370Configuring off-host processing

Implementing off-host processing solutions

Off-host processing is made simpler by using linked break-off snapshots, which are described in Linked break-off snapshot volumes” on page 311.

Implementing off-host processing solutions

As shown in Figure 11-1, by accessing snapshot volumes from a lightly loaded host (shown here as the off-host processing (OHP) host), CPU- and I/O-intensive operations for online backup and decision support do not degrade the performance of the primary host that is performing the main production activity (such as running a database). Also, if you place the snapshot volumes on disks that are attached to different host controllers than the disks in the primary volumes, it is possible to avoid contending with the primary host for I/O resources.

Figure 11-1 Example implementation of off-host processing

 

Primary host

OHP host

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCSI or Fibre Channel

connectivity

Disks containing primary

Disks containing snapshot

volumes used to hold

volumes used to implement

production databases or file

off-host processing solutions

systems

 

The following sections describe how you can apply off-host processing to implement regular online backup of a volume in a private disk group, and to set up a replica of a production database for decision support. Two applications are outlined in the following sections:

Implementing off-host online backup