D-RP-OE-A-24 Sample Questions Answers

When a Consistency Group failover is performed to a remote copy in a Dell RecoverPoint system, the point-in-time images stored in the copy Journal are deleted after the copy becomes the new production.This is because the copy Journal’s role is to maintain a record of changes for recovery purposes, and once the copy is promoted to production, its Journal is reset to start recording new changes from that point forward1.

The process involves the following steps:

Failover Initiated: The administrator initiates a failover to the remote copy.

Copy Becomes Production: The remote copy is promoted to the production role.

Journal Reset: The point-in-time images in the copy Journal are deleted as part of the promotion process.

New Production Journal: A new production Journal is started to record changes from the new production copy moving forward.

This ensures that the RecoverPoint system can continue to protect the data with a fresh start for the new production environment1.

Only users with security permissions can add users, remove and edit permissions for users that have previously been added.--RecoverPoint Management Student Resource Guide

To review the performance data for the past week in a RecoverPoint environment and save the raw data for further analysis, the export_statistics CLI command should be used. This command allows the administrator to export the performance statistics data, which can then be saved to a spreadsheet and used to create graphs or conduct detailed analysis of system performance over time. The steps to use this command are:

Access the CLI: Log into the RecoverPoint CLI using the appropriate credentials.

Execute the Command: Run the export_statistics command to gather the performance data.

Save the Data: The command will generate the performance data, which can be saved to a file.

Analyze the Data: Open the saved file in a spreadsheet application to review the data and create graphs as needed.

This command is particularly useful for administrators who need to monitor and analyze the performance of their RecoverPoint environment over a specific period1.

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.

When using XtremIO arrays with RecoverPoint, Image Access is instantaneous because there is no need to roll the Journal forward or backward. This is due to the way XtremIO handles snapshots, which are used by RecoverPoint during the Image Access process:

Snapshot Creation: XtremIO creates snapshots very efficiently, without the need for a full copy of the data. These snapshots are pointer-based, meaning they reference the original data without duplicating it.

Instant Access: When Image Access is initiated, RecoverPoint can immediately present a snapshot to the host because it’s simply a matter of accessing the pointers to the existing data, rather than having to roll data forward or backward in the Journal.

Continuous Replication: Even while Image Access is in use, replication and distribution continue unaffected, ensuring that protection of the production data is maintained1.

This capability is part of what makes XtremIO an effective storage solution for environments requiring rapid access to multiple data points for testing, development, or recovery purposes1.

In a Dell RecoverPoint system with XtremIO arrays at both production and disaster recovery sites, setting the replication mode for a Consistency Group as “Continuous” implies that the replication occurs continuously without predefined intervals. This mode aims to minimize the Recovery Point Objective (RPO), which is the maximum targeted period in which data might be lost due to a major incident. While an RPO of 0 seconds is ideal, it is often not practical due to network latency and system processing times.Therefore, an effective RPO of less than 60 seconds is a realistic target for a “Continuous” replication mode, ensuring that data loss is minimized to the lowest possible timeframe in the event of a disaster1.

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.

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.

In Dell RecoverPoint, a Bookmark is a user-created point-in-time image that can be tied to specific application events. This feature allows users to mark a particular point in time within the continuous data protection timeline of RecoverPoint, which can be used for recovery purposes. Here’s how it works:

User Command: A user issues a command to create a Bookmark, typically through the RecoverPoint management interface or via scripting.

Tied to Application Events: The Bookmark can be associated with specific application events, such as before and after a significant update or batch process.

Point-in-Time Image: The Bookmark represents a point-in-time image of the data at the moment the Bookmark was created.

Recovery: In the event of data corruption or loss, the Bookmark can be used to recover data to the exact state it was in at the time of the Bookmark.

Bookmarks are an integral part of RecoverPoint’s data protection capabilities, providing flexibility and precision for data recovery operations1.

When using the MetroPoint feature of RecoverPoint to protect distributed VPLEX volumes, it is essential that both VPLEX clusters have a connected RecoverPoint cluster.This is necessary to create a MetroPoint Consistency Group, which is a configuration that allows for continuous data protection and availability across multiple sites1.

The MetroPoint solution provides a three-site configuration that combines VPLEX Metro (which operates within distances of 5-10ms round-trip time, application dependent) with a third site provided by a RecoverPoint appliance.This setup ensures that data is continuously available and protected, and it allows for failover between two Metro sites without impacting protection1.

It’s important to note that while MetroPoint enables protection for VPLEX devices at both sites, the requirement for both VPLEX clusters to be connected to a RecoverPoint cluster is crucial for the creation and proper functioning of a MetroPoint Consistency Group1.

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 directly2.

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.

In Dell EMC RecoverPoint, virtual RPAs (vRPAs) use iSCSI protocol for connections. This is because vRPAs are designed to operate in virtual environments where iSCSI is commonly used for storage networking due to its ability to work over standard IP networks.Physical RPAs, such as Gen-5 and Gen-6, typically use Fibre Channel (FC) for direct storage connectivity1.

Here’s a breakdown of the connectivity:

vRPA: Utilizes iSCSI for connections to protected storage. This is suitable for virtualized environments where the RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines (RP4VMs) operates.

Gen-5 and Gen-6 RPAs: These are physical appliances that generally use Fibre Channel for connectivity, which is more common in physical data center environments where dedicated storage networks are present1.

It’s important to choose the correct RPA type based on the storage infrastructure and connectivity requirements of the environment1.

When setting up replication for a Consistency Group between clusters using XtremIO storage arrays at each site connected through Fibre Channel, the maximum throughput that can be expected per RecoverPoint Appliance (RPA) is 300 MB/s. This throughput is a measure of how much data can be transferred from one site to another per second by each RPA involved in the replication process.

The throughput capacity is important for planning and ensuring that the RecoverPoint system can handle the expected data load during replication activities. It affects the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and the overall efficiency of the disaster recovery setup.The 300 MB/s figure provides a benchmark for administrators to gauge the performance capabilities of their RecoverPoint system when used in conjunction with XtremIO storage arrays1.

It’s important to note that actual throughput can vary based on several factors, including network conditions, the amount of data being replicated, and the specific configuration of the RecoverPoint and XtremIO systems1.

In a Dell RecoverPoint system, there is a limit to the number of volumes that can be managed within a cluster.If an administrator attempts to add local copies to existing Consistency Groups and the system already contains a significant number of Consistency Groups and replication sets, it is possible that adding more local volumes would exceed the system’s volume limit, which is 16,000 volumes per cluster1.

Here’s how the volume count could exceed the limit:

Each of the 100 Consistency Groups has 80 replication sets.

Assuming each replication set consists of at least one volume, this would already account for 8,000 volumes (100 CGs x 80 volumes each).

Adding a local copy for each Consistency Group would double the number of volumes, potentially exceeding the 16K volume limit per cluster.

This limitation is in place to ensure system stability and performance.If the limit is exceeded, the administrator will not be able to add additional local copies until the volume count is reduced or the system is reconfigured to stay within the limit1.

To integrate Site Recovery Manager (SRM) with RecoverPoint, the storage replication adapter is a critical component that allows SRM to manage RecoverPoint replication properly. The installation steps are as follows:

Identify SRM Servers: Determine which servers are running the VMware Site Recovery Manager service.

Install SRA: Install the RecoverPoint SRA on each of the SRM server hosts at both the recovery and protected sites.

Verify Installation: Ensure that the SRA is correctly installed and recognized by the SRM service.

Configure Replication: Use the SRA within SRM to configure and manage replication settings for disaster recovery.

It’s important to use the most current version of the SRA to ensure optimal compatibility and available features.The SRA can be downloaded from the VMware website, and the SRA release notes and product documentation should be consulted to determine compatibility with SRM versions1.