Re: Database FTP?

> I have two HP machines running Informix Online 5.0. To save recurring > shipping charges, I need to be able to ftp the contents of a DAT tape > created using "tbtape" on one machine, then reconstruct the tape on the > other machine, and use it to restore the database. > > I tried using "dd" to do it, but it failed both with its native blocking, > and when I used the block sizes specified in the TBCONFIG file. > > Has anyone done this? Has anyone done anything similar? I have also asked > Informix Tech Support, but they did not have any immediate answer. > > Thanks in advance, > > Julio A. Cartaya > jac@windmill.hr.att.com > (908)615-2689 There are two answers for you. The OFFICIAL/NOT SLEEP 'TIL IT'S FIXED version is: no. If you mess with the tape then Informix is not responsible. Don't do that. The "real deal" is that tbtape creates a file, and in unix a file is a file is a file. You can compress it, ftp it, tape it, un-tape it or do whatever you wish as long as you don't corrupt it. We archive to disk, compress the archive, and ftp the compressed archive file to another node for offsite storage. We've been doing it for years and it has worked time and time again when restoring. As for the DAT drive, you will have to figure out how to set the tape parameters and file manipulation commands to transfer the file to tape and back. If I were you I'd investigate using a disk rather than a tape, because it's easier to handle the files. You could manually unload/load one table at a time, compress the file (I like to use gzip rather than compress) and xfer the file. If you had the ODS version you could archive one dbspace at a time and send that. These days, disks are pretty cheap and it sure would be easier to just get a bigger disk. I hope that helps, ask more if you want. __________________________________________________________________ | Clem Akins Standard Disclaimers Apply | |Reynolds Metals Co, Alloys Plant "Climb High, Cave Deep!" | | Muscle Shoals, Alabama USA cwakins@leia.alloys.rmc.com | |________________________________________________________________|