Design and configure storage-level replication for SAP workloads

Designing and configuring storage-level replication for SAP workloads is an essential aspect of planning and administering Azure for SAP Workloads. This ensures high availability, disaster recovery, and data protection for your SAP systems. In this article, we will explore the key considerations and steps involved in implementing storage-level replication for SAP workloads in Azure.

1. Identify the replication requirements:

Before choosing a storage option, you need to identify the replication requirements for your SAP workloads. Consider factors such as Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO), which define the amount of data loss and downtime tolerable in case of a disaster.

2. Choose the appropriate storage option:

Depending on your replication requirements, choose the appropriate storage option for your SAP workloads. Here are some considerations:

• Azure Managed Disks: Azure Managed Disks provide durable and highly available storage for SAP systems. You can enable Azure Site Recovery (ASR) to replicate Managed Disks across Azure regions for disaster recovery purposes.
• Azure NetApp Files: Azure NetApp Files offer high-performance, enterprise-grade file shares that are ideal for hosting SAP applications. You can leverage Azure NetApp Files’ native snapshot and replication capabilities to protect your SAP data.
• Azure Blob Storage: Azure Blob Storage provides scalable and cost-effective object storage for SAP workloads. You can use tools like Azure Backup or third-party solutions to replicate SAP backups to a different Azure region or an on-premises location.

3. Configure storage replication:

Once you have chosen the storage option, follow the documentation provided by Microsoft to configure storage-level replication for your SAP workloads. Here are some key steps involved:

• For Azure Managed Disks: You can configure replication using Azure Site Recovery or Azure Backup. Follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the Azure documentation to set up replication and create a recovery plan for your SAP systems.
• For Azure NetApp Files: Azure NetApp Files offer native replication capabilities using Azure NetApp Files SnapMirror. You can create a source and destination volume, set up replication policies, and monitor the replication status through Azure Portal or Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI).
• For Azure Blob Storage: To replicate SAP backups stored in Azure Blob Storage, you can use Azure Backup or third-party backup solutions. Follow the Azure Backup documentation to configure backup and restore operations for your SAP systems.

4. Test and monitor replication:

After configuring storage replication, it is crucial to test the failover and failback procedures to ensure business continuity during a disaster. Use the monitoring and reporting features provided by Azure to track the replication status, perform periodic health checks, and get insights into the performance and availability of your SAP systems.

By carefully designing and configuring storage-level replication for SAP workloads in Azure, you can ensure that your SAP systems are protected against data loss, downtime, and disasters. Follow the Microsoft documentation and best practices to implement replication solutions that align with your business requirements and provide the desired level of availability and recovery capabilities for your SAP workloads in Azure.