TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive
A user running ONLINE 5.10.UD4 on AIX found that once a level 0 tbtape archive needed a second tape, all database activity froze while waiting for the operator to mount it. Art Kagel explained this is inherent to OL5: at checkpoint the engine must flush pre-archive physical log pages to tape, so it blocks until the tape is changed; versions 7 and later use per-dbspace temp tables and don't block, so only an upgrade truly fixes it. Backing up to disk was suggested but OL5 caps archive files at 2GB; other workarounds floated were a larger-capacity drive, scripting/expect with an autochanger, or smaller incremental archives.
Auto-generated by DrWatson from the posts below — may be imperfect; read the full thread.
ONLINE 5.10.UD4 AIX 4.3.3 Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their backups without any resulting issues. Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator gets the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape has completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I do not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching the tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay within one tape for now. I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as the operator needing to change the tape or not. Take care. Clifton M. Bean Informix DBA / AIX System Admin Currency Technics & Metrics 1431 Greenway Drive #700 Irving, Texas 75038 Main (972) 812-1411 x244 Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 Fax (469) 417-0665
All versions of Online 5 that I am aware of will pause the engine during an archive at the next checkpoint if the tape needs changing. This is because in OL5 at checkpoint time the engine sends any contents of the physical log older than the beginning of the archive to the archive tape in case any of the pages that were modified haven't been backed up yet. This was changed in 7.xx where the physical log pages for each dbspace are written to a temp table and the temp table is dumped to tape at the time that the dbspace's backup is completed and the temp table for that dbspace is then dropped. That's why 7/8/9/10 does not block if you don't change tapes for a while. But OL5 has to wait because the checkpoint will wipe out the pre-imiages in the physical log. No update except an update to 7/9/10 will fix this one! Art S. Kagel ----- Original Message ----- From: Clifton Bean <ids@iiug.org> At: 12/13 12:39:01 ONLINE 5.10.UD4 AIX 4.3.3 Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their backups without any resulting issues. Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator gets the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape has completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I do not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching the tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay within one tape for now. I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as the operator needing to change the tape or not. Take care. Clifton M. Bean Informix DBA / AIX System Admin Currency Technics & Metrics 1431 Greenway Drive #700 Irving, Texas 75038 Main (972) 812-1411 x244 Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 Fax (469) 417-0665 ******************************************************************************* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
If you set the tapesize up as large enough (when going to disk) it should not have to mount a second tape. j. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> To: <ids@iiug.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:27 PM Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] > > ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > > AIX 4.3.3 > > Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved > for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that > may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > > Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of > their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their > backups without any resulting issues. > > Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their > instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator gets > the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another > tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape has > completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at > which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I do > not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching the > tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. > > Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > > As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to > perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less > affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay > within one tape for now. > > I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to > tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as > the operator needing to change the tape or not. > > Take care. > > Clifton M. Bean > Informix DBA / AIX System Admin > Currency Technics & Metrics > 1431 Greenway Drive #700 > Irving, Texas 75038 > > Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > > Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > > Fax (469) 417-0665 > > > **************************************************************************** *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. >
If you are going to disk OL5 does not support archive files larger than 2GB so that doesn't help at all. Art S. Kagel ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Parker <ids@iiug.org> At: 12/13 14:11:40 If you set the tapesize up as large enough (when going to disk) it should not have to mount a second tape. j. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> To: <ids@iiug.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:27 PM Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] > > ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > > AIX 4.3.3 > > Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved > for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that > may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > > Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of > their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their > backups without any resulting issues. > > Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their > instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator gets > the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another > tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape has > completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at > which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I do > not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching the > tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. > > Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > > As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to > perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less > affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay > within one tape for now. > > I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to > tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as > the operator needing to change the tape or not. > > Take care. > > Clifton M. Bean > Informix DBA / AIX System Admin > Currency Technics & Metrics > 1431 Greenway Drive #700 > Irving, Texas 75038 > > Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > > Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > > Fax (469) 417-0665 > > > **************************************************************************** *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > ******************************************************************************* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> If you set the tapesize up as large enough (when going to > disk) it should not have to mount a second tape. But you are still limited to 2GB, if you go over the 2GB and need multiple tapes then just script it Paul Watson Tel: +44 1414161772 Mob: +44 7818003457 Web: www.oninit.com Growing Old is Mandatory Growing Up is Optional Attend IDUG 2007 San Jose, North America May 6-10, 2007 Visit http://www.iiug.org/conf for more information. [cutting]
Isn't this going out through tbtape? Does that have a 2GB restriction on it? As long as the filesystem supports large files... j. ----- Original Message ----- From: "ART KAGEL, BLOOMBERG/ 731 LEXIN" <kagel@bloomberg.net> To: <ids@iiug.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 2:06 PM Subject: Re: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7988] > > If you are going to disk OL5 does not support archive files larger than 2GB so > that doesn't help at all. > > Art S. Kagel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Jack Parker <ids@iiug.org> > At: 12/13 14:11:40 > > If you set the tapesize up as large enough (when going to disk) it should > not have to mount a second tape. > > j. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> > To: <ids@iiug.org> > Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:27 PM > Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] > > > > > ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > > > > AIX 4.3.3 > > > > Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved > > for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that > > may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > > > > Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of > > their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their > > backups without any resulting issues. > > > > Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their > > instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator > gets > > the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another > > tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape > has > > completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at > > which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I > do > > not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching > the > > tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. > > > > Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > > > > As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to > > perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less > > affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay > > within one tape for now. > > > > I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to > > tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as > > the operator needing to change the tape or not. > > > > Take care. > > > > Clifton M. Bean > > Informix DBA / AIX System Admin > > Currency Technics & Metrics > > 1431 Greenway Drive #700 > > Irving, Texas 75038 > > > > Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > > > > Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > > > > Fax (469) 417-0665 > > > > > > > **************************************************************************** > *** > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > > **************************************************************************** *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > **************************************************************************** *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. >
> Isn't this going out through tbtape? Does that have a 2GB > restriction on it? As long as the filesystem supports large files... AFAIK even with large filesystem you will still have the 2GB limit if you right to disk Paul Watson Tel: +44 1414161772 Mob: +44 7818003457 Web: www.oninit.com Growing Old is Mandatory Growing Up is Optional Attend IDUG 2007 San Jose, North America May 6-10, 2007 Visit http://www.iiug.org/conf for more information. > j. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ART KAGEL, BLOOMBERG/ 731 LEXIN" <kagel@bloomberg.net> > To: <ids@iiug.org> > Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 2:06 PM > Subject: Re: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7988] > > > > > If you are going to disk OL5 does not support archive files larger > > than > 2GB so > > that doesn't help at all. > > > > Art S. Kagel > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Jack Parker <ids@iiug.org> > > At: 12/13 14:11:40 > > > > If you set the tapesize up as large enough (when going to disk) it > > should not have to mount a second tape. > > > > j. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> > > To: <ids@iiug.org> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:27 PM > > Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] > > > > > > > > ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > > > > > > AIX 4.3.3 > > > > > > Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade > approved > > > for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running > into an issue that > > > may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > > > > > > Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one > tape as part of > > > their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able > to restore > their > > > backups without any resulting issues. > > > > > > Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated > enough data in > their > > > instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, > the operator > > gets > > > the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount > another > > > tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until > the second tape > > has > > > completed the backup process or until the operator > cancels the backup, > at > > > which point normal database activity continues as if > nothing happened. I > > do > > > not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup > and is switching > > the > > > tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some > time passes. > > > > > > Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > > > > > > As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations > staff to try to > > > perform the archives earlier in the morning when the > users would be less > > > affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow > them to stay > > > within one tape for now. > > > > > > I am also considering performing the backup to disk that > can be written > to > > > tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into > the same issue > as > > > the operator needing to change the tape or not. > > > > > > Take care. > > > > > > Clifton M. Bean > > > Informix DBA / AIX System Admin > > > Currency Technics & Metrics > > > 1431 Greenway Drive #700 > > > Irving, Texas 75038 > > > > > > Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > > > > > > Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > > > > > > Fax (469) 417-0665 > > > > > > > > > > > > ************************************************************** > ************** > > *** > > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the > discussion forum. > > > > > > > > > > ************************************************************** > ************** > *** > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > > > > ************************************************************** > ************** > *** > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > > ************************************************************** > ***************** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the > discussion forum.
Restricted. Art S. Kagel ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Parker <ids@iiug.org> At: 12/13 14:38:55 Isn't this going out through tbtape? Does that have a 2GB restriction on it? As long as the filesystem supports large files... j. ----- Original Message ----- From: "ART KAGEL, BLOOMBERG/ 731 LEXIN" <kagel@bloomberg.net> To: <ids@iiug.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 2:06 PM Subject: Re: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7988] > > If you are going to disk OL5 does not support archive files larger than 2GB so > that doesn't help at all. > > Art S. Kagel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Jack Parker <ids@iiug.org> > At: 12/13 14:11:40 > > If you set the tapesize up as large enough (when going to disk) it should > not have to mount a second tape. > > j. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> > To: <ids@iiug.org> > Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:27 PM > Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] > > > > > ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > > > > AIX 4.3.3 > > > > Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved > > for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that > > may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > > > > Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of > > their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their > > backups without any resulting issues. > > > > Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their > > instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator > gets > > the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another > > tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape > has > > completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at > > which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I > do > > not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching > the > > tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. > > > > Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > > > > As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to > > perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less > > affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay > > within one tape for now. > > > > I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to > > tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as > > the operator needing to change the tape or not. > > > > Take care. > > > > Clifton M. Bean > > Informix DBA / AIX System Admin > > Currency Technics & Metrics > > 1431 Greenway Drive #700 > > Irving, Texas 75038 > > > > Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > > > > Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > > > > Fax (469) 417-0665 > > > > > > > **************************************************************************** > *** > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > > **************************************************************************** *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > **************************************************************************** *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > ******************************************************************************* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
It wouldn't help with your efforts to get an upgrade, but is there any chance of fitting a larger capacity tape drive? >From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> >Reply-To: ids@iiug.org >To: ids@iiug.org >Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] >Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:27:32 -0500 (EST) > >ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > >AIX 4.3.3 > >Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved >for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that >may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > >Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of >their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their >backups without any resulting issues. > >Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their >instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator gets >the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another >tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape >has >completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at >which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I do >not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching >the >tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. > >Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > >As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to >perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less >affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay >within one tape for now. > >I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to >tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as >the operator needing to change the tape or not. > >Take care. > >Clifton M. Bean >Informix DBA / AIX System Admin >Currency Technics & Metrics >1431 Greenway Drive #700 >Irving, Texas 75038 > >Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > >Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > >Fax (469) 417-0665 > > >******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > _________________________________________________________________ It's Hotmail's 10th Birthday! Come and play Pass the Parcel http://www.msnpasstheparcel.com
On 14/12/06, Andrew Lennard <andy_lennard@hotmail.com> wrote: > > It wouldn't help with your efforts to get an upgrade, but is there any > chance of fitting a larger capacity tape drive? > > >From: "Clifton Bean" <cbean@ctm.com> > >Reply-To: ids@iiug.org > >To: ids@iiug.org > >Subject: TBTAPE Level 0 Multiple Tape Archive [7985] > >Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:27:32 -0500 (EST) > > > >ONLINE 5.10.UD4 > > > >AIX 4.3.3 > > > >Please believe me when I say I have been trying to get an upgrade approved > >for this customer. Now, I believe they may be running into an issue that > >may force the issue of an upgrade to the forefront: > > > >Their tbtape backup, until recently, was using only one tape as part of > >their level 0 archive. No issues there. I have been able to restore their > >backups without any resulting issues. > > > >Now the problem: the customer has finally accumulated enough data in their > >instance to require two tapes. When the first tape fills, the operator gets > >the message that the first tape has filled and they need to mount another > >tape, the activity on the instance comes to a stop until the second tape > >has > >completed the backup process or until the operator cancels the backup, at > >which point normal database activity continues as if nothing happened. I do > >not know if the Operations staff is watching the backup and is switching > >the > >tapes ASAP after the first fills and rewinds or if some time passes. > > > >Does this remind anyone of a bug on this or earlier 5.10 engines? > > > >As a workaround, I have asked the customer's operations staff to try to > >perform the archives earlier in the morning when the users would be less > >affected or to perform a level 1 archive which will allow them to stay > >within one tape for now. > > > >I am also considering performing the backup to disk that can be written to > >tape later; however, I am unsure if this would run into the same issue as > >the operator needing to change the tape or not. > > > >Take care. > > > >Clifton M. Bean > >Informix DBA / AIX System Admin > >Currency Technics & Metrics > >1431 Greenway Drive #700 > >Irving, Texas 75038 > > > >Main (972) 812-1411 x244 > > > >Toll Free (800) 834-8807 x244 > > > >Fax (469) 417-0665 > > > > Alternativly, are you using an auto tape-changer of any description? If so you could use expect to automatically rewind and change tapes rather than being reliant on operators. Keith