Re: [Q] Backup/Recovery suggestions needed for Informix Online DS.

Huy Vu wrote: > > Dear Informix Gurus, > > I'm new on Informix. I tried to search over FAQ from > http://www.iiug.org while hoping to find one article which can help me > to do a good backup/recovery with informix but unsuccesful. Could > somebody can give me some suggestions for backup strategies for Informix > Online DS 7.1 (AIX 4.1.4). > > Thank you for any help. > > -- > ======================================================================= > Huy Vu Mitech Computer Systems inc. Email: huyv@usa.net > Tel: (514)340-9951 ext:315 Fax: (514) 340-9956 > ======================================================================= I would consider the following: 1. If you can, backup to UNIX disk, it is faster in terms of backup and recovery. 2. Level 0, 1, 2. How big is your database and how much changes how often ? Also, if quick recovery of a large DB is required, Level 0 may be a better solution. 3. ontape or on-archive ? ontape - simply and easy, but you must backup the whole system. onarchive - more flexible, but needs careful consideration of what to backup when and how to recovery it. Also, on-bar is coming, will this replace on-archive totally ? 4. Recovery scenarios... disk failure, whole system restore, plus log roll-forward (if applicable). Application screws up the data, selective restore. 5. ..... lots more considerations !!!!!!! A simple strategy to start is to use ontape -s -L 0 and do full system level 0 backups at a convenient point in time (both for backup and recovery). Again, try to backup logs to disk for quick restore (obviously different disks to your disks with data on). As a general comment, in my experience, keep archive and recovery strategies as simple as you possibly can. Come the day you require a restore and the documentation is slightly out-of-date and your most junior DBA is restoring the DB following the notes, you will be regret the day you implemented an all-singing-all-dancing highly complex strategy ! Good luck and if you want any more info you can e-mail me direct. -- Rick Ward Senior DBA Great Universal Stores Home Shopping MANCHESTER, UK