Onmonitor does not display the backup status

Posted in 2013

Summary

Lloyd asked why onmonitor's Status-Archive screen never shows ON-Bar backups (though the online log and bar_act_log show success), while ontape backups do show, on IDS 9.21 on HP-UX with NetBackup as the storage manager. Alexandre explained the backup catalog (sysutils) is updated via the storage manager, suggested checking for stalled onbar processes and SM config; from the posted bar_act_log he noted a second 'onbar -b -l' failing with error 152 ('log backup already running') and advised splitting logical-log backups into their own NetBackup job/schedule. Art argued the 1990s-era version likely has a long-fixed bug and urged an upgrade. No confirmation of a fix is recorded.

Auto-generated by DrWatson from the posts below — may be imperfect; read the full thread.

Topics: Backup & Restore, Stored Procedures & SPL, Licensing & Editions, Platform-Specific Issues

Lloyd S — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:21:18 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Hello All, Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H HP-UX B.11.00 U 9000/800 569706527 unlimited-user license Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the status is updated in Onmonitor. We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup status is correctly updated in Onmonitor. Appreciate your help. Thanks & Regards,Lloyd

↪ replying to Lloyd S

Alexandre — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:05:02 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Hello, Lloyd. Onbar process of updating Informix backup catalog is always finished by the external SM utility. Check for onbar processes that might be stalled, and also check your SM logs, maybe there is some wrong configuration at SM lib, that is not allowing SM to update Informix catalog (job name, machine name, servername). Look inside $BAR_ACT log file, and see what´s showing up. Maybe some catalog issue is happening. Is your backup started in Informix server, or schedulled in SM? What SM are you using? Regards. Alexandre Marini IBM Informix Certified Professional v10 / v11.50 / v11.70 / v12.10 IBM Information Management Informix Technical Professional IBM Infosphere DataStage Technical Professional Informix Senior DBA - Orizon Brasil BRIUG website administrator Informix independent consultant > To: ids@iiug.org > From: lloyd_s@rediffmail.com > Subject: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31212] > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 06:21:19 -0400 > > Hello All, > Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H HP-UX B.11.00 U 9000/800 > 569706527 unlimited-user license > Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in > Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were > successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the status is > updated in Onmonitor. > We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup status is > correctly updated in Onmonitor. > Appreciate your help. > Thanks & Regards,Lloyd > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. >

↪ replying to Lloyd S

Art Kagel — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:27:44 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Informix version 9.21 is VERY old (circa 1996 or so IB) this is likely a very old bug that has long been fixed. You should upgrade to a current version. Performance will improve by a SIGNIFICANT amount as well and you will be back on IBM support. Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.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 my employer, Advanced DataTools, 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 Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 6:21 AM, Lloyd S <lloyd_s@rediffmail.com> wrote: > Hello All, > Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H HP-UX B.11.00 U 9000/800 > 569706527 unlimited-user license > Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in > Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were > successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the status is > updated in Onmonitor. > We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup status > is > correctly updated in Onmonitor. > Appreciate your help. > Thanks & Regards,Lloyd > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --001a11336bba4f08f404e44b3a68

↪ replying to Art Kagel

Lloyd S — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 12:40:39 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Hello Art, Thanks for your reply.  We have another server with similar configuration and onbar backup status correctly reflects in Onmonitor.  Not sure whats wrong with this box. The client has plans to upgrade to Oracle/SQL Server in the future, What a shame? Thanks & Regards,Lloyd From: "Art Kagel" <art.kagel@gmail.com> Sent: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:30:26 To: ids@iiug.org Subject: Re: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31214] Informix version 9.21 is VERY old (circa 1996 or so IB) this is likely a very old bug that has long been fixed. You should upgrade to a current version. Performance will improve by a SIGNIFICANT amount as well and you will be back on IBM support. Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.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 my employer, Advanced DataTools, 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 Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 6:21 AM, Lloyd S <lloyd_s@rediffmail.com> wrote: > Hello All, > Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H&nbsp;HP-UX B.11.00 U 9000/800 > 569706527 unlimited-user license > Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in > Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were > successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the status is > updated in Onmonitor. > We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup status > is > correctly updated in Onmonitor. > Appreciate your help. > Thanks &amp; Regards,Lloyd > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --001a11336bba4f08f404e44b3a68 *******************************************************************************  Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.

↪ replying to Lloyd S

Art Kagel — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 12:57:02 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Not just a shame, but wrong-headed. Upgrading the Informix version would cost them FAR less than porting/converting to either Oracle or SQL Server because they would not have to convert or redevelop their applications at all and they already have Informix expertise in-house and in you. That's on top of the fact that Informix is just faster than either of the alternatives and uses less resources on the system meaning they may be able to get away with less hardware or put off upgrading their hardware for longer. You should note that the current releases of Informix are at least 40% faster than 9.21 on the same hardware! I'd love the opportunity to talk with your clients and explain the truth of the world to them or stage a benchmark for them using their own data. Informix has never lost an in-house competitive benchmark on performance or technical issues against any other RDBMS! Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.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 my employer, Advanced DataTools, 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 Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 8:40 AM, Lloyd S <lloyd_s@rediffmail.com> wrote: > Hello Art, > Thanks for your reply.  We have another server with similar > configuration > and onbar backup status correctly reflects in Onmonitor.  Not sure > whats > wrong with this box. > The client has plans to upgrade to Oracle/SQL Server in the future, What a > shame? > > Thanks & Regards,Lloyd > > From: "Art Kagel" <art.kagel@gmail.com> > Sent: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:30:26 > To: ids@iiug.org > Subject: Re: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31214] > Informix version 9.21 is VERY old (circa 1996 or so IB) this is likely a > > very old bug that has long been fixed. You should upgrade to a current > > version. Performance will improve by a SIGNIFICANT amount as well and you > > will be back on IBM support. > > Art > > Art S. Kagel > > Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.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 my employer, Advanced DataTools, 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 Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 6:21 AM, Lloyd S <lloyd_s@rediffmail.com> > wrote: > > > Hello All, > > > Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H&nbsp;HP-UX B.11.00 U > 9000/800 > > > 569706527 unlimited-user license > > > Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in > > > Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were > > > successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the > status > is > > > updated in Onmonitor. > > > We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup > status > > > is > > > correctly updated in Onmonitor. > > > Appreciate your help. > > > Thanks &amp; Regards,Lloyd > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ******************************************************************************* > > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > > > > > --001a11336bba4f08f404e44b3a68 > > > > ******************************************************************************* > >  Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --001a11c379ec7ba5cb04e44c7904

↪ replying to Alexandre

Lloyd S — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 13:49:57 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Hello Alexandre, Thanks for your reply.  We are using Netbackup utility, the daily backups are scheduled via this tool only.  Does the status of the backup written to any system tables? The $BAR_ACT_LOG looks ok, below are its contents -  2013-08-19 17:30:55 10438  10436 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d -b -L 0 2013-08-19 17:30:59 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup rootdbs. 2013-08-19 17:30:59 10438  10436 Successfully connected to Storage Manager. 2013-08-19 17:31:49 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup rootdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890264). 2013-08-19 17:31:49 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup plogdbs. 2013-08-19 17:32:30 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup plogdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890313). 2013-08-19 17:32:30 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup llogdbs. 2013-08-19 17:33:15 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup llogdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890356). 2013-08-19 17:33:15 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup testdbs. 2013-08-19 17:34:08 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup testdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890400). 2013-08-19 17:34:08 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup recordsdbs 2013-08-19 17:37:25 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup recordsdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890452). 2013-08-19 17:37:25 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup intdbs 2013-08-19 17:43:51 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup intdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890649). 2013-08-19 17:43:51 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup valdbs. 2013-08-19 17:50:41 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup valdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376891034). 2013-08-19 17:50:41 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup srvdbs. 2013-08-19 17:51:20 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup srvdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376891445). 2013-08-19 17:51:20 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup dbspace1. 2013-08-19 17:52:01 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup dbspace1 (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376891483). 2013-08-19 17:52:13 10438  10436 Begin backup logical log 3010. 2013-08-19 17:52:13 1043 8  10436 Successfully connected to Storage Manager. 2013-08-19 17:52:44 10859  10857 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d -b -l 2013-08-19 17:52:44 10859  10857 A log backup is already running. Can't start another. 2013-08-19 17:52:49 10859  10857 A log backup is already running. Can't start another. 2013-08-19 17:52:54 10859  10857 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d complete, returning 152 (0x98) 2013-08-19 17:52:55 10438  10436 Completed backup logical log 3010 (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376891537). 2013-08-19 17:52:55 10438  10436 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d complete, returning 0 (0x00) 2013-08-19 21:36:49 14385  14383 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d -b -l 2013-08-19 21:36:49 14385  14383 Begin backup logical log 3011. 2013-08-19 21:36:49 14385  14383 Successfully connected to Storage Manager. We have another server with similar configuration and the backups done through onbar correctly reflect in onmonitor. Below are onbar configuration - BAR_ACT_LOG     /usr/informix/bar_act.logBAR_MAX_BACKUP  1BAR_RETRY       2BAR_NB_XPORT_COUNT 10BAR_XFER_BUF_SIZE 31BAR_PROGRESS_FREQ 0 Thanks & Regards,Lloyd From: "Alexandre Marini" <alexandre@briug.org> Sent: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:58:03 To: ids@iiug.org Subject: Re: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31213] Hello, Lloyd. Onbar process of updating Informix backup catalog is always finished by the external SM utility. Check for onbar processes that might be stalled, and also check your SM logs, maybe there is some wrong configuration at SM lib, that is not allowing SM to update Informix catalog (job name, machine name, servername). Look inside $BAR_ACT log file, and see whatä³ showing up. Maybe some catalog issue is happening. Is your backup started in Informix server, or schedulled in SM? What SM are you using? Regards. Alexandre Marini IBM Informix Certified Professional v10 / v11.50 / v11.70 / v12.10 IBM Information Management Informix Technical Professional IBM Infosphere DataStage Technical Professional Informix Senior DBA - Orizon Brasil BRIUG website administrator Informix independent consultant > To: ids@iiug.org > From: lloyd_s@rediffmail.com > Subject: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31212] > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 06:21:19 -0400 > > Hello All, > Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H&nbsp;HP-UX B.11.00 U 9000/800 > 569706527 unlimited-user license > Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in > Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were > successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the status is > updated in Onmonitor. > We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup status is > correctly updated in Onmonitor. > Appreciate your help. > Thanks &amp; Regards,Lloyd > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > *******************************************************************************  Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.

↪ replying to Lloyd S

Alexandre — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 14:07:05 — source: IIUG Forums & Mailing Lists

Ok LLoyd. Notice that right after your archive backup, SM software starts a logical-log backup, that is returning error 152. It means that another "onbar -b -l " is running. I recommend you to change your SM job definition, since there seems to be a logical-log backup already running, this might be letting SM unable to update Informix sysutils database (onbar catalog). Check if there is a flag selected to backup the logical logs, or if you are using automatic backup of logical-logs via alarmprogram, I would suggest you to change it to another job in SM, that only does logs backups, with a specific schedule. Some SMs does not behave right with separated tasks. Of course as Art said, you are using a very old engine, and might be hitting some bug. It is very recommended that you migrate your Informix engine, as soon as possible, for all mentioned reasons. Alexandre Marini IBM Informix Certified Professional v10 / v11.50 / v11.70 / v12.10 IBM Information Management Informix Technical Professional IBM Infosphere DataStage Technical Professional Informix Senior DBA - Orizon Brasil BRIUG website administrator Informix independent consultant > To: ids@iiug.org > From: lloyd_s@rediffmail.com > Subject: Re: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31217] > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 09:49:57 -0400 > > Hello Alexandre, > Thanks for your reply.  We are using Netbackup utility, the daily backups > are scheduled via this tool only.  Does the status of the backup written > to any system tables? The $BAR_ACT_LOG looks ok, below are its contents - >  2013-08-19 17:30:55 10438  10436 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d -b -L > 0 2013-08-19 17:30:59 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup > rootdbs. 2013-08-19 17:30:59 10438  10436 Successfully connected to > Storage Manager. 2013-08-19 17:31:49 10438  10436 Completed level 0 > backup rootdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890264). 2013-08-19 > 17:31:49 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup plogdbs. 2013-08-19 > 17:32:30 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup plogdbs (Storage Manager > copy ID: 1 1376890313). 2013-08-19 17:32:30 10438  10436 Begin level > 0 backup llogdbs. 2013-08-19 17:33:15 10438  10436 Completed level 0 > backup llogdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890356). 2013-08-19 > 17:33:15 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup testdbs. 2013-08-19 > 17:34:08 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup testdbs (Storage Manager > copy ID: 1 1376890400). 2013-08-19 17:34:08 10438  10436 Begin level > 0 backup > recordsdbs 2013-08-19 17:37:25 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup > recordsdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376890452). 2013-08-19 17:37:25 > 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup intdbs 2013-08-19 17:43:51 10438 >  10436 Completed level 0 backup intdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 > 1376890649). 2013-08-19 17:43:51 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup > valdbs. 2013-08-19 17:50:41 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup > valdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376891034). 2013-08-19 17:50:41 10438 >  10436 Begin level 0 backup srvdbs. 2013-08-19 17:51:20 10438 >  10436 Completed level 0 backup srvdbs (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 > 1376891445). 2013-08-19 17:51:20 10438  10436 Begin level 0 backup > dbspace1. 2013-08-19 17:52:01 10438  10436 Completed level 0 backup > dbspace1 (Storage Manager copy ID: 1 1376891483). 2013-08-19 17:52:13 > 10438  10436 Begin backup logical log 3010. 2013-08-19 17:52:13 1043 > 8  10436 Successfully connected to Storage Manager. 2013-08-19 > 17:52:44 10859  10857 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d -b -l 2013-08-19 > 17:52:44 10859  10857 A log backup is already running. Can't start > another. 2013-08-19 17:52:49 10859  10857 A log backup is already > running. Can't start another. 2013-08-19 17:52:54 10859  10857 > /users/informix/bin/onbar_d complete, returning 152 (0x98) 2013-08-19 > 17:52:55 10438  10436 Completed backup logical log 3010 (Storage Manager > copy ID: 1 1376891537). 2013-08-19 17:52:55 10438  10436 > /users/informix/bin/onbar_d complete, returning 0 (0x00) 2013-08-19 > 21:36:49 14385  14383 /users/informix/bin/onbar_d -b -l 2013-08-19 > 21:36:49 14385  14383 Begin backup logical log 3011. 2013-08-19 > 21:36:49 14385  14383 Successfully connected to Storage Manager. > We have another server with similar configuration and the backups done through > onbar correctly reflect in onmonitor. > Below are onbar configuration - > BAR_ACT_LOG     /usr/informix/bar_act.logBAR_MAX_BACKUP >  1BAR_RETRY       2BAR_NB_XPORT_COUNT 10BAR_XFER_BUF_SIZE > 31BAR_PROGRESS_FREQ 0 > > Thanks & Regards,Lloyd > > From: "Alexandre Marini" <alexandre@briug.org> > Sent: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:58:03 > To: ids@iiug.org > Subject: Re: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31213] > Hello, Lloyd. > > Onbar process of updating Informix backup catalog is always finished by the > > external SM utility. > > Check for onbar processes that might be stalled, and also check your SM logs, > > maybe there is some wrong configuration at SM lib, that is not allowing SM to > > update Informix catalog (job name, machine name, servername). > > Look inside $BAR_ACT log file, and see whatä³ showing up. Maybe some catalog > > issue is happening. > > Is your backup started in Informix server, or schedulled in SM? What SM are > > you using? > > Regards. > > Alexandre Marini > > IBM Informix Certified Professional v10 / v11.50 / v11.70 / v12.10 > > IBM Information Management Informix Technical Professional > > IBM Infosphere DataStage Technical Professional > > Informix Senior DBA - Orizon Brasil > > BRIUG website administrator > > Informix independent consultant > > > To: ids@iiug.org > > > From: lloyd_s@rediffmail.com > > > Subject: Onmonitor does not display the backup status [31212] > > > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 06:21:19 -0400 > > > > > > Hello All, > > > Informix Dynamic Server 2000 Version 9.21.H&nbsp;HP-UX B.11.00 U > 9000/800 > > > 569706527 unlimited-user license > > > Whenever we take backups through onbar the status is not updated in > > > Onmonitor-Status-Archive. But the online logs shows that backups were > > > successful.However whenever an ontape backup to disk is done the status > is > > > updated in Onmonitor. > > > We have another server with the same version where the onbar backup > status > > is > > > correctly updated in Onmonitor. > > > Appreciate your help. > > > Thanks &amp; Regards,Lloyd > > > > > > > > > > > > ******************************************************************************* > > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. >@@NL@

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