TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup Options

This section discusses the new options available for creating TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backups.

Creating a TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup (ONLINE)

A TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup is performed only when either the START or END parameter is included with the ONLINE option.

If no parameters are specified for ONLINE, the sync point automatically occurs at the beginning of the backup, and an online backup is performed where all files must be closed for write access at that time.

Up to 15 TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backups can be running at once. Also, a file can be stored by up to 15 7x24 true-online backups.

Initiating a TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup (START and END)

The initiation of a 7x24 true-online backup with a logically consistent sync point is controlled by the START or END parameter with the ONLINE option. Backups created with the START parameter have the sync point at the beginning of the backup. Backups created with the END parameter have the sync point at the end of the backup.

Specifying Time

In addition to the START or END parameter, you can specify a time for the sync point to occur. The time is specified in 24-hour format (hh:mm[:ss]). If a time is specified with END, the sync point occurs at the time specified or once all files have been stored, which ever event occurs last. If a time is specified with START, the sync point occurs at the time specified, or once all files are prepared for the backup, which ever event occurs last.

For example, you can initiate a backup with the following command:

   :STORE /;*tape;ONLINE=END,17:30

If the backup completed at 17:00, TurboSTORE would continue to log changes until 17:30. It would then synchronize the databases and write the log data to the backup media. If, on the other hand, the backup did not complete until 18:00, TurboSTORE would delay the sync point until 18:00. See the "Synchronizing Multiple Applications" section later on, for more information on synchronizing all applications.

Prompting During Backup (ASK)

If you want to be prompted during the backup to manually quiesce any other file types and/or third-party databases that are not automatically synchronized, you can use the ASK parameter. ASK makes TurboSTORE wait for you to finish these operations.




	NOTE: If you are running the backup unmanned, and you want to synchronize these file types and/or databases, manually quiesce these before beginning the backup.

If the following backup is initiated:

   :STORE /;*tape;ONLINE=END,17:30,ASK

TurboSTORE asks:

   17:30/#S21/59/ARE ALL FILES AND DATABASES QUIESCED FOR ONLINE BACKUP (Y/N)?

When all of your applications are quiesced, you should reply:

   :REPLY 59,Y

If you reply with the following:

   :REPLY 59,N

TurboSTORE asks:

   17:34/#S21/59/DO YOU WANT TO ABORT THE BACKUP(YES/NO)?

A reply of YES aborts STORE and the backup is incomplete and invalid. A reply of NO causes TurboSTORE to ask the original question:

   17:34/#S21/59/ARE ALL FILES AND DATABASES QUIESCED FOR ONLINE BACKUP (Y/N)?

When TurboSTORE receives a reply of YES to this question, it quiesces all TurboIMAGE and ALLBASE/SQL databases, turns on before image logging, unquiesces the databases, tells you to unquiesce all your applications, and completes the backup. You are notified on the console:

   17:35/#S21/59/ALL OF YOUR APPLICATIONS CAN BE UNQUIESCED NOW.

You can then perform any actions needed to unquiesce your applications.

Synchronizing Multiple Applications

You can synchronize multiple applications in several ways. Which method you use depends on the situation and how closely you want the applications to be synchronized. When you perform multiple stores per application, they can only be approximately synchronized.

Store all applications with a single STORE to ensure applications are synchronized. All databases are quiesced at a single point in time.
This is the preferred method, since it synchronizes the applications. The only possible disadvantage is that restoring one of the applications may take longer.
Use the END and ASK parameters to approximately synchronize applications.
When you use ONLINE=END,ASK, all jobs are backed up and the operator request for each backup appears on the console. Wait for all requests for the backup jobs to be displayed. Then reply to each request to complete all the backups, which causes the backups to be approximately synchronized.
If a job fails, ASK would not show a request for that job. You could first do a RECALL to see if all the requests are there. If the job is missing, you could go fix the job, manually rerun it until it gets to ASK, and then complete all the backups by replying to all the ASK operator requests.
Use the START or END parameter with the time parameter.
When you use ONLINE=START with the time parameter, set the time far enough in the future to be sure the setup time for each backup has completed. When you use ONLINE=END with the time parameter, set the time far enough in the future to be sure all backups are complete.
Using START or END with the time parameter is a good method for synchronizing all stores sequentially, causing them to have the same approximate sync points.
Use the END, ASK, and time parameters.
If you think there might be a job failure, this is the best method to use. Set the time far enough in the future to be sure all backups are complete. This method puts all the ASK requests on the console at the specified time, instead of displaying each job request as it completes.

Roll-forward Recovery of TurboIMAGE/XL Databases (DBRECOV)

DBRECOV performs rollforward recovery of TurboIMAGE/XL databases stored using the new TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup (with either the START or END option). Databases enabled for roll-back recovery are not affected by using the 7x24 true-online backup.

To perform rollforward recovery of your database stored using 7x24 true-online backup, the following requirements must be adhered to:

Your system must be up on MPE/iX Release 5.5 or later.
LOGID must include the AUTO option. If it was not used in the GETLOG command, use the ALTLOG command to include the AUTO option.
:GETLOG imageid;log=image001,DISC;pass=wontell;auto or :ALTLOG noautoid;auto
User Logging Process must remain active when storing the database even when the database is not open. That is, LOG logid,STOP must not be issued before storing the database. This is because the logging information which is dynamic in nature, is incorporated in the root file when the database is stored. This dynamic logging information can only be obtained when the log process is active. It is used later when performing rollforward recovery.
After the backup is completed, purge all logfiles preceding the one in use when the backup was initiated. It is essential that you retain the one used when backup was initiated and the ones following that. These are the logfiles that will be needed later to perform rollforward recovery.

For further information on DBRECOV, see the MPE/iX Release 5.5 (C.55.00) Communicator article, "IMAGE/SQL\with TurboIMAGE/XL Enhancements."

Storing Part of a Database (PARTIALDB)

When doing a 7x24 true-online backup, by default, TurboSTORE does not allow you to specify an incomplete TurboIMAGE or ALLBASE/SQL database to be stored. If you want to override this behavior, specify the PARTIALDB option. Any databases that are partially stored are NOT quiesced at the sync point.




	NOTE: Database corruption may result if not all database files are stored during a 7x24 true-online backup. Be sure that you only want to store certain database files before overriding the default behavior with `PARTIALDB`.

Refer to the "Storing Database Files Using PARTIALDB or FULLDB" section in Chapter 6 for more information on using this option.

Creating a Disk Directory File (STOREDIRECTORY and NOSTOREDIRECTORY)

When creating a 7x24 true-online backup with the sync point at the end of the backup, the STOREDIRECTORY option is enabled by default. To override this behavior, specify the NOSTOREDIRECTORY option. It is strongly recommended that you use the STOREDIRECTORY option when creating true-online backups with the sync point at the end of the backup. Doing so greatly increases recovery time when the backup needs to be restored.

Refer to the "Creating a Disk Directory File (STOREDIRECTORY and NOSTOREDIRECTORY)" section in Chapter 6 for more detailed information on using the STOREDIRECTORY option.

TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup Options

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