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SJ1111
Advisor
Advisor

Classic “Refresh or Move DB Instance” vs. New “Refresh DB Content”


Customer Situation:


Customers may need to setup a new system with existing DB content. This can be necessary when you want to create a test system or you want to refresh a system that has been corrupted with an existing proper backup.

The Software Provision Manager offers two slightly different ways to do this. In this blog I want to introduce those two functionalities and to show the differences.

Introduction:


It is possible to use the system copy procedure to export / import the DB content but this will install a new DB instance using the installation media. This option is called: “Refresh or Move Database Instance

In many cases, it is better to refresh a system without having to install a new DB instance but only replace the DB content in an existing ABAP schema.

This new option is called “Refresh Database Content”

Background / Motivation


Customers should be able to refresh the DB content of an existing system as fast as possible.

The new process is faster, since the new DB instance does not need to be installed every time the DB content gets refreshed. It is also faster because the Kernel media and RDBMS media is not needed for that scenario. TCO is reduced, due to a minimal downtime of the system.

However, moving the refreshed system to another host is not possible with the new functionality. For this scenario, the classic option is still available.

Description: Classic “Refresh or Move DB Instance”



  • Using the DB content on the same host it is called “Refresh”

  • Using a different host to refresh the DB content it is called “Move”


-> Installation media is required and DB backup or migration export

-> New Kernel is needed (from media): download new Kernel media = time consuming

-> Database media (RDBMS server and client software) is needed = time consuming

-> New DB instance is installed = time consuming

Result: System refresh with existing DB content on the same or different host and new DB Instance

Description: New “Refresh DB Content”



  • Refresh the database content on the same host only


-> No installation media is required, only DB backup or migration export

-> No new DB instance is installed, only DB content is replaced, this is faster as option “Refresh or Move DB Instance”

Result: System refresh with existing DB content on the same host on the existing DB Instance



 

For additional Information please see also: http://support.sap.com/sltoolset -> System Provisioning -> System Copy Option ->  Guide for Systems Based on SAP NetWeaver 7.1 & Higher

Section “Copying Single Instances Only -> Copying the Database Only - Refresh Database Content”:
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