Re: OnTape to Tape and Disk

Hi, that is possible as well. For that I would have a program that controls the ontape via ontape's prompts. The problem is, that a "tape" could become full and ontape would ask for another tape when you don't expect it (e.g. when a lot of BLOB changes happened and the BLOBs go to the log tape along with the corresponding log files it can happen that a log tape gets unexpectedly full). Whenever ontape asks for a new log tape, the program has to detect this from ontape's output prompt, then first processes the current "tape" (i.e. do the file copy/compress/whatever and copy to remote tape), then reset the file (e.g. truncate to zero length) before answering ontape's prompt with a RETURN character. Then ontape will write the next tape. With such a setup you could even use continuous log backup as you did in the past ... This is a bit more complicated than the named pipe trick, but still it is doable. I would not really rely on the assumption that just calling "ontape -a" (e.g. from log full script) will surely fit all log data on one tape. You never know, how long an "ontape -a" really takes as it would also backup log files that are filling while "ontape -a" is running. Therefore if in some not-anticipated scenario (e.g. unscheduled load job, massive delete, ...) your logs fill faster than "ontape -a" can back them up, such a mechanism would break. And probably that's the moment where you would need it most. Regards, Martin -- Martin Fuerderer IBM Informix Development Munich, Germany Information Management informix-list-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 10.10.2006 14:11:26: > Martin > > Thanks. I understand the concept but need to think through (and test) > whether ontape -c would handle this correctly and hold the local tape > drive open and positioned, or whether I would have to use ontape -a > from a log_full script. > Another solution I have thought of is to allow ontape -a to write to > my local tape drive through log_full and then immediately manually > extract the filled logical log off the disk. Anyone know if this is > possible ?? > > Keith > > On 10/10/06, Martin Fuerderer <MARTINFU@de.ibm.com> wrote: > > Hi, > > > > not officially. > > > > The trick is to create a named pipe and have a program > > running that reads from that named pipe. In your case it > > would read and duplicate the data to the local and to the > > remote tape device. Regarding the implementation of this > > program you are on your own (clever shell script or > > small C-programm, ...). Maybe someone within IIUG has > > solved that problem already for you. :) > > > > In your onconfig file you specify the named pipe as > > LTAPEDEV. That way "ontape -c" will write the data into > > the named pipe, so that your program can read the data. > > > > You may have to spend some additional thought on the > > handling of "tapes". As you will still have the LTAPESIZE > > configured, "ontape -c" will prompt for a new tape every > > so often. > > (Currently I'm not sure if the LTAPESIZE=0 is already supported > > in your version. You may want to check that and possibly give > > it a try.) > > > > Regards, > > Martin > > -- > > Martin Fuerderer > > IBM Informix Development Munich, Germany > > Information Management > > > > Informix URLs list: http://home.arcor.de/mfu1/informix/urls.html > > Informix in the news: > > http://www.crn.com/sections/software/software.jhtml?articleId=193004835 > > > > IBM Information On Demand Global Conference > > October 15-20, 2006, Anaheim, California > > see http://www.ibm.com/events/informationondemand > > > > informix-list-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 10.10.2006 12:30:10: > > > > > O/S AIX 5.3 > > > Engine IDS 9.4 FC6 > > > We currently use a very simple (but highly effective) archive > > > mechanism, ontape -L 0 every night (approx 1.25 hrs) and ontape -c (to > > > a different tape drive) running continuously from a dedicated > > > terminal. The log tape is changed daily at 10:00 and sent off-site > > > with the archive tape. > > > This works for us and prvodes an easily understood and tested restore > > > mechanism both to the same machine or off-site. > > > Management have noted that the log tape is on-site and 'vulnerable' to > > > fire, flood and articulated lorries (ground floor server room !) > > > whilst it is receiving log files. > > > I have a second server (also AIX) off-site at the end of a wide pipe > > > and would like to ship the log files there as they fill (using any > > > well documented log_full.sh script) however, I want also to retain the > > > convenience of having the logs on tape to maintain the existing > > > restore mechanism. > > > Is it possible to archive completed log files to BOTH tape and disk?? > > > > > > Keith > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Informix-list mailing list > > > Informix-list@iiug.org > > > http://www.iiug.org/mailman/listinfo/informix-list > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Informix-list mailing list > Informix-list@iiug.org > http://www.iiug.org/mailman/listinfo/informix-list