Instant Clone Recovery for MySQL Server

You can duplicate a source server by cloning the snapshots created during backup. This operation, referred as cloning, utilizes the cloning capability of the storage array hardware, which enables you to duplicate large servers within a short period of time. Clones can be used for multiple purposes, such as:

• As test environments to troubleshoot issues found in the production server.

• Quick data retrieval without running resource intensive restores on the production environment and without requiring additional space on destination server.

• Alleviate load from the production servers for running reports and queries.

Currently, clone restore is supported on Linux platform only. A clone can be created from an existing IntelliSnap or a block-level full backup job. During the clone creation, a reservation period is specified by the user. At the end of the period, the system automatically shuts down the clone server and frees up all resources, including snapshot clones on the storage array. The cloning operation can also be scheduled to run periodically to allow the clones to get refreshed from the latest backups on a regular basis.

About This Task

Aside from the restore job, multiple extent recoveries are submitted to the Job Controller as one job called Persistent Recovery job. The default timeout for a persistent recovery job is 7 days. However, when the restore job completes, the persistent recovery job also ends and the Job Controller displays the job as Completed.

Before You Begin

• The version of database server must be the same on both the source client and the destination client.

• The database user must have the same user ID on both the source database server and the destination database server.

• The Commvault package and the MediaAgent must be installed on the destination client.

• On the destination client, create a working directory to use as the mount path for the database clone files. This directory must be writable by the database user.

• The working directory must have enough space for the cloned server.

• The file permissions for the clone working directory must be set to 777.

• Do not use root directory as a clone working directory.

• Free space required for staging logs depends on the total application size of the relevant log backups. For example, if there are five transaction log backups in the backup cycle selected to restore, add up the application size for all five log backups to find the free space needed.

Procedure

Use the following steps to create a clone environment from existing snapshots:

1. From the CommCell Browser navigate to the Client Computers | client | MySQL | instance.

2. Right-click a subclient, and then click Clone.

3. From the Clone Options dialog box, click View Content.

4. From the browse window, click Clone.

   Note: By default, the entire server is selected. You cannot select individual databases here.

   The MySQL Clone Options dialog box is displayed.

5. Under the Clone Options tab, from the Destination Client list, select a client where you want to clone the server.

6. From the Instance Name list, you can either select an instance or <Custom> from the list.

   • Select an instance to use its Binary Directory and Unix UserName for the new clone server that you are creating.

   • Select <Custom> to type the location for Binary Directory and Unix UserName for the new clone server that you are creating.

7. Type or select a port number that the selected instance will use for communication purpose. Verify that the selected port number is not in use.

8. Type or browse a location for the Clone working directory. The selected instance will be cloned at this location.

9. Specify the Reservation Period for which you would like to retain the test environment.

   By default, the clone environment will be retained for 24 hours. Once the specified reservation period expires, the clone server is dismounted and the mount point is deleted.

10. Optional: Select the Overwrite if clone exists check box if you want to overwrite an existing clone instance that uses the same port number as the new clone that you want to create.

11. From the Restore Time box, select a date and a time. From the Time Zone list, select the time zone of the destination client that you have selected.

12. Click OK.

List of Supported Kernel Versions

If your kernel version is not listed in the following table, you can opt for on-demand kernel version support. Please contact Commvault Support to get on-demand kernel version support.