SAN Volume Controller offers the storage virtualization capability for the fast growing data in the SAN environment. It provides functions that increase storage administrator productivity. It improves the disk capacity utilization with its ability to manage heterogeneous disk devices and allocate virtual LUNs to hosts spread across the SAN environment. It comes with advanced functions such as copy services that enable customers to protect their critical data and minimize data unavailability.
SAN Volume Controller has now been approved by Oracle® as a part of the Oracle Storage Compatibility Program (OSCP). The successful OSCP validation demonstrates IBM SAN Volume Controller's copy services functions can operate with Oracle database in creating point in time snapshot of Oracle database datafiles and log files at local or remote location.
SAN Volume Controller supports these capabilities using FlashCopy function to make local copies and Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) function in making remote copies. These copies can be used for off-line backup without impacting production database server. The local source and target copies are available for read and write access within very short span of time. Other usages such as application testing and data mining can be applied to the FlashCopy images as well.
Through OSCP, IBM gives confidence to both Oracle and SAN Volume Controller customers that its advanced storage technology can further protect data and improve availability in an Oracle database environment.
The Oracle Storage Compatibility Program (OSCP) is a cooperative program designed to facilitate tighter integration and compatibility between Oracle Database Server and storage vendors. Through this process, vendors can voluntarily perform a specified sequence of tests designed to validate proper execution of specific functions when used in conjunction with the Oracle Database Server.
The attached paper describes the specific techniques used in performing and validating the FlashCopy features with OSCP.
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