To analyze the collected data using the VRAdvisor Wizard

1. Launch the VRAdvisor Wizard on Windows from Start > All Programs > Veritas > Volume Replicator Advisor > VRAdvisor Wizard or, on Windows 2012 operating systems, from the Apps menu in the Start screen.
2. On the Welcome panel, select Analysis, and then click Next.
3. On the Directory Specification panel, enter the name of the directory containing the data files to be analyzed. All files to be analyzed must be present in the same directory.

   The specified directory must contain the data files and any metadata files that are associated with each data file. The associated metadata and data files must have the same name except for the extension. Metadata files must have the extension .meta.

4. On the File Selection panel, VRAdvisor displays the list of files in a table. Select the files to be analyzed.

   Note:

   Files containing the information from the nodes that use the same network bandwidth for replication should be analyzed together. Otherwise, files should not be selected together. In order for the files to be analyzed together, the data collection for each node must start at the same time.

   • Provide the disk group name, Node name, and Cluster ID, if necessary.

5. On the Block Size and Collection Interval Specification panel, specify the metadata.

   If the data was collected using the data collection script for UNIX platforms, the generated files contain metadata such as block size, and data collection interval.

   If the files do not contain metadata, because the data was collected using operating system commands or the VRAdvisor Wizard, enter the appropriate metadata:

   • Specify the block size, if required.

   • If no timestamps are present in the file, or if VRAdvisor is unable to parse the timestamps, specify the interval that is used during the data collection.

6. On the Volume or Disk Selection panel, select the tab for each selected file. For each file, the wizard lists the disks or volumes for which data has been collected.

   When selecting disks or volumes, ensure that you do not select:

   • RAID-5 volumes because these are not supported.

   • Sub-level volumes (if the volumes are layered volumes). Select only the top-level volumes.

   • The volume that you intend to use as the SRL.

   • Drives or volumes containing high-activity data that is not be replicated.

     Using VRA to analyze data from drives or volumes containing high-activity data that is not to be replicated, may lead to erroneous results.

   Select the volumes or disks to be analyzed, and then click Next.

7. The RVG Summary panel displays the disks or volumes that were selected for analysis. The disks or volumes for each analyzed file are grouped under an RVG name.

   Click Back to modify the selections, or click Next to continue.

8. On the Network Parameters for Analysis panel, specify the parameters that apply to all defined RVGs.

   • Network Bandwidth Available for Replication indicates the total bandwidth of the network across which you are replicating. Enter the network bandwidth that will be available for replication. Select the unit for the network bandwidth from the drop-down list. The default is 100 Mbps.

     Note:

     Before specifying the network bandwidth you must also consider the loss of available bandwidth because of the TCP-IP/UDP headers, because VRAdvisor does not handle this.

   • Network Outage Duration indicates the maximum expected outage times applicable for all defined RVGs. For example, the time during which the network link is unavailable for the network that all the RVGs use for replication. Enter the duration of the network outage in days, hours, or minutes. The default is zero.

   Click Next.

9. The RVG Specific Parameters panel appears. For each RVG, select the tab, and then specify the following parameters:

   • Bandwidth Limit indicates the bandwidth throttling for that RVG. The default is 0 (zero), which indicates that no bandwidth limit applies.

   • Secondary Outage Duration indicates the maximum expected outage times specific to that RVG, for example, the time during which the Secondary host for the RVG is unavailable. Enter the outage duration in days, hours, or minutes. The default is one hour.

   • Apply to all RVG(s) indicates that the same bandwidth limit and outage duration apply to all RVGs. Select this check box to enable the All tab and disable the RVG-specific tabs.

   Click Next.

10. The Summary of Inputs panel appears. The Total Outage Duration column shows the sum of the Network Outage Duration and the Secondary Outage for that RVG.

    Click Back to modify the parameters, or select Analyze to start the analysis. VRAdvisor displays the results of the analysis for the selected data files.