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Replication is a technique for ensuring Business Continuity by making exact copies of data. With replication, data on the replica is identical to the data on the original at the point-in-time that the replica was created.
Examples:
• Copy a specific file.
• Copy all the data used by a database application.
• Copy all the data in a UNIX Volume Group (including underlying logical volumes, file systems, etc.).
• Copy data on a storage array to a remote storage array.
Replicas can be used to address a number of Business Continuity functions:
• Provide an alternate source for backup to alleviate the impact on production.
• Provide a source for fast recovery to facilitate faster RPO and RTO.
• Decision Support activities such as reporting.
For example, a company may have a requirement to generate periodic reports. Running the reports off of the replicas greatly reduces the burden placed on the production volumes. Typically reports would need to be generated once a day or once a week, etc.
• Developing and testing proposed changes to an application or an operating environment.
For example, the application can be run on an alternate server using the replica volumes and any proposed design changes can be tested.
• Data migration
Migration can be as simple as moving applications from one server to the next, or as complicated as migrating entire data centers from one location to another.
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