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Path access to data
Another consideration at the file-system level is path access from the server to the storage array. The array will provide access to the same disk groups down multiple paths. The system administrator should leverage OS-based, load-balancing capabilities to remove several single points of failure. These capabilities may be built into the OS (e.g., MPIO or PV Links) or come from a third party (e.g., Symantec Corp.'s Veritas Dynamic MultiPathing or EMC Corp.'s PowerPath). Regardless, secondary path configuration must be completed at the OS level to enable access to disk storage through a secondary path.
Disk failures are protected through RAID 1/0 and RAID 5. Host bus adapter card, fibre cable and array storage processors are protected using multipath techniques. All of these schemes protect against hardware failure, but they do nothing to protect against corruption at the database layer. In some cases, the storage administrator can bail out a database administrator who dropped the wrong table because modern storage arrays have the capability to protect the database application from corruption. With the array providing specific disk groups with characteristics that are tuned for the database log files, tablespaces and executables, and with the logical volumes created with the correct block size and configured for multipathing, we can turn our attention to protecting the ERP application.
The critical nature of an ERP application requires 24/7 availability and that all transactions be protected from loss. These two characteristics drive organizations to leverage the advanced capabilities of their infrastructure. Storage and database administrators have skills that, when applied together, can provide significant application availability and protection.
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