Re: Advice Needed

In article <34D83E51.72A9@proj-office.compulink.co.uk>, JohnH says... > >We have a system supplied by a software house which uses an Informix >database. We've noticed that the overnight dump which secures all our >client records runs in approx 14mins and we're a bit suspicious of this >- the client data is approx 500mb and the dump is informix level 0 to >digital tape(HP hardware). > >The supplier thinks this is probably OK but tells us the only way to >check is to restore from the dump!!. We instinctively feel something is >not right but we don't have any Informix skills in-house to allow us to >check it. > >I would welcome any advice on: > >(a) are we right to be suspicious are are we being paranoid? > >(b) is there any way of checking an informix dump other than restoring >it - which presumably will destroy whats already there. > >(c) at the risk of opening the floodgates - can anyone recommend a >supplier of technical - dba - training in the UK. > >Thanks, > >John Hepburn I have a 6GByte (ie 6000MByte) database server that dumps in about an hour. Therefore your times seem reasonable and, in the absence of other symptoms, do not seem in themselves cause for concern. Informix dumps simply do a binary copy of each occupied page, and should by nature be pretty quick, especially if your disks and tape device are fast. You are right in saying that a restore would over-write your existing data, unless you are able to do it on another server. Check your Online log (specified by the MSGPATH parameter of your $TBCONFIG/$ONCONFIG file); if this says level 0 archive started......level 0 archive completed then it's probably OK. Only if an error is reported here should there br cause for concern. You could try using the UNIX command "strings" on your archive; there should be an intelliigible header that tells you time of archive, server layout at time of archive etc. I don't think anyone should spend any money on training; far better to get an expensive contractor such as myself in to advise you! However, two of my permanent colleagues at Chase have been on Informix DBA training, one with Informix in Ashford, the other with Skill Advance in Finchley, North London. Both felt the training received was pretty good. These are just personal opinions 'though. Neil Truby Chase Manhattan Bank Bournemouth, UK neil.truby@chase.comv