Performance options for Data Protection for SAP

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Data transfer rates are impacted by the types of disks that are used for the databases, the network capabilities that are accessed by the database host and the IBM Storage Protect™ server, and the type of storage device that contains the backup.

Data Protection for SAP provides the following options to help optimize the data transfer rate for these components.

Parallel and multiple sessions: Data Protection for SAP can back up or restore data to multiple tape drives in parallel. Parallelism is achieved by using more than one session to send data to a backup server.
Multiplexing: Multiplexing simultaneously transfers data from different files through one session (MULTIPLEXING) to maximize tape performance. Multiplexing is useful for tape storage since tape drives often have higher data transfer rates than the disks. Combining multiplexing and parallel sessions can optimize overall backup and restore performance.
Disk sorting: Data Protection for SAP uses adaptive file sequencing during backup processing. This sorts database files in sequential order to avoid simultaneously reading files on the same disk. As a result, processing time is reduced.
Multiple and parallel network paths and servers: Improve performance by configuring Data Protection for SAP to distribute a database backup across two or more IBM Storage Protect servers. In addition, you can balance network traffic by providing two (or more) separate network connections between the SAP database host and the IBM Storage Protect server.
Incremental and delta backups: Data Protection for SAP supports incremental RMAN backup of an SAP database. and delta backups of DB2® databases. Depending on the system environment, incremental backups might decrease backup processing time.
Individual tablespace locking: Data Protection for SAP provides a backup profile parameter (util_file_online) that minimizes the number of archived redo logs that are backed up during online backup operations. This parameter informs the SAP database utilities of the files (and related table spaces) to be backed up. The SAP utilities then switch those table spaces into backup mode. After the files are backed up, the table spaces are released and a new cycle starts.
RL_COMPRESSION: The RL_COMPRESSION profile keyword is compresses a partially filled database. This process can result in reduced network traffic and fewer tapes that are required for backup.

Adjustments for improving performance of data transfer

Data Protection for SAP is configured to send uncompressed data to the IBM Storage Protect server that uses a single session.

This graphic forms the basis for the following tuning. Starting from left to right, there is the database server with its database. The database server connects through the network to the IBM Storage Protect (backup) server. The backup server has tape units that are attached to it, which are used for the backups. — Figure 1. Data transfer for a backup and restore

A single configuration that is best for all environments is not possible or realistic. However, the information that is provided here can help in determining which configuration is best for your environment.