Conduct Backup and Restore Procedures Test

Use

To test and retest the backup and restore procedures defined for the production environment until the results are acceptable

·         You can only perform backup and recovery testing before the system is in production. Choose a date well before going live.

·         The procedure depends on your hardware and the database you use. Databases include data files and log files. The data files contain the data. Log files save changes to data files. If and when a disk fails, you must restore database and log files, and recover the database.

·         Make sure that at least two people know and can perform the backup and recovery procedures.

Procedure

1.       Back up the database, then back up the log files.

2.       Verify data written to the backup medium. Do not rely on the results in the log file of the backup. Check the data on the backup medium. Check that it can be read from the medium. When a backup is made to tape, check the quality of the backup.

-         SAP backup tools let you verify the result of the backup: brbackup and brarchive can be run with the option ‘-v’ to read the data written to tape and compare it with data on the disk.

3.       Restore the database and log files from the backup medium (for example, tape) to the disk.

4.       Recover the database. Adapt the data files to the last consistent status before the restore using the log files. As the test of a disaster recovery can end in a disaster, take precautions:

-         You do not need to restore the whole database.

-         To simulate a disk failure, move some data files. Never delete a file to simulate a disk failure.

-         Use files that contain indexes. Do not use files that contain data.

-         To restore a file, use data verified on the backup medium.

-         Ensure that you have enough log files to take an older backup.

5.       Perform multiple tests of data corruption scenarios (for example disk failure) as well as user errors such as unintentional data deletion.

6.       Improve the procedures, roles, responsibilities, and tasks described in the SAP Systems Operations Manual for different data corruption scenarios as long as you remain within an acceptable downtime window.

7.       Incorporate any improvements into the SAP Systems Operations Manual.

Result

Restore and recovery procedures tested and test results documented

Refer to the section Database Interface, Database Platforms (BC-DB) in the SAP online help documentation.

For more information, see the guide System Administration Made Easy.

For information on testing disaster recovery, see the appropriate SAP Database Knowledge Product CDs.