Re: Informix 5, How to copy a table / database, HELP!

Why use SQL:UNLOAD, or dbexport, which both need filesystem space large enough to hold your data? Simply use tbunload (v5.x)/onunload (v7.x) to a tape device and then tbload/onload into the test area. This can be done across the network to another machine, across instances of Online, or locally on the production server. The only draw-back I can think of is that during the unload process, you database will be locked exclusively. You may even use the filesystem by 'touch'ing a file and using its name as the tape device on the command line. Try this: cd /tmp mknode mypipe p # a named unix pipe echo "\\n" | onunload -t /tmp/mypipe -b 8192 -s some_large_number database_name & onload -t /tmp/mypipe -b 8192 -s same_number -d dbspace_name database_name Here you have a file 'mypipe' that will act as a pipe between the unloader and the loader. This is somewhat slower than using a tape but requires very little filesystem space. tbunload/onunload and tbload/onload are nearly always faster than any other because they read and write informix pages in binary format not rows!!! kevin Malcolm Weallans (onlinedbc@cix.compulink.co.uk) wrote: > > (I'm not a DBA, that is clear!) > > A client has a Production database and a test database, to test sertain > > conversions in the database we need to copy tables or the whole database > > from the production into the test situation, is there a command for > > this? > > or is there any other way to do this? > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > Hans.Nieuwenburg@Cmg.Nl > Hans, > I would recommend that you should do this operation with the utmost care. > If you are using OnLine I would recommend most strongly that you > implement 2 instances one for production and one for testing. Then you > select the production instance, do a DBEXPORT of the database, select the > test instance, and do a DBIMPORT. That is the safest way. Then make > sure that test accounts can only use the test instance, whereas > production databases use the production instance. > It sounds simple, but if you need help please call. > Malcolm Weallans > Online Database Consultancy > Phone 01628-72154 > Fax 01628-37463 > CIX - onlinedbc