PowerStore Protection Policies

In this module, you will work with PowerStore Protection Policies which include scheduled snapshots and replication

Create Snapshot Rule

Create snapshot rules to specify the frequency of snapshot creation, and to define how long snapshots are retained before they are automatically deleted. A replication rule is a set of parameters the system uses to synchronize data in a replication session. Snapshot rules, combined with replication rules, enable you to configure and apply consistent data protection policies to storage resources based on your business data protection requirements.

If you are starting the lab with this section, you will have to first login to the PowerStore Manager. Double-click **PowerStore** on the desktop. Login with these credentials: - User: **admin** - Password: **Password123!** Click **Log In**.

In the top bar, Navigate to **Protection > Protection Policies** in the resulting drop-down menu

As you can see there's existing protection policies already created in the demo environment. Let's create a new one with a new snapshot and replication rule to see how the process works. In the left-hand navigation bar, click on **Snapshot Rules**.

Click on the **+ Create** button to start the workflow to create a new snapshot rule.

In the side pane that appears, use the following settings for the new snapshot rule: - Rule Name: **Demo Snapshot Rule** - Days: **Every day selected** - Frequency/Start Time: **Every 12 hours** - Retention: **Keep for 5 days** - File Snapshot Access Type: **Protocol (Read-only)**

For file systems, you can create two different read-only File Snapshot Access Types: Protocol and Snapshot. The default access type is protocol, which can be exported as an SMB share, NFS export, or both. You can share and mount the snapshot on a client like any other file system. For snapshot access types, you can access the files within the snapshot from the production file system in the snapshot subdirectory of each directory or within the Previous Versions tab on Windows hosts.

Click **"Create"**

Verify that the new snapshot rule, **Demo Snapshot Rule**, was created successfully

Create Replication Rule

In the left-hand navigation pane, click on **Replication Rules**.

Click the **+ Create** button to initiate creation of a new replication rule.

In the side panel that appears, use the following settings for the new replication rule: - Rule Name: **Demo Async Replication Rule** - Destination: **PowerStoreDemo-Destination** - Replication Type: **Asynchronous** - RPO: **1 hour** - Alert Threshold: **30 minutes**

**Asynchronous Replication -** A replication method which allows you to replicate data over long distances and maintain a replica at a destination site. Updates to the destination image can be issued manually, or automatically based on a customizable Recovery Point Objective (RPO). **Recovery point objective (RPO)** indicates the acceptable amount of data, measured in units of time, that may be lost in case of a failure. You can specify an RPO from a minimum of 5 minutes up to a maximum of 24 hours. **Alert threshold** is an acceptable delay added to the RPO to determine if a replication compliance alert should be generated. The system generates an alert if the delay between the RPO and actual synchronization time exceeds the specified alert threshold. PowerStore supports Asynchronous Replication over TCP and Fibre Channel protocols

Click **"Create"**

Click the **+ Create** button to initiate creation of another new replication rule.

In the side panel that appears, use the following settings for the new replication rule: - Rule Name: **Demo Sync Replication Rule** - Destination: **PowerStoreDemo-Destination** - Replication Type: **Synchronous** Click **Create**

**Synchronous Replication -** A replication mode in which the host initiates a write to the system at a local site and the data must be successfully stored in both local and remote sites before an acknowledgment is sent back to the host. PowerStore supports Synchronous Replication over TCP and Fibre Channel protocols

Verify that the two new replication rules of **Demo Sync Replication Rule** and **Demo Async Replication Rule** has been created successfully before moving onto the next section. Note the job might take a couple minutes to complete, but the screen should refresh automatically. You have the ability to refresh manually if you click the refresh arrow icon located on the upper right section of the screen.

Create and Apply Protection Policy

Protection policies should be used to define the local and remote protection approach that best meets your business needs. Different snapshot rules, replication rules, or both, can be created and assigned to policies to provide different levels of protection.

In the top bar, Navigate to **Protection > Protection Policies** in the resulting drop-down menu

As you can see there's existing protection policies for this demo environment. Let's create two new ones, First one with our new snapshot and asynchronous replication rule followed by a second one with our synchronous replication rule to see how the process works. Click the **+ Create** button.

For this new protection policy, enter in the following information: - Name: **Demo Protection Policy** - Description: **Async and snap protection policy for demo purposes** - Snapshot Rules: **Demo Snapshot Rule** - Replication Rules: **Demo Async Replication Rule**

Click **"Create"**

Click the **+ Create** button again to create our second Protection Policy For this second protection policy, enter in the following information: - Name: **Demo Sync Protection Policy** - Description: **Sync replication protection policy for demo purposes** - Replication Rules: **Demo Sync Replication Rule** Click **Create**

Verify that the two new Demo Protection Policies are now created successfully before moving on to the next step. Note that the job might take a couple minutes to complete.

In the top bar, Navigate to **Storage > Volumes** to get to the Volumes page.

Select the following volume in the **Volumes** page **"SysEng-github-002"** The volume you have selected does not currently have a protection policy assigned to it. This can be validated by checking that the Protection Policy column is blank. You'll now assign the new protection policy that you just created to the volume.

Click **Protect > Assign Protection Policy**.

In the **Assign Protection Policy** side panel that appears, select the **Demo Protection Policy** Click **"Assign"**

An info message will appear confirming that the protection policy selected will be applied to the selected volume. Click "**Assign**"

In the **Volumes** table, notice that the volume selected earlier (SysEng-github-002) is now assigned the protection policy **Demo Protection Policy**.

In the top bar, Navigate to **Storage > NAS Servers** to get to the NAS Server page.

Select the following NAS Server in the **NAS Servers** page **"Production_General_Server"** The NAS Server you have selected does not currently have a protection policy assigned to it. This can be validated by checking that the Protection Policy column is blank. You'll now assign the new sync protection policy that you just created to the NAS Server.

Click **Protect > Assign Protection Policy**.

In the **Assign Protection Policy** side panel that appears, select the **Demo Sync Protection Policy** Click "**Assign**"

An info message will appear confirming that the protection policy selected will be applied to the selected NAS Server. Click "**Assign**"

In the **NAS Servers** table, notice that the NAS Server selected earlier (**Production_General_Server**) is now assigned the protection policy **Demo Sync Protection Policy**.

**RECAP :** In this module you have created a Snapshot Rule as well as Asynchronous and Synchronous Replication Rules. These rules have been applied to Protection Policies and assigned to different storage resources. Snapshot Rules as well as Asynchronous and Synchronous Replication Rules can be applied to the following Storage resources : Volumes, Volume Groups, NAS Servers, and File Systems.

Congratulations! You have reached the end of this particular module. Click **Close** in the top left corner of this script to return to the demo guide.

PowerStore Protection Policies

In this module, you will work with PowerStore Protection Policies which include scheduled snapshots and replication

Create Snapshot Rule

In the top bar, Navigate to **Protection > Protection Policies** in the resulting drop-down menu

Click on the **+ Create** button to start the workflow to create a new snapshot rule.

Click **"Create"**

Verify that the new snapshot rule, **Demo Snapshot Rule**, was created successfully

Create Replication Rule

In the left-hand navigation pane, click on **Replication Rules**.

Click the **+ Create** button to initiate creation of a new replication rule.

Click **"Create"**

Click the **+ Create** button to initiate creation of another new replication rule.

Create and Apply Protection Policy

In the top bar, Navigate to **Protection > Protection Policies** in the resulting drop-down menu

Click **"Create"**

Verify that the two new Demo Protection Policies are now created successfully before moving on to the next step. Note that the job might take a couple minutes to complete.

In the top bar, Navigate to **Storage > Volumes** to get to the Volumes page.

Click **Protect > Assign Protection Policy**.

In the **Assign Protection Policy** side panel that appears, select the **Demo Protection Policy** Click **"Assign"**

An info message will appear confirming that the protection policy selected will be applied to the selected volume. Click "**Assign**"

In the **Volumes** table, notice that the volume selected earlier (SysEng-github-002) is now assigned the protection policy **Demo Protection Policy**.

In the top bar, Navigate to **Storage > NAS Servers** to get to the NAS Server page.

Click **Protect > Assign Protection Policy**.

In the **Assign Protection Policy** side panel that appears, select the **Demo Sync Protection Policy** Click "**Assign**"

An info message will appear confirming that the protection policy selected will be applied to the selected NAS Server. Click "**Assign**"

In the **NAS Servers** table, notice that the NAS Server selected earlier (**Production_General_Server**) is now assigned the protection policy **Demo Sync Protection Policy**.

Congratulations! You have reached the end of this particular module. Click **Close** in the top left corner of this script to return to the demo guide.