Basic Configuration › Configuring CA Recovery Point Server Protection

Configuring CA Recovery Point Server Protection

CA Recovery Point Server is a policy-based application that integrates with CA ARCserve D2D.

Create policies on the nodes you want to use as either backup destinations for CA ARCserve D2D jobs or as replication targets in other CA Recovery Point Server jobs.

A policy is comprised of the following settings:

• Data Store -- this field is the path to the network share where your recovery points are stored. You can enable encryption, deduplication, or compression on any data store. You can assign more than one data store to an RPS node. Select the data store you want to use on the Basic Settings screen of the New Policy dialog.
• Basic Settings -- specify retention settings (how many recovery points to store on the RPS source node) and the schedule to process them.
• Replication Settings -- (optional) specify an RPS target node to store recovery points that are copied from this source. Next, define the replication and make-up job schedules. Choose a policy from the list of assigned target node policies. Remember to define policies on the target node first and then create the source node policy. You cannot save a policy on a source node if the policy selection field on the Replication Settings screen is blank.
• Email Alerts -- (optional) Select the conditions that trigger email notification such as failed jobs or disk space alerts.

Protection is triggered when you select Use RPS in the CA ARCserve D2D backup destination field and specify the policy that you want to use. The server you specify can be local, remote, or in the cloud (a service provider).

Create policies as illustrated in the diagram.

Follow these steps:

1. Create Data Instance Stores
2. Specify Basic Settings
3. (Optional) Define Replication Settings
4. Set up Email Alerts in a Policy
5. Define RPS in D2D Backup Job

Specify Data Store Settings

This procedure explains how to create new data stores directly from the New Policy dialog.

Follow these steps:

1. Click a node and then click Add from the Policy category.

   The New Policy dialog opens and shows the Data Store Settings screen by default.

2. Complete the following fields on the Data Store Settings screen:

   Data Store Settings

   Choose an existing data store from the dropdown list or create a new one. You can create a new one by completing the New Data Store fields or by choosing an existing data store from the list and clicking Clone.

3. Complete the following fields on the Data Store Settings screen:

   New Data Store Name

   Type a name for the data store you want to create. Tip: Use meaningful names that describe the options that you enabled.

   Backup Destination Path

   Specify or browse to the shared folder where you want to store recovery points.

   (Optional) Enable Encryption

   If you enable this option, specify the Encryption Algorithm and password. You can choose AES-128, AES-192, or AES-256. The default selection is AES-128.

   Note: Each RPS data store uses its the encryption key specified here for locally managed data. For encryption over the network, consider using HTTPS protocol.

   (Optional) Enable Compression

   If you enable this option, choose the Compression Type. You can choose Standard or Max Compression. Max Compression saves the most space but uses more RAM. Standard Compression is the default selection.

   (Optional) Enable Deduplication

   If you enable deduplication, specify the following:

   • Memory Size -- use the slider to specify how much memory to allocate to deduplication processing.
   • Use Solid State Disk (SSD) to extend deduplication capacity -- enable this option if you wish to store hash values in memory to speed up processing. If you enable this option, specify the Hash Path drive and folder. Use the slider to set the size of the SSD.
   • Deduplication Block Size -- Your data is divided into chunks of the size that is specified here to prepare for deduplication. Smaller size chunks are recommended for database applications but do slow performance. The default size is 4 KB. Use the slider to set the value.
   • Deduplication Ratio Assumption -- Use the slider to calculate how much storage space is required, given the current settings. Adjust as needed.
   • Enable Advanced Settings -- Click this option to specify additional paths. Specify an Index File Path. This path is the location where the deduplication meta file is stored and can be on a different disk, if needed. Specify a Data File Path. This path is the location where you want to save your deduplicated data. This path can also be on the same or a different disk. Specify a Hash File Path. This path is the location where hash values are assigned and compared during the deduplication process.

4. Click Save.
5. Repeat these steps to create additional data stores.

Next Steps:

• (Optional) Define Replication Settings
• Define Retention Settings

Define Retention Settings

The Basic Settings screen lets you enable catalog generation, set retention policies, and define the recovery points processing schedule. Retention settings are required in all policies.

How the Retention Settings Works

The value you specify in the field called the Number of Most Recent Recovery Points controls merge/purge operations. The value for N can be any number. (31 is the default).

Tips for Setting the Number of Recovery Points to Keep

Follow these steps:

1. Create a New Policy either from a node shortcut menu or from the Add, Policy group.

   The New Policy dialog opens.

2. Click the Basic Settings screen and specify the following settings:

   (Optional) Enable Catalog Generating

   Enable this option to generate the catalog at backup time. The catalog is required to perform granular Exchange restores.

   Retention Settings

   Specify the number of most recent backups to always save. This value is any combination of full, incremental, and verify backup jobs. When the value is exceeded, the oldest backup is merged/purged if no advanced retention policy is met. The default value is 31.

   (Optional) Enable advanced retention policies

   For more control over retention, enable this option and specify the number of daily, weekly, and monthly backups to retain. Advanced Retention Policies let you establish complex RPO (Recovery Points Objective) hierarchies. The default values are 7 daily, 4 weekly, and 1 monthly retained recovery points.

   Recovery Points Processing Schedule

   Set the schedule that determines when to start processing recovery points. You can choose immediate processing, or specify the number of hours after a job is finished, as well as the specific time of day or week.

3. Click Save.

Your retention settings are saved.

Next Steps:

• (Optional) Enable Replication Settings
• Define settings on the CA ARCserve D2D server that will back up to this CA Recovery Point Server.

Enable Optional Replication Settings

Replication settings are optional. Replication, when enabled, lets you copy recovery points from the source node specified in one policy to a target node, where other policies are assigned. By creating policies that, in turn, specify other policies, you can create complex RPO (recovery point objective) hierarchies to satisfy your SLAs (service level agreements).

Policies that are assigned to the target node appear in the Policy list on the Replication Settings screen. Choose a policy to apply. You cannot save replication settings on a source node when there are no policies on the desired target node. Define policies on your final target first and work your way backwards.

This procedure explains how to define replication settings on a source server. Before you begin, verify that policies have been assigned to the target server. To do so, find the target server on the Node screen and verify the Policy Count is not 0. If it is 0, assign policies to that server first and work backwards.

Follow these steps:

1. From the Policies view, click Add Policy. Or, click Edit to modify an existing policy.
2. On the Policy dialog, click Replication Settings.
   1. Click the option, Enable Replication Settings.
   2. In the Replication Target Settings section, specify the following information:

      Hostname

      Enter the name of the CA Recovery Point Server node where you want to save the recovery points replicated from the source server. This value is always the next server forward in your series. For example, if you are creating policies on RPS2, specify the hostname of RPS3 as the value for this field.

      Specify the Port, Protocol, Username and password for this server.

      Policy

      Select a policy from the list of policies that were assigned to the server you specified as the target. This policy could include additional replication settings.

      Enable Bandwidth Throttle Settings

      Enable this option to specify a Simple or Advanced setting.

      For Simple Bandwidth Throttling, specify the number of MB per minute. The default is 100.

      For Advanced Bandwidth Throttling, click the Day and then click Add New Bandwidth Throttle to open the Add Bandwidth Throttle Settings dialog. Specify the Start and End Times and the MB per minute value. Click OK. The setting is added to the list. If you want, click Copy Bandwidth Throttle Schedule to extend an existing setting to additional days.

   3. In the Replication Schedule section, click a Replication Start Time.
   4. In the Makeup Job Schedule section, set the desired options. These options control when to launch a makeup job and how many attempts the job makes when replication fails.
   5. If you want to control how the application uses network bandwidth, enable Throttling. Click Add New Throttling. Specify the Start and End Times and the maximum write speed. You can add multiple throttling settings. Click OK when done.
3. Click Save.

Next Steps:

• Define Retention Settings (Retention settings are required.)
• Specify RPS in <ccadr> Backup Job