The database cloning process creates an exact copy of a database to provide
near-production data.
IBM® Storage Protect
Snapshot uses the
FlashCopy® or snapshot function of the storage
hardware for database cloning. Cloned databases are required in the following scenarios:
To create a test system before you introduce a new product release or new functions into a
production environment.
To create an education system from a master training system. You can reset the cloned database
before you start a new course.
To create a dedicated reporting system to offload the workload from the production
environment.
Traditionally, the database cloning process redirected a restore operation to
create the clone. This method has disadvantages, including system downtime and degraded system
performance. IBM Storage Protect
Snapshot clones a database
by using the storage system FlashCopy or snapshot
capabilities to minimize the impact on the production database. A clone server or
clone system is required by IBM Storage Protect
Snapshot to mount a cloned database.
The following figure shows how IBM Storage Protect
Snapshot creates and stores a cloned database on a clone server. Figure 1. IBM Storage Protect
Snapshot and database
cloning
