IDS 10.0 and Legato Networker

We just upgraded from IDS 7.31 to IDS 10.0 We backup the database with Legato Networker 7.2.2 and the Networker Module for Informix 2.0. We noticed the backup failing when the dbspace backup was complete and it tried to backup the logical logs. 2007-06-04 11:48:45 541 11050 /informix/ITG/bin/onbar_d -l -c 2007-06-04 11:48:45 541 11050 onbar usage BACKUP & VERIFICATION ===================== For IBM Informix Dynamic Server: -b [-p] [-L <level>] [-w | -f <filename> | <spaces>] [-O] -b -F -b -l [-c | -C | -s] [-O] -v [-w] [-p] [-t <time>] [-f <filename> | <spaces>] -b backup -c backup current logical log -C continuous logical log backup -f pathname of file containing list of storage spaces -F fake backup -l backup full logical logs (no spaces) -L backup level: 0, 1, or 2, defaults to 0 -O override internal error checks - enforce policy strictly -p backup spaces only (no logs) -w whole system backup -s salvage logs -v verify consistency of most recent backups <spaces> list of storage spaces to backup 2007-06-04 11:48:45 541 11050 onbar usage RESTORE ======== For IBM Informix Dynamic Server: -r [-e] [-O] [-f <filename> | <spaces>] -r [-e] [-t <time> | -n <log>] [-O] -r -p [-e] [-t <time>] [-O] [-f <filename> | <spaces>] -r -l [-t <time> | -n <log>] -r -w [-e] [[-p] [ -t <time>] | -n <log>] [-O] -RESTART -r [-e] -rename -f <filename> [-w] [-p] [-t <time> | -n <log>] [-f <filename> | <spaces>] -r [-e] {-rename -p <old path> -o <old offset> -n <new path> -o <new offset>...} [-w] [-p] [-t <time> | -n <log>] [-f <filename> | <spaces>] -e external restore -f pathname of file containing list of storage spaces -l logical log only restore (no spaces) -n last logical log to restore -O override internal error checks - enforce policy strictly -p physical only restore (no logs) -r restore -t point in time to stop restore -w whole system to restore -RESTART restart an interrupted restore <spaces> list of storage spaces to restore -rename rename chunks during cold restore With -rename option: -rename -f <filename> pathname of file containing list of mapped chunk pathnames and offsets -p old pathname of chunk -o old offset of chunk -n new pathname of chunk -o new offset of chunk 2007-06-04 11:48:45 541 11050 onbar usage MESSAGING ========= For IBM Informix Dynamic Server: -m [<lines>] [-r [<seconds>]] -m Displays last <lines> of onbar's activity log file (default: 20 lines) -r Repeat display every <seconds> seconds (default: 5 seconds) 2007-06-04 11:48:45 541 11050 onbar usage LOGICAL-LOG(S) DISPLAY ====================== For IBM Informix Dynamic Server: {-P} {-n <log unique identifier> | <starting log unique identifier - ending log unique identifier>} [-l] [-q] [-b] [-u <user name>] [-t <TBLspace number>] [-x <transaction number] We reported this to EMC/Legato support. They told us that IDS 10 would require Networker 7.4 server & client. I just found in the release supplement for Networker Module for Informix (May 11, 2005). The variable DO_LOGFILE_BACKUPS sould be NO for Imformix version 9.4 in the nsrdbmi script. So, I changed the variable to NO and the backup ran successfully. Has anyone else experienced this problem?? Will I be able to restore this backup?? Regards, Paul Sullivan

Hi Paul, This issue with the backup of the logical logs appeared after changes in the onbar syntax introduced in IDS 9.4. By default the NetWorker Module for Informix (NMI) runs onbar first to backup the dbspaces and then a second run of onbar (using option -l) does the backup of the logical logs. Because of the new syntax of onbar on IDS 9.4, the option -l is no longer valid and hence the error message. However on IDS 9.4+ the first run does both dbspaces and logical logs. The backup is valid and can be recovered as normal (provided everything else is ok -- recovers are always picky). On earlier versions the backup of logical logs can be disabled by setting DO_LOGFILE_BACKUPS which stops NMI from running the second onbar command (logical logs backup). With IDS 9.4+ the backup of the logical logs runs always (this happens now on the first run of onbar due to the new syntax) and because option -l is not valid anymore you need to set DO_LOGFILE_BACKUPS always otherwise the second run would take place and fail. With the current NMI 2.* module not running the logical logs is therefore not an option. The only way to avoid this would be to edit the onbar script. Not sure if this is supported... regards Javier

Paul, I forgot to mention this. IDS 10.0 is only partially supported by Legato NetWorker (AFAIK). I would suggest you to open a support case with EMC software in order to clarify this. However if you have successfully tested both backup and recovery, then you should not have any problems. Regards, Javier

Thank you Javier. I have changed the variable DO_LOGFILE_BACKUPS from YES to NO in the nsrdbmi script. The database backups now complete successfully in Legato. I have successfully completed a full complete restore (onbar -r). Also I successfully completed a point in time or point in log restore (onbar -r -n xxx). Regards, Paul Sullivan