Query on informix backup strategy

Hi All, =20 We use Informix IDS9.40(FC4) on HP-UX11i. The customer has requested for = an alternate mechanism for informix backup in case 'onbar' fails. This = means that if the informix backup using 'onbar' to a Tape Device fails, = they need to automatically switch to using 'ontape' to backup the = database to a filesystem. Is this possible at all ? Even if so, does = Informix endorse such configurations from a recovery standpoint ? Regards,=20 Rohit=20 =20

It depends what type of backup you are doing. With level-0 backup, there should be any problem. In case of incremental backup, it is recommended not to mix onbar and ontape. There may not be any issue with incremental backup too. But you cannot mix level-0 backup from one backup tool with level-1 backup of other backup tool. Also you cannot switch between ontape and onbar for log backup. You need to have a strategy for restoring from ontape backup when logs are backed up using onbar or vice versa.