Continuous log backup in the background

All, Currently, we have an Informix server where we perform periodic logical log backups using ontape -a. We're thinking of moving to continuous logical log backups using ontape -c. We do have a tape drive that can be dedicated to this. My question is this. What are the considerations if you run ontape -c in the background, (as opposed to leaving a window open on some administrative terminal, like my last company would do)? Is it appropriate to run ontape -c in the background? What are the pitfalls? Thanks for any insights. Kind regards, -- <><><><><><><><> John Bejarano bebe stores, inc. <><><><><><><><> --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==-- ---Share what you know. Learn what you don't.---

John Bejarano wrote: > > All, > > Currently, we have an Informix server where we perform periodic logical > log backups using ontape -a. We're thinking of moving to continuous > logical log backups using ontape -c. We do have a tape drive that can > be dedicated to this. > > My question is this. What are the considerations if you run ontape -c > in the background, (as opposed to leaving a window open on some > administrative terminal, like my last company would do)? Is it > appropriate to run ontape -c in the background? What are the pitfalls? For ontape -c you must dedicate a terminal. Otherwise how will you change the tapes when queried? An alternative is archiving logs to disk using the ALARMPROGRAM and then staging them to tape periodically using the system backups. My submission, utils3_ak, to the IIUG Software Repository presents two ways to do this, a script and an executable. BTW The latest version of utils3_ak was uploaded to the site yesterday and is now available. It now properly handles the situation if you change LTAPEDEV to /dev/null to turn off the alarm handler's backup feature. Art S. Kagel

John Bejarano wrote in message <7hutf0$chs$1@nnrp1.deja.com>... >All, > >Currently, we have an Informix server where we perform periodic logical >log backups using ontape -a. We're thinking of moving to continuous >logical log backups using ontape -c. We do have a tape drive that can >be dedicated to this. > >My question is this. What are the considerations if you run ontape -c >in the background.... I've done this in previous sites, running the log back-ups to disk. It works OK, and presumably would do to tape. The problems would occur when intervention is required, for example, a tape change. In this case the method is going to fail. You have to run on the assumption that your tape never fills (or that the 2 GB file limit is never reached if you're dumping logs to disk). Also, it's important to remember to re-activate the script when the engine or server is re-cycled. I wrapped a script around the starting of the Informix engine for this purpose. BTW, you didn't reply to my question about whether you're using kaio. Do you still have your performance problems? Neil Truby Londis Holdings Hampton Hill, UK