Advanced Data Management Settings for SQL Server dSources
Delphix Administration / SQL Server Environments and Data Sources / Virtualizing Databases Using Delphix with SQL Server / Managing SQL Server dSources / Additional dSource Topics / Advanced Data Management Settings for SQL Server dSources

When linking a dSource, you can use custom data management settings to improve overall performance and match the needs of your specific server and data environment. If you do not require any specific settings, leverage default data management settings.

Accessing Data Management Settings

There are three ways to set or modify data management settings for dSources:

During the dSource linking process:

  1. In the Data Management panel of the Add dSource wizard, click Advanced.
  2. For more details, refer to Linking a dSource.

On the Configuration tab of the Datasets details page:

  1. Login to the Delphix Management application.
  2. In the top menu bar, click Manage.
  3. Select Datasets.
  4. Select a dSource.
  5. Click the Configuration tab in the center pane.
  6. Select the Policies subtab, from the drop-down menu next to the SnapSync Policy and Retention Policy fields select a policy. 
  7. Policies are created by selecting Manage > Policies. 
    1. Click the pencil icon next to a policy to modify.
    2. To add a new policy, click the plus sign icon labeled Apply New Policy. For more information, refer to the instructions for Managing Policies, if necessary.

In the top menu bar:

  1. Click Manage.
  2. Select Policies. This will open the Policy Management screen.
  3. In the Policy Management screen, select the policy for the dSource you want to modify.
  4. In the pop-up dialog, click the pencil icon to modify.
  5. To add a new policy, click the Orange button located on the top right. For more information, refer to the instructions for Managing Policies, if necessary. 

For more information, see Creating Custom Policies and Creating Policy Templates.

Retention Policies

Retention policies define how long the Delphix Engine retains snapshots and log files to which you can rewind or provision objects from past points in time. The retention time for snapshots must be equal to, or longer than, the retention time for logs.

To support longer retention times, you may need to allocate more storage to the Delphix Engine. The retention policy – in combination with the SnapSync policy – can have a significant impact on the performance and storage consumption of the Delphix Engine.

Benefits of Longer Retention  

With increased retention time for snapshots and logs, you allow a longer (older) rollback period for your data. 

Common use cases for longer retention include:

  • SOX compliance

  • Frequent application changes and development

  • Caution and controlled progression of data

  • Reduction of project risk

  • Speed of rollback or restoring to older points in time

You can customize the retention policy to retain snapshots and logs for longer periods of time, enabling provisioning, refresh, and rewind for either to snapshots or (if LogSync is enabled) to specific points-in-time further back in time. 

LogSync for SQL Server dSources

LogSync is disabled by default for SQL Server dSources because snapshots are triggered by transaction log backups that you take of the source database, rather than by SnapSync policies. 

You should enable LogSync if you need to be able to provision to a finer granularity than is possible using transaction log backups. LogSync adds log files from the source database to the dSource, allowing you to provision a virtual database (VDB) from a specific point in time or LSN for SQL Server databases. LogSync must be enabled for this provisioning functionality to work.

Enabling LogSync will increase the storage required for the dSource on the Delphix Engine because the Delphix Engine will start storing the transaction log backups on its storage. The retention policy for the dSource determines how long the transaction log backups are retained.

You can enable or disable LogSync when initially linking to a source database (see Linking a SQL Server dSource). You can also enable or disable it after initial creation from the Configuration tab of the Datasets details page:

  1. Login to the Delphix Management application.
  2. Click Manage.
  3. Select Datasets.
  4. Select the dSource you want to modify.
  5. Click the Configuration tab.
  6. In the right-hand column headed Data Management, slide the slide-bar to Enable or Disable Log Sync.

Configuring Encryption Keys for SQL Server dSources

If the source database's backups use RedGate or LiteSpeed password-protected encryption, then the Delphix Engine requires the corresponding encryption key in order to restore the backup.

You can configure an encryption key when first linking to a source database (see Linking a SQL Server dSource). You can also set or change it from the Configuration tab of the Datasets details page.

  1. Login to the Delphix Management application.
  2. In the top menu bar, click Manage.
  3. Select Datasets.
  4. Select a dSource.
  5. Click the Configuration tab in the center pane.
  6. Under the column headed Data Management, click the pencil icon.
  7. Modify the value in the Encryption Key field.

Encryption keys are only required to restore LiteSpeed or RedGate password protected backups

The Delphix Engine only requires an encryption key when restoring LiteSpeed or RedGate password-protected backups. If encryption is configured using asymmetric keys or certificates, then you do not need to specify an encryption key.

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