Snapshots (replications at a certain moment) of volumes for service applications can be created on other volumes. The former volumes are referred to as the master volumes and the latter as the proxy (or alternate) volumes.
Using this proxy volume will resolve various issues. For example, stopping a system with a large amount of data for backup purposes is becoming more and more difficult.
Conventionally, data was backed up overnight when no one was on the system. However, as the amount of data grows, backup often cannot be completed by the following morning. Also, the widespread usage of Internet and service diversification has made it impossible to stop many systems.
Figure 1.32 Problems Inherent to a 24-hour Operation System
Since the proxy volume can be accessed separately while the service application is accessing the master volume, users can run a backup application in parallel without worrying about the time.
By using the proxy volume, users can conduct various tasks such as non-disruptive backup, data analysis, verification, and data protection from disaster, without affecting the main service application.
Figure 1.33 Backup Using the Proxy Volume
The user can utilize given logical volumes managed by GDS as master volumes or proxy volumes, including the root volume (system volume), local volumes in single server configuration, and shared volumes in cluster configuration. It also provides snapshot operation that is consistent with GDS's various volume management function, such as access control function.
Figure 1.34 Liaising with Volume Management Function
The snapshot functions using a proxy volume are explained here.
