Informix 12.10 snapshot
A user asked whether a SAN snapshot taken with onmode -c block/unblock could be used to clone a 12.10 instance nightly onto another host and onto the same host, since the database was too big for onbar/ontape. Consensus: yes, via external backup/restore (documented in the Backup and Restore Guide); it's simplest when chunk paths match, though chunk renaming during external restore also works. Cloning onto the same machine was flagged as risky — a chunk missed in the rename file could leave two instances writing the same chunk — so a separate VM/chroot with links to the snapshot devices was suggested, plus warnings about snapshot space growth. Alternatives offered included an RS secondary with log staging and scheduled stop-apply. The poster thanked the group; no single step-by-step solution was recorded.
Auto-generated by DrWatson from the posts below — may be imperfect; read the full thread.
Hi all,
I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clone my
Informix 12.10 server?
I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" copy of the
instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and one to
another host for backup and development purposes.
I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot - my
question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or ontape.
Yes, you can do this. It is easy if the target chunk paths will be the
same on the target machines as on the original. If the paths have to be
different, I'm not sure you can do it. Read up on "external archive" and
restores in the Backup and Restore Guide or the Informix online
documentation.
Art
Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
ASK Database Management
www.askdbmgt.com
Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions
and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am
associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do
those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any
entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves.
On Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 12:26 PM, GEORGI KOSTOV <gkostov79@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clone my
> Informix 12.10 server?
> I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" copy of
> the
> instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and one to
> another host for backup and development purposes.
> I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot - my
> question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or ontape.
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--001a11c26906aa2884050967b051
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Luis.
De: "Esteban Casuscelli" <estebanc00@yahoo.com.ar>
Para: ids@iiug.org
Enviados: Jueves, 4 de Diciembre 2014 15:01:13
Asunto: Re: Informix 12.10 snapshot [34292] [34294]
Georgi,
yes that is possible. I did it for a couple of customers with older
informix versions and EMC disk arrays over 10 years ago.
You might need to have some considerations depending on your chunks
names and other things but it is doable.
I am not sure what you meant with your second question "can I bring
other servers........", can you please elaborate a bit more?
If you have any other questions please let me know.
Thanks
esteban.-
On 04/12/14 18:26, GEORGI KOSTOV wrote:
> Hi all,
> I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clone my
> Informix 12.10 server?
> I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" copy of
the
> instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and one to
> another host for backup and development purposes.
> I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot - my
> question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or ontape.
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
*******************************************************************************
Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
Yes... but doing that on the same machine is risky... There's a high chance
that someday you or someone else will make a mistake and you'll get into
trouble...
In order to do that on another machine you just need to connect the
snapshot image to that machine, create the links for the chunks and then
issue an external restore. Simple.
But to do that in the same machine you need to combine the external restore
with the chunk rename. That's also simple. What's the big deal?... If for
example you add a new chunk and forget to add it to the rename file (or
command, but if your instance is big you won't specify all the chunks in
the command line) then the "other" instance will not bother and will use
the original instance path for that chunk... yes, it's that bad... two
instances over the same chunk.... not a pretty scenario.
So, the functionality exists... but the risk is your's. I think it would be
better to create a separate virtual machine, make sure the snapshot chunks
can only be seen by that machine, assure that machine cannot see the
"primary" chunks and work from there. It's a bit more complex, but much
more safe. If you miss a chunk than the "second" instance will not start or
you'll have a down chunk, but the "primary" is safe.
Hope this helps. If I missed the point, please say so.
Regards.
On Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 5:26 PM, GEORGI KOSTOV <gkostov79@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clone my
> Informix 12.10 server?
> I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" copy of
> the
> instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and one to
> another host for backup and development purposes.
> I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot - my
> question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or ontape.
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--
Fernando Nunes
Portugal
http://informix-technology.blogspot.com
My email works... but I don't check it frequently...
--20cf301d41a28e58b805096985df
By the way... regarding the "my instances are too big..." I always remember
what John Miller usuall says during a backup/restore presentation:
"You have speed, price and security. When you think about the
backup/restore methods and/or architecture please choose 2. You'll never
have the 3" (more or less like this)
It's possibly your instances aren't that big... maybe your budget is just
small :)
Regards.
On Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 5:26 PM, GEORGI KOSTOV <gkostov79@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clone my
> Informix 12.10 server?
> I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" copy of
> the
> instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and one to
> another host for backup and development purposes.
> I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot - my
> question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or ontape.
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--
Fernando Nunes
Portugal
http://informix-technology.blogspot.com
My email works... but I don't check it frequently...
--20cf301d41a22c5a80050969934d
If the instance is really big, then you might want to consider using RS=
S
with a log staging area and setting stop apply at midnight. That way y=
ou
would be able to have a simple cron job that did nothing more than to
update the stop apply every night at midnight.
From: "Art Kagel" <art.kagel@gmail.com>
To: ids@iiug.org
Date: 12/04/2014 11:57 AM
Subject: Re: Informix 12.10 snapshot [34293]
Sent by: ids-bounces@iiug.org
Yes, you can do this. It is easy if the target chunk paths will be the
same on the target machines as on the original. If the paths have to be=
different, I'm not sure you can do it. Read up on "external archive" an=
d
restores in the Backup and Restore Guide or the Informix online
documentation.
Art
Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
ASK Database Management
www.askdbmgt.com
Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinion=
s
and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I=
am
associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do
those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any
entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves.=
On Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 12:26 PM, GEORGI KOSTOV <gkostov79@gmail.com> wr=
ote:
> Hi all,
> I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clo=
ne
my
> Informix 12.10 server?
> I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" cop=
y of
> the
> instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and o=
ne
to
> another host for backup and development purposes.
> I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot -=
my
> question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or
ontape.
>
>
>
>
***********************************************************************=
********
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--001a11c26906aa2884050967b051
***********************************************************************=
********
Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
=
Thanks for the replays!
Hi,
we did something like that for backup purposes (with a LVM2 snapshot, IDS
11.70).
We had the problem that a Level 1 backup of a database with real huge amount
of smart blobs
did block the database for more than an hour, because of a known issue.
The only solution from our point of view was to drive a L1 backup from a
snapshot,
which is not the same as a level 1 backup from the original device, but does
work when the L0 backup is taken from the
original device.
We did it on the same machine, placing links to the chunks in the snapshot in
a chroot environment, copy the informix dir,
modify the onconfig then switch to the chroot and startup the database under
different name (modified onconfig).
Can be scripted from a good admin as a cron job ...
Of course, doing an external restore can also be a valid solution, but we
decided to just copy all the links with a script
and just startup the DB, which could not result in a "forgotten" rename clause.
No external restore because inside the chroot the same device links were
active, but pointing to the snapshot devices.
I do not think it depends on the IDS version, 12.10 should have the same
possibility.
Just make sure when the snapshot is done the database should be blocked (as
you already stated).
We did add a little wait time and checked with onstat if the block was
actually done.
Taking the snapshot does not take long, so the blocking of the database was
only some seconds, which was
ok for nighttime. (better than a blocking of >1 hour in our case and we could
do L1 backups again).
When you do a snapshot either on a lvm level or on a hardware level, keep in
mind the device tracks the changes
from each side (active side and snapshot side) to produce the correct block in
the snapshot (the original block could have
changed and the snapshot block could have changed, both changes are eating up
space). So your snapshots can comsume a lot of
space when you do work on either instance (when you do EMC snapshots, there
are different approaches, resulting in different access mechanisms AFAIK).
Marcus Haarmann
----- Ursprüngliche Mail -----
Von: "Madison Pruet" <mpruet@us.ibm.com>
An: ids@iiug.org
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 4. Dezember 2014 23:01:01
Betreff: Re: Informix 12.10 snapshot [34298]
If the instance is really big, then you might want to consider using RS=
S
with a log staging area and setting stop apply at midnight. That way y=
ou
would be able to have a simple cron job that did nothing more than to
update the stop apply every night at midnight.
From: "Art Kagel" <art.kagel@gmail.com>
To: ids@iiug.org
Date: 12/04/2014 11:57 AM
Subject: Re: Informix 12.10 snapshot [34293]
Sent by: ids-bounces@iiug.org
Yes, you can do this. It is easy if the target chunk paths will be the
same on the target machines as on the original. If the paths have to be=
different, I'm not sure you can do it. Read up on "external archive" an=
d
restores in the Backup and Restore Guide or the Informix online
documentation.
Art
Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
ASK Database Management
www.askdbmgt.com
Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinion=
s
and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I=
am
associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do
those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any
entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves.=
On Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 12:26 PM, GEORGI KOSTOV <gkostov79@gmail.com> wr=
ote:
> Hi all,
> I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clo=
ne
my
> Informix 12.10 server?
> I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" cop=
y of
> the
> instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and o=
ne
to
> another host for backup and development purposes.
> I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot -=
my
> question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or
ontape.
>
>
>
>
***********************************************************************=
********
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--001a11c26906aa2884050967b051
***********************************************************************=
********
Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
=
*******************************************************************************
Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
But if they want to use the system for test/development....
It would be nice if we could set a restore point... allow changes... go
back to the restore point and continue log apply from there... ;)
On Dec 4, 2014 10:01 PM, "Madison Pruet" <mpruet@us.ibm.com> wrote:
> If the instance is really big, then you might want to consider using RS=
> S
> with a log staging area and setting stop apply at midnight. That way y=
> ou
> would be able to have a simple cron job that did nothing more than to
> update the stop apply every night at midnight.
>
> From: "Art Kagel" <art.kagel@gmail.com>
> To: ids@iiug.org
> Date: 12/04/2014 11:57 AM
> Subject: Re: Informix 12.10 snapshot [34293]
> Sent by: ids-bounces@iiug.org
>
> Yes, you can do this. It is easy if the target chunk paths will be the
> same on the target machines as on the original. If the paths have to be=
>
> different, I'm not sure you can do it. Read up on "external archive" an=
> d
> restores in the Backup and Restore Guide or the Informix online
> documentation.
>
> Art
>
> Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
> ASK Database Management
> www.askdbmgt.com
>
> Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/
>
> Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinion=
> s
> and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I=
> am
> associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do
> those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any
> entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves.=
>
> On Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 12:26 PM, GEORGI KOSTOV <gkostov79@gmail.com> wr=
> ote:
>
> > Hi all,
> > I want to ask is it possible to use SAN snapshot functionality to clo=
> ne
> my
> > Informix 12.10 server?
> > I want to make clone of my server every night and to have "fresh" cop=
> y of
>
> > the
> > instance in the morning on 2 other instances - one on same host and o=
> ne
> to
> > another host for backup and development purposes.
> > I do my snapshot with onmode -c block/unblock then storage snapshot -=
> my
> > question is can I bring other servers with this snapshot.
> > Is it posible to have problems with root dbspace?
> > PS.my database is too big to make backups and restore with onbar or
> ontape.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ***********************************************************************=
> ********
>
> > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> >
> >
>
> --001a11c26906aa2884050967b051
>
> ***********************************************************************=
> ********
>
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
> =
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--001a113ed5f2333a0205096b8500
no need they will lose it anyway during the night
>> If the paths have to be different, I'm not sure you can do it. You certainly can! It's a good method of just renaming chunks on a live system. if your balls are big enough, of course .... ;-)