Easiest way to read 0-level archive of Informix database... without IDS?

Hey all, I have a 0-level archive of an Informix Database (it was on IDS 12.10 I think). We do not have IDS any more but I want to read the database. Is this possible without having to install IDS? If not, is there an easy way to get a trial install of IDS? thanks jc ------------------------------ jer cos ------------------------------ EDIT: Ah! Am downloading IFX14 now. Will see how I go restoring this back. I may be back...

You can download the developer editions of Informix 12.10 and 14.10 here: https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=ifxids&lang=en_US You need an IBMid to login but otherwise they are free.

So I installed IDS 14 and got it working (I can connect and see the system databases via odbc). I am trying to restore this level-0 archive but failing. I am not familiar with Informix so not sure what I am doing wrong. I understand that a level-0 archive consists of an entire server (not just the database). I first tried setting the TAPEDEV value to STDIO but am not sure how to 'pipe' standard input to it seeing as I am on Windows. I tried the > operator but that didn't work. I then set TAPEDEV directly to the path, and ontape -r seems to run for a few seconds before going back to the prompt. I'm not sure where the informix logs are, and event viewer reports: Faulting application name: ontape.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x6407fca1 Faulting module name: ontape.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x6407fca1 Exception code: 0xc0000094 Do I need to first create a server to restore into, or does the restore create the server if it doesn't exist? Or is it a potential version mismatch as I think the archive is from version 12.10. thanks jc ------------------------------ jer cos ------------------------------

You need to restore to the same version then you can upgrade to V14 Cheers Paul Paul Watson Oninit LLC +1-913-387-7529 www.oninit.com Oninit® is a registered trademark of Oninit LLC

Thanks for the replies! I installed 12.10 but get the same result. I have TAPEDEV set to c:\\ifxbup and when running ontape -rit states "Restore will use level 0 archive file c:\\ifxbup\\server_0_L0" (which is the file). So it is seeing the archive. I added the -v parameter but get no output. Examining the header of the file shows: Archive Backup TapeIBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC6WE Could it be that the archive was from a Linux install of IDS and I am attempting to restore using a Windows box? I read somewhere that file paths etc need to be the same which obviously won't be the case. EDIT: would I need to use the rename chunk option? I don't know the structure of the server and how many chunks it may have had. ------------------------------ jer cos ------------------------------

Hello Jer, I think this is a part of consulting task. I think we can manage it together. Send me a PM if the need is really urgent. Regards Henri ------------------------------ Henri Cujass leolo IT, CTO Germany IBM Champion 2021 2022 2023 IIUG Board Member henri.cujass@leolo.com ------------------------------

Hi, You can't restore a level-0 from Linux to Windows. ontape needs same IDS version and OS flavour regards ------------------------------ Garcia Benjamin ------------------------------

I installed 12.10.FC9DE as that is the earliest I could find. The backup however is 12.10.FC6WE. I get this error running ontape: Backup data version is not compatible with Online version: IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC9DE Physical restore failed - function Invalid archive tape failed code -1 errno 0 Cannot seem to find FC6 anywhere to download though. I found a command to trick ontape into thinking the backup is a different version but that must only work between editions, I would need 12.10.FC6DE i think for that trick to work. Using the trick I don't get the Backup data version is not compatible with Online version error but still get Physical restore failed - function Invalid archive tape failed code -1 errno 0 . Is there an archive somewhere with older version of IDS? ------------------------------ jer cos ------------------------------

Try export IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION=1 Regards, — Clive EIsen

Sorry I misread - you have already tried his — Clive EIsen

Hi, if you know the schema of the database you can restore tables with arcchecker. i think that it is not so strict with the versioning. if you want i can you provide a TL version 12.10FC6 depending your os Regards ------------------------------ Garcia Benjamin ------------------------------

Hey you didn't misread, I haven't tried that env variable. The trick I tried was to use a binary block editor to change the version sent via the cat command. I set that variable but it didn't seem to take effect. root@pacc-4029:~# echo $IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION 1 root@pacc-4029:~# cat pacc-4029.pac.internal_1_L0 | /opt/informix/bin/ontape -r -t STDIO -v Archive Tape Information Tape type: Archive Backup Tape Online version: IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC6WE Archive date: Mon May 24 15:39:25 2021 User id: root Terminal id: /dev/tty1 Archive level: 0 Tape device: /IFMXBKUP/authlive/archive/ Tape blocksize (in k): 512 Tape size (in k): system defined for directory Tape number in series: 1 Backup filter: /usr/bin/bzip2 Backup data version is not compatible with Online version: IBM Informix Dynamic Server Version 12.10.FC9DE Physical restore failed - function Invalid archive tape failed code -1 errno 0 Program over. ------------------------------ jer cos ------------------------------

Restoring a 12.10.xC6 backup using 12.10.xC9 binaries isn't going to work even if you convinced it to accept the backup, as this would then attempt a conversion (from pre-xC8 to xC8 format). -> you really should try and obtain xC6 (or xC7) installables; looks like Garcia Benjamin had some to offer. Note: you need this for the same OS (Linux, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX) that this backup got created on. Also, when back at this point with proper version, don't miss setting RESTORE_FILTER as this backup apparently has been created using a BACKUP_FILTER ( /usr/bin/bzip2 ). Much luck with this! Andreas ------------------------------ Andreas Legner ------------------------------

Just curious - is IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION documented anywhere? I've looked in Admin Guide, Admin Reference, SQL Reference, and Backup and Restore Guide, but no luck. This was in the 14.10 PDF docs. ------------------------------ mark collins ------------------------------

AFAIK, even if you are entitled to the software you can not 'legally' use it unless it can be shown you download it via PissPoor Disadvantage. Only an issue if you are audited but.....

Hi Jer, Not to teach my Grandmother to suck eggs but did you do IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION=1 or export IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION=1 ? — Clive EIsen

I actually added it to the script that sets the environment variables INFORMIXDIR=/opt/informix INFORMIXSERVER=ol_informix1210 ONCONFIG=onconfig.ol_informix1210 INFORMIXSQLHOSTS=/opt/informix/etc/sqlhosts.ol_informix1210GL_USEGLU=1 IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION=1 PATH=${INFORMIXDIR}/bin:${INFORMIXDIR}/extend/krakatoa/jre/bin:${PATH} export INFORMIXDIR INFORMIXSERVER ONCONFIG INFORMIXSQLHOSTS GL_USEGLU IFX_ONTAPE_IGNORE_VERSION PATH------------------------------ jer cos ------------------------------