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BlueXP replication

Learn about BlueXP replication

Contributors netapp-bcammett netapp-tonacki
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NetApp SnapMirror replicates data at high speeds over LAN or WAN, so you get high data availability and fast data replication in both virtual and traditional environments. When you replicate data to NetApp storage systems and continually update the secondary data, your data is kept current and remains available whenever you need it. No external replication servers are required.

Features

  • Replicate data between ONTAP storage systems to support backup and disaster recovery to the cloud or between clouds.

  • Ensure the reliability of your DR environment with high availability.

  • Efficient block-level replication between ONTAP storage is fast and efficient, with granular recovery points for both DR and backup.

Cost

NetApp doesn't charge you for using BlueXP replication, but you'll need to check your cloud provider for applicable data ingress and egress charges.

Supported working environments

BlueXP enables data replication between the following types of working environments.

Source working environment Supported target working environments

Cloud Volumes ONTAP

  • Amazon FSx for ONTAP

  • Cloud Volumes ONTAP

  • On-prem ONTAP cluster

On-prem ONTAP cluster

  • Amazon FSx for ONTAP

  • Cloud Volumes ONTAP

  • On-prem ONTAP cluster

Amazon FSx for ONTAP

  • Amazon FSx for ONTAP

  • Cloud Volumes ONTAP

  • On-prem ONTAP cluster

How data replication works

BlueXP simplifies data replication between volumes on separate ONTAP systems using SnapMirror and SnapVault technologies. You simply need to identify the source volume and the destination volume, and then choose a replication policy and schedule.

For Cloud Volumes ONTAP, BlueXP purchases the required disks, configures relationships, applies the replication policy, and then initiates the baseline transfer between volumes.

Note The baseline transfer includes a full copy of the source data. Subsequent transfers contain differential copies of the source data.

Supported data protection configurations

BlueXP supports simple, fanout, and cascade data protection configurations:

  • In a simple configuration, replication occurs from volume A to volume B.

  • In a fanout configuration, replication occurs from volume A to multiple destinations.

  • In a cascade configuration, replication occurs from volume A to volume B and from volume B to volume C.

Replicate data using BlueXP backup and recovery

Starting with the BlueXP Connector 3.9.31 release, BlueXP backup and recovery enables you to replicate data between volumes on separate ONTAP systems using SnapMirror and SnapVault technologies. So if you plan to replicate data to other ONTAP systems, and you also want to create backups of the same data to object storage, you may want to use BlueXP backup and recovery so that you can manage your data protection needs with a single service.

Currently, the following functionality is only supported in the BlueXP replication service - not when using the replication feature of BlueXP backup and recovery.

  • There is no support for a cascade configuration where replication occurs from volume A to volume B, and then from volume B to volume C.

  • There is no support for replicating data to or from FSx for ONTAP systems.

  • There is no support for creating a one-time replication of a volume.

So if you require any of this functionality, use BlueXP replication.