Re: Ontape to hard disk

At 01:04 PM 29-10-98 +0100, Erik Vellmete wrote: >Jon Knight wrote: > >> Two related questions. Is it possible to run ontape to output to a unix flat >> file? The complicating factor is than the DBspace in question is > >Yes it is possible and works fine. Unfortunately there is no support by informix >using ontape to output to a file. Sorry, you are mistaken on a couple of points. Ontape to a file *IS* supported by Informix. It has been for a while now. You can quote June Tong's internal TechInfo (not the one available to customers via the web site, but an internal one) entry #6125 to any Informix Technical Support engineer who still thinks otherwise. (Thanks, June!) However, the ontape program expects a tape drive, and behaves accordingly. It is *your* responsibility to do all the things necessary to satisfy the program's expectations and requirements. (Things like simulating an operator pressing return, switching files when the tape size limit is reached, handling rewind device expectations, log file output and overflow, etc.) You can find some example shell scripts which perform these functions at the web site of the International Informix Users Group at http://www.iiug.org . The question of how large the output file can become without an error is highly dependent on O/S version as well as the version of ontape. In Informix Dynamic Server versions <7.2 there was a definite 2GB limit on the filesize that ontape would support. In versions >=7.2 the limit comes from the O/S, and may still be 2GB. It is not too difficult to write a program that would shuffle disk files once they reach the maximum size, convincing ontape that an operator is changing tapes. Of course, the challenge comes in labeling and saving these files well enough to supply them to ontape in the right order at restore time. As with any critical system, you should *thoroughly* test the archive and restore functions, including your shop's procedures for saving disk layout information, documenting the process well enough for someone besides yourself to handle a disaster, and ensuring that management understands that you have done your job as a DBA and deserve a raise. (The flip side is that if you haven't, and disaster strikes, you'll be looking for a job.) HTH, _______________________________________________________________ Clem Akins (aka clem@informix.com) Menlo Park x5937 Customer Course Development Informix Software, Inc Last seen: Chasing fly balls in California's Silicon Valley...