Performing database verification using SnapManager

If you created a full database backup set without automatically verifying the databases at the time the backup was created, you can verify the databases in that backup as a separate operation.

Attention: If you attempt to perform a database verification (or a backup with database verification) when SnapManager is running from a Terminal Services client instead of from a system console, the operation fails.

You can schedule more than one deferred verification to run at the same time.

Information you need to specify for a database verification

A database integrity verification job is specified using a combination of parameters.

Job-specific parameters: Each time you start or schedule a database verification, you must specify the following information in either the Backup wizard or in the Backup and Verify option:

The databases for which you want to verify any unverified backup sets when you select one database. SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that are located on the same Data ONTAP storage volume. You can clear automatically selected databases. For example:
- In the case of a virtual machine containing VMDKs, all the databases residing on the VMDKs are selected automatically whether the VMDK resides on the same or different datastores.
- If the other LUN stores only a single database, you can clear or reselect that database individually.
- If the other LUN houses multiple databases, you must clear or reselect those databases as a group.
Within the selected databases, the backup management groups for which you want to verify any unverified backup sets
For more information, see Using backup management groups in backup and verification.
For the selected databases and backup management groups, the number of unverified backup sets you want to verify

Note: If you request verification of a greater number of unverified Snapshot copies than specified by your database and backup management group selections, the verification will proceed, and therefore all backups will be verified.
Whether you want to run a command after the backup is complete (usually done to archive backups)
This feature is typically used to automatically archive a backup.
If the volumes you are backing up to are SnapMirror sources: whether you want the destination volumes to be updated after the database verification is complete

Note: The result of the database verification operation (the database integrity status) is written to the backup set, in the SnapInfo directory. By replicating the backup set to the mirrored volume, this status information is kept current on the mirrored volume.

For more information, see Replicating backups to mirrored volumes..
Whether you want to run the verification now or schedule it for later

Note: If you want to schedule the verification to run later, you also need to know the job scheduling information.

Verification settings: The following list summarizes the settings that pertain to database verification:

Which SQL Server is used to perform database verification
This is configured using the SQL Server option of the Verification Settings dialog box, described in "Selecting the database verification server" in Database integrity verification options. If you specify a remote verification server, be sure it is set up properly, as described in "Requirements for a remote verification server" in Database integrity verification options.

Which DBCC options are used to verify database backup Snapshot copies
This is configured using the DBCC Options option of the Verification Settings dialog box, described in "Selecting DBCC options" in Database integrity verification options.

The Verification Settings dialog box can be accessed from the Backup and Verify option, as well as from the Backup wizard.

If you are using the Backup and Verify option, you can open the Verification Settings dialog box by selecting "Verify most recent unverified Snapshot backups only".
From within the Backup wizard, you can open the Verification Settings dialog box by clicking Database Verification Settings in the View or Change Database Verification Options screen.

Note: The View or Change Database Verification Options screen appears only if you are specifying a "Full database backup" operation or a "Verify most recent Snapshot backups" operation; the SnapManager Backup wizard does not present this screen if you are specifying a "Transaction log backup only" operation.

Database verification using the Backup and Verify option

To start or schedule database verification, complete the following steps from the production SQL Server host system (not from the remote verification server).

Note: If the FlexClone license is not enabled and you run database verification either remotely or locally, you must be careful not to schedule backups while verification is in progress. Doing so can create a "busy Snapshot" which might cause problems when you attempt to delete some Snapshot copies. For information about busy Snapshot copies, see "Busy Snapshot error prevents deletion of backup set" in Explicitly deleting backup sets using SnapManager.

Step	Action
1	On the production SQL Server, click the Backup and Verify option.
2	Select "Verify most recent unverified Snapshot backups only."
3	Select the number of the most recent unverified backups you want to verify. Note: Only unverified backups are counted. For example, if you select `2` , and all the databases contained in the most recent backups have already been verified, then SnapManager verifies the databases in the two previous backups.
4	In the Backup Management Group option, select the backup management group of the backups you want to verify. If you want to verify the most recent backups regardless of their backup management group, select All.
5	If you want to run a command either before the database verification starts or after the database verification finishes, select the Run Command Settings option. Result If you select this option, SnapManager displays the Run Command dialog box. For more information, see Pre-command and post-command script settings.
6	If your volume is a SnapMirror source volume and you do not want the destination volume to be updated after this verification is complete, clear the "Update SnapMirror after operation" option. Note: The result of the database verification operation (the database integrity status) is written to the backup set, in the SnapInfo directory. By replicating the backup set to the mirrored volume, this status information is kept current on the mirrored volume.
Verify now or schedule for later
7	You can either run the verification now or schedule it for later. Click one of the following buttons: Verify Now... Schedule...
To complete this procedure by scheduling the verification
8	If the Schedule Job dialog box appears, complete this procedure by scheduling the backup. For details, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.
To complete this procedure by starting the verification:
9	If the Backup Status dialog box appears, do the following: Read the items displayed in the Backup Task List. This list is used to show the progress of the verification operation after you start it. When you are ready to start the verification operation, click Start Now. Result The verification operation is performed, and each item in the Backup Task List is checked off as the task is complete. You can toggle the Backup Status dialog box between two different views, Backup Task List view and Backup Report view, by using the Switch button on either view. The Backup Report view displays detailed progress information as the verification progresses. You can also print this information by using the Print Report button. If the backup is successful, the Backup Task List view shows the check-off list with the tasks completed. If Notification is enabled, email is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

Database verification using the Backup wizard

To start or schedule a database verification using the Backup wizard, complete the following steps.

Note: For a list of information you need to provide as you complete these steps, see "Information you need to specify for a database verification" in Performing database verification using SnapManager.

Step	Action
1	In the SnapManager for SQL Server console root, click Backup Wizard. Result The SnapManager Backup Wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen.
Welcome
2	Click Next. Result The Databases to Backup or Verify screen appears.
Databases to Backup or Verify
3	In the left panel, click to select the databases you want to verify, When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to backup" under "Job-specific parameters" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager.
4	Click Next. Result The Backup or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs screen appears.
Backup or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs
5	Specify the number of database backup Snapshot copies you want to verify: Select the "Verify Database and transaction logs in the" option. In the "most recent unverified backups" option, select the number of database backup Snapshot copies to verify. Click Next. Result The "Select the backup management group for this backup" screen appears.
Select the backup management group for this backup
6	Follow the instructions in the remainder of the Backup wizard screens. The following screens enable you to specify the details of a database verification: Backup Management Group View or Change Verification Settings Option to Perform SnapMirror Update After Operation Note: This screen appears only if any SQL Server databases or SnapInfo directories reside on a SnapMirror source volume. Run a Command After the Operation For a list of information you need to provide, see "Information you need to specify for a database verification" in Performing database verification using SnapManager.
Backup Finish
7	The Backup Finish screen prompts you to choose whether you want the operation to be performed now or scheduled for a later time.
	If you want to...	Then...
	Run the database verification now	Go to Step 8.
	Schedule the database verification for later	Go to Step 11.
To run the database verification now:
8	If you want to run the database verification immediately, click Verify.
9	After you verify that all the settings in the window are correct, go to the Completing the Backup Wizard dialog box and click Finish. Result The Backup wizard closes, and the Backup Status window appears, and displays a Backup Task List that will be used to show the progress of the database verification operation after you start it.
10	In the Backup Status window, click Start Now. Result The database verification is performed. The Backup Status dialog box appears and displays a Backup Task List that is used to show the progress of the backup operation after you start it. SnapManager Backup completes each task and checks it off on the list shown in the Backup Task List view. You can switch back and forth between the task check-off list and the progress report using the Switch buttons on either view. If the verification is successful, the Task window shows the check-off list with the tasks completed. If Notification is enabled, email is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.
To schedule the database verification for later:
11	If you want to schedule the database verification for later, do the following: Select the Later option. In the Job Name box, enter a name for this job. If you want this job name to overwrite a job of the same name (if it exists), select the Replace Job if Exists option. Click Next. For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job. Result The Select the Scheduling Service screen appears.
12	In the Select the Scheduling Service screen, do the following: Select either SQL Server Agent or Windows Scheduled Tasks. For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job. Click Next. Result The Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the backup settings you have selected.
13	After you verify that all the settings in the window are correct, go to the Completing the Backup Wizard dialog box and click Finish. Result The selected scheduler displays one of two dialog boxes, as follows: If you chose to schedule the backup job using the SQL Server Agent, the Properties dialog box appears. If you chose to schedule the backup job using Scheduled Tasks, the Schedule Job dialog box appears.
14	To schedule the job and close the Backup wizard, do the following: Specify the details of the job. Click OK.