Understanding Data Replication

Oracle Solaris Cluster 4.0 supports host-based data replication.

Host-based data replication uses software to replicate disk volumes between geographically dispersed clusters in real time. Remote mirror replication enables data from the master volume of the primary cluster to be replicated to the master volume of the geographically dispersed secondary cluster. A remote mirror bitmap tracks differences between the master volume on the primary disk and the master volume on the secondary disk. An example of host-based replication software used for replication between clusters (and between a cluster and a host that is not in a cluster) is StorageTek Availability Suite.

Host-based data replication is an inexpensive data replication solution because it uses host resources, rather than special storage arrays. Databases, applications, or file systems that are configured to allow multiple hosts running the Oracle Solaris OS to write data to a shared volume are not supported (for example, Oracle RAC). For more information about using host-based data replication between two clusters, see Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition Data Replication Guide for Oracle Solaris Availability Suite. To see an example of host-based replication that does not use Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition, see Appendix A, Configuring Host-Based Data Replication With StorageTek Availability Suite Software.

Supported Data Replication Methods

Oracle Solaris Cluster software supports the following methods of data replication between clusters or within a cluster:

1. Replication Between Clusters – For disaster recovery, you can use host-based replication to perform data replication between clusters. You can manage replication with Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition software.

   • Host-Based Replication

     • StorageTek Availability Suite

     If you want to use host-based replication without Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition software, see the instructions in Appendix A, Example, Configuring Host-Based Data Replication With StorageTek Availability Suite Software.

2. Replication Within a Cluster – This method is used as a replacement for host-based mirroring.

3. Application-Based Replication – Oracle Data Guard is an example of application-based replication software. This type of software is used only for disaster recovery to replicate a single-instance or RAC database. For more information, see the Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition Data Replication Guide for Oracle Data Guard.