Delphix Concepts

for Oracle
Database Virtualization Overview

Course Modules
The Need for Agile Data
Why database virtualization helps
What is Delphix?

Delphix Overview for Oracle

The Delphix Server
dSources
VDBs

Delphix Concepts
TimeFlow
Syncing
Provisioning

Motivation for Virtualization

How much storage is allocated to dev, test, and QA databases that are over
90% identical to production and one another?
How much of the DBA teams time is spent refreshing pre-production
database environments?
How frequently does development want refreshes, and how frequently do they
actually happen?

Faster, Better, Cheaper: Pick^2

Faster: create fully functional copies of live databases in minutes
Better: Allow developers to self-service their requests: create, rewind, and
copy databases on demand
Cheaper: provision fully functional test/dev/QA/reporting databases using
a tiny fraction of the storage required for one copy of production

What is Delphix?
Delphix Server is a software appliance
Delivered as a Virtual Machine
Not an application

Delphix Server is a platform for database management

Manages storage for databases
Manages process, configuration, and policies for refresh
Does not run Oracle itself

Current Refresh (without Delphix)

Production

Existing Copy and

Refresh Process*

1 TB Storage

* http://enterarena.blogspot.com/2011/05/gif-rube-goldberg-machine.html

Development

1 TB Storage

Delphix Refresh
Development

Production

Delphix Server GUI

1 TB Storage

* click *

Course Modules
The Need for Agile Data
Why database virtualization helps
What is Delphix?

Delphix Overview for Oracle

The Delphix Server
dSources
VDBs

Delphix Concepts
TimeFlow
Syncing
Provisioning

Key Terms
Terms for Production
Environment

Terms for the Delphix

Appliance

Terms for Pre-Production

Environment

Source host

Delphix Server

Target host

Source database

dSource

VDB

Key Terms: Source Host

Production

Development

The source host is the host on which the instance for the
source database runs. Typically this is the production host.

Key Terms: Source Database

Production

Development

1 TB Storage

The source database is copied into the Delphix Server via

RMAN APIs. Delphix Server then stays in sync via
incremental RMAN backups and by collecting redo.

Key Terms: Delphix Server

Production

Development

1 TB Storage

The Delphix Server acts as a backup destination for the source

databases, and as network attached storage for VDBs.
It also hosts the Delphix management GUI.

Key Terms: dSource

Development

Production

1 TB Storage

~256 GB Storage
for dSource

The dSource is the Delphix Servers compressed representation

of the source database. It is the basis for the storage that is
allocated to a VDB.

Key Terms: Target Host

Development

Production

1 TB Storage

~256 GB Storage
for dSource

The target host is the host on which the instance for the VDB
runs. Typically this is wherever the pre-prod database runs today.

Key Terms: VDB

Development

Production

1 TB Storage

~256 GB Storage
for dSource

Only changes
stored for VDB

No additional storage
for VDB outside of
Delphix

The VDB is a fully functional database running on a target host.

The storage for a VDB is managed by Delphix, and provided to the
target host via NFS. Changes are stored in the Delphix Server.

Delphix Overview
Development

Production

1 TB Storage

~256 GB Storage
for dSource

Only changes
stored for VDB

No additional storage
for VDB outside of
Delphix

Course Modules
The Need for Agile Data
Why database virtualization helps
What is Delphix?

Delphix Overview for Oracle

The Delphix Server
dSources
VDBs

Delphix Concepts
TimeFlow
Syncing
Provisioning

Key Concepts
TimeFlow
Create databases copies
from any point in time

Storage Consolidation
Do not copy redundant
blocks
Do not store unused blocks
Compress necessary blocks

Key Concepts: TimeFlow

Each dSource, and each VDB, has its own TimeFlow, copies can be made as of
any point within the
TimeFlow:

Key Concepts: TimeFlow

TimeFlow uses two mechanisms to provide point in time provisioning:
Periodic backups of the dSource or VDB
Redo collection for all time between backups

The duration of the TimeFlow window depends on how long backups and
redo are retained, and is configured via policy in the Delphix GUI:

Key Concepts: TimeFlow

For dSources:
Backup snapshots are taken via the Delphix SnapSync service
Redo is collected via the licensed Delphix LogSync service

For VDBs:
Backup snapshots are taken via the Delphix SnapSync service
Redo is automatically collected, as VDBs are automatically placed in
ARCHIVELOG mode and their log destination is managed by Delphix

Key Concepts: TimeFlow Initial Sync

Production Supports:
Oracle 10G & 11G
on Linux and Unix

Delphix synchronizes to the production database

using standard APIs
Then asks for a copy of all blocks of the database
We apply
block aware filtering &
block aware compression

A D G J
B E H K
C F I L

/Logs
One Way communication
introduces no new risk
Delphix is a software
Appliance that installs
on a standard x86
Platform or VM

Delphix can use your

existing storage

To create an initial snapshot of the database blocks

Snap

B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L

Key Concepts: TimeFlow Staying in

Sync
Production

D G J
E H K
F I L

Creates a TimeFlow of the changes to the database

using LogSync
&
SnapSync technologies
For provisioning of the virtual databases (VDB)

/Logs
TimeFlow
Snap

Blocks

A
B
C
H
D
A
EFJ

Delphix stays in synchronization with the database

Logs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L

Snap

Snap

Snap

Key Concepts: TimeFlow Creating a

VDB
Production

/Logs

Delphix starts with the blocks from the most

recent TimeFlow SnapSync backup

A D G J
B E H K
C

No NEW blocks are written

SCN or Wall Time

Snap

Snap

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L

Blocks

A D G J
B E H K
C F I L

To create a VDB from a dSource

selected a point-in-time or SCN

Test

Logs

Snap

Snap
A

D
E

F
H
J

E A D

H D F

Key Concepts: TimeFlow Creating a

VDB

A D G J
B E H K
C F I L

/Logs

A
B
C

Test

Delphix mounts the file system to the Server

and starts the recovery process
rolling it forward with logs as required.

NFS

To create a fully functional VDB

that is read/write enabled
with its own unique TimeFlow.

D G J
E H K
/Logs
F I L

VDB

SCN or Wall Time

Snap

Snap

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L

Blocks

Production

Logs

Snap

Snap
A

D
E

F
H
J

E A D

H D F

Instantly Provision VDBs

DB SERVER

APP SERVER

SOURCE DBs

NONPRODUCTION: APPLICATION SUPPORT

Development

Application

Sync via
standard
APIs
1 TB

A DG J
B E H K
C F I L
/Logs

1 TB VDB

QA

A DG J
B E H K
C F I L
/Logs

Testing

Snap

Snap

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L

Blocks

STORAGE

1 TB

Solution uses
500 GB vs. 5 TB

Logs

26

A DG J
B E H K
C F I L
/Logs

1 TB VDB

Staging

1 TB VDB

Snap

A DG J
B E H K
C F I L
/Logs

1 TB VDB

Snap
A

D
E

F
H
J

E A D

H D F

D J A

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