App Sync EMC

Welcome to AppSync Fundamentals
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Revision Date: November 2015

Revision Number: MR-1WN-APPSYNCFUN.2.2.2
Copyright 2015 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
AppSync Fundamentals
This course provides an introduction to EMC AppSync. It includes an overview of the

AppSync solution, its architecture, key features, and management functions.
This module focuses on the position of AppSync in EMC replication portfolio and the
applications it supports.
EMC AppSync offers a simple, SLA-driven, and self-service approach for protecting,
restoring, and cloning critical Microsoft and Oracle applications and VMware environments.
Protecting data with EMC AppSync is made easy by a customizable service catalog with prebuilt service plans and a workflow-like editing tool to callout actions that should be taken
before and after the replication. After defining service plans (such as Gold, Silver, and
Bronze), application owners can protect, restore, and clone production data quickly with
item-level granularity by using the underlying EMC replication technologies. AppSync
provides an application protection monitoring service that generates alerts when the SLAs
are not met.
EMC AppSync is fully aware of VMware virtual environments. This allows it to dynamically
respond to changes by following the application as it moves within the infrastructure,
assuring SLAs are maintained. AppSync also supports VM-level, Windows folder and filelevel granular restores, and supported Windows, Linux, and Unix file systems. The
Protected VM Restore Wizard allows users to restore individual virtual machines or mount
virtual disks and choose individual files/directories within the VM data store or associated
data store that is to be restored.
AppSync provides customized control of application consistent replicas with minimal effort.
Control of the application comes from the ability to create application aware replicas using
software automation based on policies determined by the end user.
This single solution for different underlying replication technologies allows for lower training
costs and results in less complexity in the environment.
As a result, AppSync does not require EMC professional services for installation as it is
customer installable. There are also custom TS kits available for those that desire EMC
guidance.
AppSync monitoring provides quick notification of any issues and verification compliance
with Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
AppSyncs REST API allows integration with web portals, management systems, and custom
applications.
EMC AppSync supports the following applications and storage arrays in mid-sized enterprise
environments:
Applications Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, and VMware VMFS and
NFS data stores and File systems.
Storage VMAX, VMAX3, VNX (Block and File), VNXe, XtremIO, and ViPR Controller.
EMC AppSync now has the ability to provide comprehensive application, OS, and
virtualization support across the breadth and depth of enterprise operating system,
application, and storage environments.
AppSync creates and manages copies of application data using supported replication for file
and block technologies on VMAX and VNX arrays and RecoverPoint. AppSync provides three
default application-specific tiered plans that can be used to create customized plans.
Gold service plans allow you to create both local and remote copies (RecoverPoint
bookmarks and XtremeIO snapshots for v4.0) on the target.
Silver service plans are used to create a remote copy (RecoverPoint bookmark, VMAX copy
of the SRDF target (R2), XtremIO v4.0 snapshot or VNX Snap) on the target.
Bronze service plans create a local copy (VMAX TimeFinder Clone, VMAX VP Snap, CDP or
XtremIO, and ViPR Snapshot) for RecoverPoint on your server.
AppSync supports the ad-hoc creation of Oracle and SQL server database copies, as well as
RecoverPoint bookmark copies, followed by the creation of copies of those copies. This
practice is referred to as repurposing. Repurposing serves many useful functions including
test-dev, break-fix, data mining, and reporting.
Repurposing on Oracle and SQL Server database creates a multi-level tree of copies of the
database. Repurposing copies are identified by a generation removed from the production
source data, i.e., Gen1, Gen2, and so forth. There is no limit to the number of generations,
but support is limited to two generations removed from the production data. The first
generation copy creates a copy that can be used as source for other copies. This action
creates a copy-of-copy. Repurpose copies are meant to be mounted for extended periods of
time for various purposes which are discarded or refreshed once used.
AppSync simplifies the process of repurposing by using a wizard. The wizard helps to
schedule or immediately create 1st Gen or 2nd Gen copies as needed. It is mandatory to
have administrative privileges to repurpose the database instance.
AppSync provides a real-time monitoring of all the activities through a Repurpose
Monitor, found under Monitoring toolbar (discussed later in the course). The Repurpose
Monitor allows you to view and monitor all the currently running repurpose activities. It also
shows the items being repurposed (source) and the label of the items being created or
refreshed along with the application type.
This module covered an overview of the EMC AppSync solution, including its core benefits
and breadth of supported array and replication technologies.
This module focuses on the components of AppSync and the way it interacts with supported
storage arrays, replication topologies, and applications.
10
EMC AppSync consists of several components that work together to create replicas and
mount and schedule replication via service plans. Shown here is a sample AppSync
deployment, depicting not only each of the AppSync components, but also supported
enterprise applications that can be protected by AppSync. Since AppSync supports both
physical and virtualized environments, there are a wide variety of supported deployment
scenarios, as shown here.
The AppSync server software resides on a supported Windows system. It controls the
service plans and stores data about each copy it creates. The server component consists of
the core software binaries, log files, and an embedded data repository containing
configuration data that describes the defined service levels and resultant replicas. The
server component may reside on either a physical or virtual host.
The AppSync client component acts as an interface to the protected applications installed
on each production host containing data that you want to replicate.
The AppSync web-based GUI is the user interface that controls the AppSync system
running from within a supported browser. Although shown here running on the AppSync
server, it can be run on any host or VM that meets the browser, Flash, and Java
requirements.
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Logically, the web console speaks to the AppSync server, and in turn the AppSync server
communicates with the clients. The AppSync client is the component responsible for
discovering how the application is laid out on the array. When replicating VMware data
stores, instead of a direct communication with the ESXi hosts, AppSync communicates via a
vCenter server that is configured on the AppSync server.
All the components require some form of LAN, WAN, or SAN connectivity. For example,
WAN connectivity is required between the RPAs for a remote replication via RecoverPoint.
Similarly, protected applications and the hosts for mount/surface production replicas require
SAN connectivity. The protocols required depend on the requirement of the connected
objects.
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A pre-generated support matrix for AppSync is no longer available. As of version 2.1 of

AppSync, you must run an advanced query to generate an AppSync support matrix from
EMC eLab navigator. You can then convert and download the query results to a PDF file.
The process for creating a support matrix document for AppSync from eLab Navigator is as
follows:
1. To launch the Advanced Query page, select Advanced Query>Custom Query from the
navigator home page.
2. In "1. Add Components to filter " section of the Advanced Query page, under
Component Type list, expand the More Types menu. Then scroll and select
Replication Management Software, and click Add. Replication Management Software
populates the Component Type list.
3. Click the Replication Management>Show Component Tree icon on right side of this
list. Clicking the icon populates the Query box, ELN tree on the right of the page with a
Replication management folder.
4. To Expand the folder: select EMC> AppSync Family > AppSync , then double-click
AppSync 2.2. This actions loads AppSync 2.2 as a Replication Management Software
component in the Advanced Query box.
5. Expand the folder and select EMC> AppSync Server Family > AppSync Server, then
double-click AppSync Server 2.2. This actions loads AppSync Server 2.2 as a
Replication Management Software component in the Advanced Query box.
6. Scroll down to the 2. Select Applicable configuration types section of Advanced Query.
Checkboxes appear next to AppSync Configuration Name.
7. Check all boxes, and click Get Results for Selected Configurations to generate
support information.
13
AppSync Server requirements are shown here. AppSync Server can now co-exist on the
same server with any EMC product that uses the RSA Common Security Toolkit. For
example, Networker server, Unisphere CLI, and Navisphere CLI.
For the latest information on support requirements and limitations, be sure to generate the
latest support matrix from http://elabnavigator.emc.com.
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The system requirements for deploying an AppSync agent to a supported application host
are noted here.
Though not shown here, be aware that in addition to the EMC AppSync Host Plug-in
service, you will also find an EMC AppSync Exchange Interface service on any Microsoft
Exchange Server where the AppSync client has been deployed.
For the latest information on support requirements and limitations, be sure to generate the
latest support matrix from http://elabnavigator.emc.com.
15
You can back up the local AppSync database using an automated hot backup tool. This tool
is installed with the AppSync server called the Backup Assistant. This backup can then be
used to perform a local restore if necessary.
Backup and restore operations are specific to the AppSync Postgres database itself. Running
the AppSync Backup Assistant is performed via CLI using the appsync-backup.bat batch file,
located in the \AppSync \backup-assistant directory.
Note: Always make sure you have a valid backup before attempting a database restore.
You must run appsync-backup.bat from the administrator command prompt using the
following syntax: appsync-backup.bat[-o, -out "<path>"] [-d, -debug] [-h, -help].
The backup that is created from appsync-backup.bat is a compressed zip file that includes
the PostgreSQL data directory. The AppSync CST sub-directory is present within the base
directory and it contains the lockbox XML directory.
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This module covered the components of AppSync and its interaction with supported storage
arrays, replication topologies, and applications.
17
This module focuses on the key features and benefits of using EMC AppSync in enterprise IT
environments with varied application infrastructure and protection requirements.
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To create and manage copies of your applications, AppSync supports TimeFinder Clone and
TimeFinder VP Snap replication technology. AppSync also supports remote copy
management of an R2 in a SRDF/S or SRDF/A configuration.
An AppSync Administrator should work closely with their Storage Administrator (if they are
different individuals) to first ensure that copy target storage has been configured on the
VMAX array. AppSync can make use of either a storage pool, or a storage group on the
VMAX.
If AppSync is provisioning targets from a pool, once a source is associated with a target
within a specific pool, all subsequent copy target devices for that source must be allocated
in the same pool as the first provisioned target.
Alternatively, you can specify specific targets in a storage group to be used by AppSync as
copy targets.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze plans are supported in VMAX arrays. TimeFinder VP is the default
replication technology used for service plans. The Gold service plan is used to create both
local and remote copies. The copy type includes Bookmark-RecoverPoint CLR. Silver service
plans are used for copies across SRDF/S or SRDF/A. Bronze service plan is used to create
and manage local copies for operation recovery, backup acceleration, or repurposing (create
copies for test/dev).
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AppSync supports the creation and management of application copies using VNX File
SnapSure copy technology. AppSync-managed copies can be local, remote, or identical
point-in-time local and remote copies.
Block based VNX uses VNX Advanced Snapshots. It supports creation and management of
application copies using VNX Snap copy technology.
VNX SnapSure creates a point-in-time copy of all the data on the network file system
(NFS). For the initial snapshot, this method creates a full copy of the original file system,
therefore, requiring the same amount of space on the file system. The usage of space by
subsequent snapshots depends on the amount of data that has changed since the last
snapshot.
VNX Replicator creates a point-in-time copy of all the data on the network file system
(NFS). VNX Replicator maintains consistency between the source and target file systems
that are based on the Time Out of Sync policy settings.
VNX Remote protection occurs between a local Data Mover and a Data Mover on a remote
VNX system.
In the case of service plans that leverage block-based protection, AppSync requires that
pool LUNs be used for the location of both the production and replica LUNs. This is a
requirement based on the use of VNX snapshots, which are core to how AppSync protects
using bronze-based service plans.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze plans are the various service plans that are supported for copies of
applications (NFS Datastore, Oracle NFS) residing on VNX file. The limits of VNX SnapSure
technology determine the maximum number of copies that AppSync can create and manage
for VNX file. For RecoverPoint CRR and CLR, Silver and Gold service plans can be used
respectively. It is possible to change the Snap to Bookmark for RecoverPoint copies.
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AppSync supports a full range of RecoverPoint replication options, including Continuous

Data Protection (CDP), Continuous Remote Replication (CRR), and Concurrent Local and
Remote Replication (CLR).
In Continuous Data Protection (CDP), RecoverPoint replicates to a storage array at the

same site. In a RecoverPoint installation that is used exclusively for CDP, you install RPAs at
only one site and do not specify a WAN interface. The Bronze service plan protects
application replication.
In Continuous Remote Replication (CRR), RecoverPoint replicates over a WAN to a remote
site. There is no limit to the replication distance. The Silver service plan protects application
replication. In Concurrent Local and Remote Replication (CLR), RecoverPoint protects
production LUNs locally using CDP and remote protection is done using CRR. Both copies
have different protection windows and RPO policies. The Gold service plan protects
application replication. RecoverPoint multi-site (multiple remote sites) is not supported at
this time.
Copies created using RecoverPoint can be mounted either statically or dynamically
(Previous versions of AppSync required all RecoverPoint target volumes to be pre-exposed
to their associated mount hosts).
Given proper zoning, AppSync presents storage to the host automatically when a copy is
mounted. AppSync dynamically assigns a snapshot to the host when the copy is mounted.
The physical host must be zoned to the VNX array of the RecoverPoint target LUNs (CDP or
CRR).
The RecoverPoint target LUNs are mapped at mount time to identify the LUNs, and the
LUNs are masked (moved to the mount host storage group) and surfaced prior to mounting.
The VNX must be registered with AppSync when the target LUNs for dynamic mount are on
VNX storage. When target LUNs reside on VMAX storage, VMAX auto-provisioning
requirements must be met, which requires the mount host to be zoned to the VMAX array.
A masking view with the appropriate initiator group, port group, and storage group must
already exist.
21
AppSync supports copy management on EMC XtremIO flash storage array. AppSync creates
write-consistent snapshots on the XtremIO array for each application that you add to the
service plan. XtremIO supports some of the applications like Oracle database, SQL server
database, Exchange databases and DAG, File systems, and VMWare data stores.
To create application consistent copies of data, service plans are enabled for XtremIO.
AppSync uses Bronze based service plans to copy XtremIO application data. If RecoverPoint
is the technology, then Gold and Silver service plans are used. AppSync selects XtremIO
Snapshot as the default replication technology for storage ordered copies when a service
plan runs. XtremIO service plans allow you to place application items from multiple XtremIO
storage systems in the same service plan.
22
EMC AppSync offers a better way to manage the protection, replication, and cloning of
critical applications and databases with tiered protection options and proven recoverability.
AppSync leverages Microsofts VSS framework to create application-consistent snapshots of
Exchange mailbox server databases. These databases contain all the necessary database,
log, and system files needed to recover an active or passive database copy. When you add
an Exchange mailbox server as a host, AppSync identifies whether it is an Exchange
standalone or an Exchange DAG member server. You can mount the copies on a Windows
server 2008 or Windows 2012 host that has the Exchange management tools installed to
run a consistency check or to back up the copies to long-term storage. AppSync can restore
individual Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2013 mailboxes and mailbox items when EMC
ItemPoint for Microsoft Exchange Server is installed.
As with Exchange, AppSync can create and manage application-consistent copies of
Microsoft SQL server databases. This includes support for advanced SQL features, such as
Always on Availability Groups, protection for standalone and clustered production SQL
Server instances, and support for databases on physical hosts, RDMs, and virtual disks on
virtual hosts.
AppSync can also be used to create and manage application-consistent (using hot backup
mode) and crash consistent (without hot backup mode) copies of Oracle databases. The
copies can be used for mount (with/without recovery) and restore.
For AppSync to create application-consistent copies of Oracle databases, the data files and
archive logs must not share the file-system, volume group, ASM disk group, RP consistency
group, or data store. If the Oracle configuration is such that the data files and archive logs
share any of these groupings, then AppSync can create crash-consistent copies for such
databases. When using VNX, make sure all consistency groups are VNX consistency groups.
Additionally, the archive log files must be on a different CG from the rest of the database
files.
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AppSync can create, mount, and restore copies in VMware vStorage VMFS data store
configurations. When you mount a VMFS copy to an alternate ESX server, AppSync
performs all tasks necessary to make the VMFS visible to the ESX server. Some
considerations apply when AppSync is introduced into a VMware environment for the
purpose of protecting VMware data stores.
All VMware specific operations occur through the VMware vCenter server. AppSync can be
configured to require vCenter server login credentials to allow protection of a certain VMFS
for security purposes. The protection mechanism for AppSync is through service plans. You
can subscribe a datastore to a service plan and run the service plan immediately, or
schedule the service plan to run at a later time.
Unless you instruct AppSync to omit this feature, AppSync takes a VMware snapshot for
each virtual machine that is online and residing on the VMFS just prior to protection in
order to ensure operating system consistency of the resulting replica.
AppSync supports VMwares use of VSS with VM snapshots when a supported version of
vSphere is installed and VMware tools are present on the virtual machine on the VMFS you
are protecting.
If the virtual machines in the datastore have RDMs or iSCSI LUNs visible to them, the
resulting copy does not contain those LUNs. If the virtual machine has virtual disks other
than the boot drive in other data stores, it is possible to capture those as well by
configuring the service plan to include virtual machine disks.
If VMFS volumes are to be protected, the standard AppSync management console must be
used. Otherwise, the latest version of the EMC VSI for VMware vSphere AppSync
Management plugin may be used.
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AppSync now supports the creation and management of application-consistent copies of file
systems. File system features include the ability to dynamically discover installed file
systems during the run of a service plan.
You can select one or more file systems to protect at a time or click Select All to protect all
the file systems on the list on the Filesystems page.
Copies of protected file systems can be filtered by time of creation, copy status, and service
plan.
25
This module covered AppSync key features and capabilities and their use in mid-sized and
enterprise IT environments.
26
This module focuses on the mechanisms used to manage EMC AppSync, including the
process of adding resources to AppSync and user management.
27
A supported browser, along with the required versions of Flash and Java, must be installed
in order to login to the AppSync console. You can run the AppSync console from a
supported web browser and from any system that has TCP/IP connectivity to the AppSync
server. Flash version 10.2 or newer and Java version 1.6u31 or newer are required
regardless of the browser type.
To login remotely, use http://<the IP of the AppSync server>:8085/AppSync to start
the console. If you are running the console on the AppSync server, click the AppSync
shortcut on the desktop to start the console. All communications between the AppSync UI
and the AppSync server are encrypted using the Secured Socket Layer (SSL).
The AppSync console is arranged in sections for management, reporting, and
administration. The Dashboard is a customizable view of reports and alerts.
The default dashboard shows recovery point objective (RPO) status of protected
applications, service plan completion status, most recent alerts, and activity in progress.
Copy Management lists discovered applications such as Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft
SQL server, and provides the application-oriented entry point for protection, mount,
restore, service plan subscription, and other operations.
The Service Plans tab lets you view and modify service plan settings, view lists of objects
that are subscribed to a service plan, the created copies of those objects, and the events
that were generated when the service plan was run.
Monitoring displays alerts, recovery point compliance reports, and service plan completion
reports.
Settings is for adding servers, VMware vCenter servers, and storage resources to AppSync.
License management, user administration, and server settings are also found under
settings.
Support provides access to how-to videos and the AppSync support page at
support.EMC.com.
28
Immediately after logging into the AppSync console, AppSync automatically prompts you to
begin adding resources for discovery and protection. Specifically, you will first be prompted
to add any relevant storage to AppSync before it can protect any of your applications.
To accomplish this for VMAX, arrays will require appropriate login credentials for an already
deployed SMI-S provider. The SMI-S provider must run on a Windows or Linux VM or a
physical machine that has connectivity to the VMAX(s) being managed. For VNX arrays, you
need only provide appropriate Service Processor and Control Station credentials. Likewise,
administrator credentials are required to access RecoverPoint resources in AppSync.
Once storage resources have been added you can deploy the AppSync client binaries, as
required, to physical hosts or VMware virtual machines. In the case of VMware VMs, you
should first discover the VMware datacenter where they have been deployed by discovering
an existing vCenter server.
After these resources have been discovered and are accessible to AppSync, you can start
discovering any of the supported applications or file systems you need to protect with
AppSync and then either immediately subscribe them to a service plan and run it, or create
a customized service plan that will execute based on parameters you define.
The procedure for adding and registering ViPR Controller storage to AppSync is:
Select Settings from the AppSync console
Select ViPR Controller from Add (drop-down list)
Enter ViPR virtual name or IP address to register ViPR
Enter the Global user name. This is the user name for the ViPR Controller
Enter the ViPR Controller password
Protocol and Port are pre-configured. They are set by default
Click OK
29
AppSync creates and manages copies of application data. A service plan defines the
attributes of these copies. You can subscribe application data objects to a service plan, then
AppSync runs the service plan and creates the copies of the data. Copies that are generated
in the service plan are listed in service plan Copies tab.
AppSync provides the following application-specific tiered plans:
Bronze plan (local copy): For Bronze plan, AppSync creates a local copy on the server with
VNX Advanced Snapshot, VMAX Timefinder Clone, VMAX VP Snap, VMAX3 SnapVX,
Bookmark for RecoverPoint , XtremIO Snapshot, VNX2e Unified Snapshot, VNX File
Snapshots, and ViPR Snapshot.
Silver plan (remote copy): For Silver plan, AppSync creates a remote copy with
RecoverPoint Bookmark, VMAX2 copy off the SRDF target (R2), VMAX V3 SnapVX, or VNX
File Snap off a remote ReplicatorV2 clone on the target.
Gold plan (local and remote copy): For Gold service plan, AppSync creates both local and
remote copies with RecoverPoint Bookmark on the target.
Bronze, Silver, and Gold service plans are provided by default, however you can customize
and create your own plans. Service plans also set the preferred order of storage technology
to use while creating copies. When you subscribe an object to a service plan, it joins the
other objects which are already part of the plan. All the objects in the service plans are
subject to the workflow and settings that are defined in the service plan. Service plans set a
storage ordered preference which is the preferred order of storage technology the service
plan uses when creating copies. If AppSync cannot satisfy a preference, it tries to use the
next preference in the storage ordered preference list. You can adjust the preferences to
create service plans that use the replication technology you want.
30
Every service plan is composed of phases. The phases in bold are required for all service
plans; phases that are not in bold are optional. Phases that are grayed out do not become
available until a prerequisite phase has been enabled.
For example, the Post-mount script and Unmount copy phases cannot be selected
unless the copy has already been mounted. This is because each of these operations is
dependent on the file system or application to be mounted. This copy has to be presented
to the Operating System before AppSync can take further actions.
In addition, not all phases have user configurable options, for example, the Application
discovery and Application mapping phases. These are particular to how AppSync
interacts with application specific features, such as discovering SQL instances, or verifying if
the Exchange database is an active or passive copy, or if sufficient array resources exist to
create a copy of a given database/file system.
31
When you install AppSync, a 60-day trial license begins. It is recommended that you obtain
and configure the AppSync license as soon as possible.
Licensing can be provided using a Per-seat Licensing method or an Array-based licensing
method.
AppSync licensing is array-based. A license is required for each array where target LUNs
reside.
To obtain a license online from within the AppSync console, select Settings, then
Licenses. Click Obtain License File Online. This brings you to the license management
page on the AppSync support site. Enter the required information to acquire and save the
license file.
On the EMC License Management web page, you will be prompted to enter a machine name
as part of the process. EMC recommends that you enter the serial number of your array for
arrayserialnumber. Once you have obtained the license file, you need to upload and install
it to the AppSync server. Ensure that the license file has a filename extension of .lic and
resides in a browsable location. From back in the AppSync GUI, select Settings, then
Licenses. Select Upload , and then Install License File. Then browse to and select the
license file.
32
AppSync is designed to have multiple users, each with different levels of privilege for
executing a variety of tasks. Each user can be assigned one or more roles that correspond
to their responsibilities and requirements.
When creating user accounts that will be assigned roles in AppSync, you can choose to
create local accounts that are stored with the AppSync database, or link directly to an
available LDAP server (such as Active Directory in Microsoft environments) which handles
the authentication and authorization.
33
Configuring AppSync to connect to an LDAP directory for authentication (such as Microsoft

Windows Active Directory) requires very specific X.509 formatting. This includes the fullyqualified domain name that represents the root of the LDAP directory tree, the IP address,
hostname or FQDN of the primary directory server to use for authentication, and the
Distinguished Name of the administrator user who has privileges to connect to LDAP for
authentication.
For more detailed information on the configuration of LDAP server and user settings used
by AppSync, see the EMC AppSync 2.2 Installation and Configuration Guide.
34
A high-level view of the capabilities of each user role in AppSync is presented here. The
user roles control the sections of the console that are displayed and the operations listed in
the menu. For example, the console does not display the Copy Management and Service
Plans tabs for a user with only the Security Administrator role.
The permissions available via assigned user roles are accumulative in nature. In general,
most users created in AppSync are likely to have multiple roles assigned to them. For
example, a typical scenario involving an Exchange or SQL implementation may have a user
account created and assigned the Data Administrator and Service Plan Administrator roles.
This would allow the application owners not only to create a service plan that meets their
precise RPO requirements, but also allows them to backup and restore on an ad-hoc basis
as needed.
The Security administrator role has the ability to configure LDAP servers for authentication,
add, delete, and modify users, including changing the passwords of other users, and add or
remove roles to users.
The Resource administrator has the ability to add, modify, or remove arrays, RecoverPoint
sites, hosts, and vCenter servers. Additionally, the resource administrator may obtain and
upload licenses, as well as modify server settings. Note that to add a resource, the resource
administrator needs the proper credentials of the resource.
The Service Plan administrator has the ability to add, modify, delete, and run service plans.
The Data administrator has the ability to configure an Exchange host, which includes
discovering its databases, and to select a DAG member server to copy for protection. It can
also subscribe data to a service plan, remove some or all data from a subscription, and
specify override settings for subscribed data. In addition, the Data Administrator can
create, mount, and restore a copy (on demand or otherwise), run service plans, and
manage LDAP certificates.
35
When you create an ACL for an application, and then assign users to the access list, you
grant those users access to the application in AppSync. A user can then subscribe the
application to a service plan and perform various operations, such as view, generate,
mount, un-mount, and restore copies.
Except for Service Plan Administrators and Data Administrators who have an ACL manager
Role, only users listed on the ACL can access or view the application on the AppSync
console. Users with ACL access do not receive references to the application such as events
and alerts.
The following list describes the roles and permissions for ACLs in AppSync:
A Security Administrator enables the ACL manager role to a Data Administrator.
Data Administrators that are designated as ACL managers can grant and revoke users from
an ACL. Data Administrators without ACL manager privilege can only view a service plan to
applications that they can access.
Resource Administrators and Security Administrators cannot access applications under ACL
control. They can, however, view report data generated from applications that they can
access.
Service plan Administrators are not affected by ACLs. They perform all operations allowed
by this role.
Child application objects inherit any ACL applied to the parent. Review the following
behavior of the parent/child ACL model:
When children are discovered they inherit the parent ACL.
Users can be added to the ACL of a specific child.
A child user can see the parent even if the user is not on the parent ACL.
The child user cannot perform any operations on the parent other than navigate
(read-only access).
Roles are cumulative. You gain all entitlements for each role to which you belong.
36
AppSync provides the ability to monitor all phases of Service Plan execution with:
Alerts
Service Plan Reports
Recovery Point Reports
Repurpose Monitoring dashboard
A summary view of the percentage of service plans that completed successfully and
whether or not all application RPOs have been met is presented to you in these reports.
AppSync provides the ability to monitor all phases of Service Plan execution, including a
summary view of the percentage of service Plans that completed successfully and whether
or not application RPOs have been met as a result. In addition, AppSync allows you to
monitor ongoing Oracle and SQL server repurposing operations as they occur in real-time.
37
AppSync generates an alert when a service plan phase fails, when a Recovery Point
Objective (RPO) is not met, or when a mount or restore fails.
If any phase of a service plan fails during execution, AppSync will generate an appropriate
set of alerts that you can expand for more information. These alerts provide a summary of
logged operations and provide valuable insight into the root cause of an error. This can be
very useful during troubleshooting, such as determining if the error was a transient
application failure, or one requiring more serious investigation.
Following is a detailed description of the alerts column:
Alert (!): Level of alert
Time: Date and time of the alert
Server: Application server, such as a Microsoft Exchange server
Application: Replicated object, such as a Microsoft Exchange database
Category: Phase failure, RPO
Service Plan: Service plan that was running when the alert was generated, or the service
plan that created the copy that failed a mount or restore
Message: Describes the cause of the alert
You can view the associated events that led up to the alert by clicking on specific alert.
Expand the top-level events to see additional details.
The alerts page display shows a column for Alert Acknowledged. The value NO is the
default. When you acknowledge an alert, the value of the alert changes to YES from the
default value NO.
38
The Recovery Point Compliance Report and the Service Plan Completion Report are tools for
determining if data is being protected according to plan and that all SLAs are being met.
The Recovery Point Compliance Report indicates the recovery point objective, the time since
the last recovery point, and the service plan used. This is done for each application on each
server.
The Service Plan Completion Report indicates how many cycles completed successfully, how
many completed with errors, and how many failed for every service plan.
39
Representational State Transfer (REST) API is a client-server software architectural style for
distributed hypermedia systems like audio, video, image etc. REST is used for developing
web services.
AppSync has a REST interface that allows the application programmers to access the
information controlled by AppSync.
The various features for administering the AppSync console includes:
Setup an AppSync: Setting up REST API helps in registering a host, deploying a host plugin, adding storage systems, adding RecoverPoint site etc.
Authentication of requests in the AppSync API: The AppSync server web interface
authenticates users through the industry standard CAS (Central Authentication Service)
protocol over SSL.
Service action plans: Service plans are made up of phases for application discovery,
mapping, user-supplied scripts, create copy, mount, validate, and unmount.
Adding data to a service plan for protection: To protect any application data, you need to
subscribe the data to a service plan. With the help of REST interface you subscribe the
service plan by putting a dataset to the service plan.
Subscribing data store to a service plan: This whole process of subscribing data store helps
in storing huge amount of data in terms of objects.
Actions on copies: There are various actions that can be performed like create copies, view,
mount, restore, and view events associated with a copy.
Viewing alerts and reports: REST API helps in collecting all the alerts in the system, getting
all alerts that were generated for a specific service plan, to collect all events related to an
alert, and also to get a report of activity in progress.
40
This module discussed EMC AppSync management options including the basic procedure of
logging into the console and initiating protection for a given application or file system using
a service plan.
41
This course covered the EMC AppSync solution and its benefits in enterprise application
protection schemes.
This concludes the training.
42

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Welcome to AppSync Fundamentals

Revision Date: November 2015

Copyright 2015 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.

This course provides an introduction to EMC AppSync. It includes an overview of the

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A pre-generated support matrix for AppSync is no longer available. As of version 2.1 of

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AppSync supports a full range of RecoverPoint replication options, including Continuous

In Continuous Data Protection (CDP), RecoverPoint replicates to a storage array at the

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Select Settings from the AppSync console

Select ViPR Controller from Add (drop-down list)

Enter ViPR virtual name or IP address to register ViPR

Enter the ViPR Controller password

Protocol and Port are pre-configured. They are set by default

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Configuring AppSync to connect to an LDAP directory for authentication (such as Microsoft

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Service Plan Reports

Recovery Point Reports

Repurpose Monitoring dashboard

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Alert (!): Level of alert

Time: Date and time of the alert

Server: Application server, such as a Microsoft Exchange server

Application: Replicated object, such as a Microsoft Exchange database

Category: Phase failure, RPO

Message: Describes the cause of the alert

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