. If the tool detects issues that require user action, it will provide recommendations on how to address them. The steps involved in using this tool are:

Access Unisphere for RecoverPoint: Log into the Unisphere interface.

Navigate to System Analysis Tools: Locate the section for system analysis tools.

Select ‘Detect Bottlenecks’: Choose this option to start the analysis.

Review Results: Examine the output for any identified bottlenecks and follow the recommendations provided to resolve any issues and optimize replication performance1.

This tool is an essential part of the RecoverPoint system analysis suite, helping administrators maintain efficient replication and ensure data protection1.

The Journal lag in a Dell RecoverPoint system refers to the amount of data that has been written to the production volumes but has not yet been replicated to the remote site or copy volumes. The maximum Journal lag setting affects the RPO because it determines the maximum allowable time or data volume that can pass before the data must be replicated to the remote site to meet the recovery objectives.

Here’s how the Journal lag impacts the RPO:

Journal Lag Definition: Journal lag is the measure of the difference between the most recent write to the production volume and what has been replicated to the copy volume.

RPO Impact: The RPO is the maximum targeted period in which data might be lost from an IT service due to a major incident. If the Journal lag exceeds the maximum setting, itmeans that the RPO could be breached, as there would be more data at risk of being lost than what is acceptable per the RPO policy.

Management Actions: Administrators can monitor and manage the Journal lag to ensure that the RPO is maintained. If the lag approaches the maximum setting, actions may be taken to increase replication throughput or address any issues causing replication delays.

In summary, the maximum Journal lag setting is crucial for ensuring that the RPO is met, as it directly influences the amount of data that could be lost in the event of a failure or disaster1.

In a Dell RecoverPoint environment, Journal volumes are critical components used to track and manage point-in-time images for data replication and recovery. If Journal volumes are mistakenly masked to hosts, the following occurs:

Hosts Gain Access: The hosts that are zoned/masked to the Journal volumes gain the ability to write to these volumes.

Potential for Corruption: Any write access by hosts to the Journal volumes can lead to corruption of the Journal. This is because Journals are meant to be managed exclusively by RecoverPoint and should not be directly accessed or modified by hosts.

Impact on Replication: Journal corruption can disrupt the RecoverPoint replication process, potentially leading to data loss or an inability to recover to specific points in time.

Resolution: To prevent such issues, it is crucial to ensure that Journal volumes are not exposed to hosts and are only accessed by RecoverPoint Appliances (RPAs) for replication purposes12.

It is important to follow best practices for zoning and masking in a storage environment to avoid such critical configuration errors12.

A MetroPoint Consistency Group is a special type of Consistency Group in Dell RecoverPoint that is designed for environments where high availability and disaster recovery are critical. It includes:

Active Production Copies: These are the primary copies that are actively used in the production environment.

Standby Production Copies: These copies are on standby and can be activated in case the active production copies fail or need to be taken offline for maintenance.

The MetroPoint Consistency Group allows for continuous data protection and availability across multiple sites, combining the benefits of VPLEX Metro with the third-site replication provided by RecoverPoint1.

For Distributed Consistency Groups in a Dell RecoverPoint environment, the minimum size required for each journal volume is 40 GB.This is the minimum per copy, which can be a single LUN or multiple LUNs that add up to at least 40 GB1.

The size of the journal is determined by the write change rate of what is being replicated and the protection window required per Consistency Group. A general rule of thumb is about 15-20% of the total amount of data being replicated.For example, if a Distributed Consistency Group (DCG) has production server LUNs totaling 500 GB, then the journal per copy would be about 100 GB following this rule1.

It’s important to note that while 40 GB is the minimum, the actual size may need to be larger depending on the specific requirements and write change rate of the environment.The journal size should be sufficient to handle the data changes and provide the necessary protection window1.

To meet the requirement of keeping a local copy of the production data in a RecoverPoint environment with VNX(SE) clusters, the administrator can add a local copy into the existing Consistency Group. This action does not require deleting and reconfiguring the existing Consistency Group or upgrading the license. Here are the steps:

Access Unisphere for RecoverPoint: Log into the Unisphere interface for RecoverPoint management.

Navigate to the Consistency Group: Find the Consistency Group that needs the local copy.

Add a Local Copy: Use the option to add a copy into the selected Consistency Group.

Configure the Local Copy: Specify the settings for the local copy, such as the Journal volume and RPO settings.

Apply Changes: Save the changes to implement the local replication.

This process allows the administrator to enhance the data protection strategy by adding a local copy for operational recovery or other business needs without disrupting the existing remote replication setup1.

When a VPLEX distributed device is selected during the RecoverPoint Consistency Group Creation wizard, the option to create a MetroPoint Consistency Group becomes available. This is because MetroPoint is a feature that leverages VPLEX distributed devices for enhanced data protection and disaster recovery capabilities. The steps involved in this process typically include:

Selecting the VPLEX distributed device: During the creation of a Consistency Group, you choose the VPLEX distributed device as the source of replication.

MetroPoint option appears: Once a VPLEX distributed device is selected, the wizard presents the option to create a MetroPoint Consistency Group.

Configuring the MetroPoint Consistency Group: If you choose to create a MetroPoint Consistency Group, you will then configure the necessary settings, such as replication mode and RPO (Recovery Point Objective).

Finalizing the setup: After configuring the settings, you finalize the creation of the Consistency Group, which now has the enhanced capabilities provided by the MetroPoint feature1.

MetroPoint Consistency Groups are designed to provide continuous data protection and availability across multiple sites, combining the benefits of VPLEX Metro with the third-site replication provided by RecoverPoint1.

The Distribution phase of Consistency Groups in a Dell RecoverPoint environment is influenced by several factors:

Change Rate of Applications: The amount of data change occurring in the applications being protected can affect how quickly the data needs to be distributed.

Number of Replication Sets: More replication sets can increase the complexity and load on the system during the Distribution phase.

Copy Location: The geographical location of the copy in relation to the production site can impact latency and distribution times.

WAN Bandwidth: Available bandwidth of the WAN connection between sites is crucial for timely data distribution.

Replication Type: Whether the replication is synchronous or asynchronous can affect the Distribution phase.

Compression and Deduplication Settings: These settings can optimize data transfer but also require processing that can impact distribution.

Journal Volume Performance: The speed at which the Journal can record and distribute data is vital for the Distribution phase.

Storage Array Performance: The overall performance of the storage array will influence how quickly data can be distributed.

Copy Volume Performance: The performance of the copy volume can affect how quickly it can receive and integrate the distributed data.

Understanding and optimizing these attributes can help ensure efficient operation of the RecoverPoint system during the Distribution phase1.

In a Dell EMC RecoverPoint environment, Snap-based replication is supported by the Unity array. This feature leverages the intelligent array-based snapshot capability available in Dell EMC Unity platforms.It enhances asynchronous replication by allowing a user-defined interval for replication, which is particularly useful for environments where minimizing the replication window is critical1.

The Snap and Replicate feature is enabled by leveraging the intelligent array-based snapshot capability available in Dell EMC VNX, XtremIO, and VMAX3/AF platforms as well1.However, for the specific context of the question, which focuses on the EMC array that supports Snap-based replication in a RecoverPoint environment, the correct answer is Unity2.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is always best to consult the latest official Dell RecoverPoint documentation or contact Dell EMC support directly3.

RecoverPoint/BK license mode is for local backup of Data Domain storage. RecoverPoint/BK is system-based licensing for all clusters in a RecoverPoint system:

•Synchronous replication

•Multipath I/O support

•Virtualization hypervisor support for Hyper-V and VMware platforms.

•Integration with VMware vCenter, VMware SRM and vSphere VAAI support

•Built-in bandwidth reduction

•Two to eight RecoverPoint appliances per RPA cluster for failure resiliency and throughput

RecoverPoint/BK Overview:

RecoverPoint/BK is a specialized licensing mode designed for local backup operations specifically aimed at EMC's Data Domain storage systems. It enhances the data protection capabilities by integrating with Data Domain for efficient backup and recovery processes.

Functionality and Features:

Local Backup: The RecoverPoint/BK license mode is particularly utilized for local backups of Data Domain storage arrays. It ensures that the data stored on Data Domain systems can be effectively backed up and restored locally.

Synchronous Replication: Provides real-time data replication between the primary and backup locations to ensure data consistency.

Multipath I/O Support: Ensures high availability and reliability by providing multiple data paths to storage.

Hypervisor Support: Supports virtualization platforms such as Hyper-V and VMware, allowing integration with various virtualized environments.

Integration with VMware: Supports integration with VMware vCenter, VMware SRM, and vSphere VAAI, enabling seamless management and operation within VMware environments.

Bandwidth Reduction: Includes built-in features to reduce bandwidth usage during data replication and backup operations.

Resiliency and Throughput: Supports two to eight RecoverPoint appliances per RPA cluster, enhancing failure resiliency and throughput for robust data protection.

Reference from EMC Documentation:

RecoverPoint/BK license mode is explicitly mentioned for local backups of Data Domain storage arrays, providing a comprehensive data protection solution with advanced features tailored for Data Domain.

In Dell RecoverPoint, a Consistency Group is built from one or more replication sets.Each replication set consists of a production volume plus any local or remote copy volumes to which it is replicating1. Since the mission-critical application is stored on three volumes, and each volume will be part of a replication set, the Consistency Group for the application will contain three replication sets.This ensures that all three volumes are protected and replicated as part of the RecoverPoint protection strategy1.

It’s important to note that the number of replication sets in a Consistency Group is equal to the number of production volumes being replicated.Therefore, if an application spans multiple volumes, each volume will be part of its own replication set within the Consistency Group1.

A screenshot of a recovery program Description automatically generated with medium confidence

To recover a production volume that has become inaccessible due to logical corruption using RecoverPoint’s “Test a Copy and Recover Production” wizard, follow these steps:

Select a snapshot prior to the corruption: Identify and choose the appropriate point-in-time image from the Journal that was taken before the corruption occurred.

Mount the snapshot to a verification host and verify its integrity: Attach the selected snapshot to a non-production host where you can perform checks to ensure the data is consistent and free from corruption.

Unmount the production volume as the Recovery wizard will overwrite it with the recovery data: Ensure that the current production volume is not in use because the recovery process will overwrite the existing data with the data from the snapshot.

Monitor the progress of recovery from the Unisphere ‘Manage Recovery’ wizard: Use Dell EMC’s Unisphere interface to track the recovery process and ensure that the data is being restored correctly.

These steps are based on the standard procedures outlined in Dell RecoverPoint documentation for using the “Test a Copy and Recover Production” wizard to restore volumes to a previous state1.