Gartner Research

Decision Point for Data Replication for HA/DR

Published: 29 January 2014

ID: G00255438

Analyst(s): Werner Zurcher

Summary

No one data replication approach is always the best. As WAN costs decline and data replication usage grows, alternatives to storage-array-based solutions, such as database-, VM- and cloud-oriented solutions, are proliferating. This document recommends an approach for each set of HA/DR requirements.

Table Of Contents

Decision Point

Decision Context

  • Architectural Context
  • Related Decisions

Evaluation Criteria

  • Requirements and Constraints
    • Recovery Requirements
    • Active Data Processing Locale(s) Support Requirements
    • Application, Data Type and Platform Support Requirements
    • Processing/Network/Bandwidth Requirements
    • Management Requirements
    • Operational Requirements
    • Infrastructure Constraints
    • Organizational and Budgetary Constraints
  • Principles
    • Operational Paradigm
    • Breadth of Capabilities
    • Disaster Recovery Management Practices
    • Budget Versus Service-Level Priorities
    • Technology Maturity
    • Single or Multiuse Capabilities

Alternatives

  • Application-Specific Transaction Replication
  • Database (Log) Replication
  • Primary Storage-Array-Based Data Replication
  • Secondary (Backup) Storage-Appliance-Based Replication
  • Storage-Virtualization-Appliance-Based Data Replication
  • Data Mirroring Using Storage Network Hardware or Host Software to Metro-Area Storage
  • Backup Software-Driven Data Replication
  • VM Replication
  • File Replication
  • Software Volume-Based Data Replication

Future Developments

  • Bundled VM Replication Product Offerings
  • Replication, Backup and DRaaS/RaaS Integration

Decision Tool

  • Step 1: Define Domain of Coverage
  • Step 2: Define Data Replication Requirements and Constraints
  • Step 3: Define Data Replication Principles
  • Major Decision Determinants
    • For What Purpose Is Data Replication Performed?
    • What Is the Defined Recovery Time Objective?
    • What Is the Defined Recovery Point Objective?
    • Are Replication Data Consistency Groups Required?
    • What Is the Main Type of Data Being Replicated?
    • What Is the Effect of Performance, Cost and Other Considerations?

Decision Justification

  • Use Transaction Replication
  • Use Database Replication
  • Use Primary Storage-Based Replication
  • Use Storage Virtualization Appliance or Host-Based Data Mirroring
  • Use VM Replication
  • Use File or (Primary) Storage-Based Replication
  • Use Backup Software-Based Replication
  • Use Backup (Secondary) Storage-Based Replication

Recommended Reading

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