RE: IDS 8.21 on AIX 5.2 - lost physical log logica

We (a client) lost the hard drive that contained the raw logical volume used for the physical log. I have replaced the hard drive and recreated the logical volume and the symbolic link expected by the database. We also have no backup of the database - Don't ask. Anyway, is there a way to get the database to use the new logical volume for the physical log without starting from scratch? Larry

Larry, Well the symbolic link name to the physical log is the same surely? its just points to a different disk. The instance will be looking for the symbolic link name unless you used the logical volume name instead. Another trick which worked for us in the past is to change the PHYSDBS name to the root DBSPACE and then start the instance. You can then move it out using the usual method. And start taking REGULAR backups!! Cheers Andy G > To: ids@iiug.org > From: lsorensen25@msn.com > Subject: RE: IDS 8.21 on AIX 5.2 - lost physical log lo.... [24172] > Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:27:12 -0400 > > We (a client) lost the hard drive that contained the raw logical volume used > for the physical log. I have replaced the hard drive and recreated the > logical volume and the symbolic link expected by the database. We also have > no backup of the database - Don't ask. > > Anyway, is there a way to get the database to use the new logical volume for > the physical log without starting from scratch? > > Larry > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. >

Informix won't use the new disk because it will not be properly initialized and so will be marked down (even it that hadn't happened yet when the drive was removed). However, versions of Informix prior to 10.00 IB relied on the PHYSFILE parameter in the ONCONFIG file to locate the physical log at startup if the engine was properly shutdown and didn't crash. So, set PHYSFILE to ROOTDB and start the instance. Then drop the down dbspace that held the physical log in the past and recreate it. Once you've done that you can move the physical log to the new dbspace. Don't remember if the onparams utility in 8.21 can move the log live, but you could just shutdown and relocate it at startup again. If the engine did not shutdown normally, then you may have a problem. The reserved pages will indicate that the physical log had content and the engine will expect those pages to be there. In this case only IBM will be able to help. I hope the client is still on support. Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.com) Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/ Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on my employer, Advanced DataTools, the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves. On Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 2:27 AM, Larry Sorensen <lsorensen25@msn.com> wrote: > We (a client) lost the hard drive that contained the raw logical volume > used > for the physical log. I have replaced the hard drive and recreated the > logical volume and the symbolic link expected by the database. We also have > no backup of the database - Don't ask. > > Anyway, is there a way to get the database to use the new logical volume > for > the physical log without starting from scratch? > > Larry > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --20cf3071c7ba88aa4a04a6d93547

Here is a trick I would try: 1. Create a new instance of informix on the same computer use small co= oked chunks. 2. Create the same number of chunks and dbspaces (with a very small si= ze) until the next dbspaces number and chunk number would be the physical log dbspaces. 3 Create the plog over the newly define raw logical volume. This wil= l initialize it with the correct marking's. Now it is empty and assume nothing to recovery. You can contact support to have them help you through this. John F. Miller III STSM, Embedability Architect miller3@us.ibm.com 503-578-5645 IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) |------------> | From: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |"Larry Sorensen" <lsorensen25@msn.com> = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | To: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |ids@iiug.org = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | Date: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |06/28/2011 11:28 PM = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | Subject: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |RE: IDS 8.21 on AIX 5.2 - lost physical log lo.... [24172] = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | Sent by: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |ids-bounces@iiug.org = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| We (a client) lost the hard drive that contained the raw logical volume= used for the physical log. I have replaced the hard drive and recreated the logical volume and the symbolic link expected by the database. We also = have no backup of the database - Don't ask. Anyway, is there a way to get the database to use the new logical volum= e for the physical log without starting from scratch? Larry ***********************************************************************= ******** Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. =

Art, Thank you for the suggestions; however, I was not able to get them to work. John, Thank you for your suggestion as well. It was a little time consuming, as I had to create 30 dbspaces and 90+ chunks, but in the end, it worked wonderfully. All are up and functional. Larry -----Original Message----- From: ids-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:ids-bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of John Miller iii Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9:33 AM To: ids@iiug.org Subject: RE: IDS 8.21 on AIX 5.2 - lost physical log lo.... [24183] Here is a trick I would try: 1. Create a new instance of informix on the same computer use small co= oked chunks. 2. Create the same number of chunks and dbspaces (with a very small si= ze) until the next dbspaces number and chunk number would be the physical log dbspaces. 3 Create the plog over the newly define raw logical volume. This wil= l initialize it with the correct marking's. Now it is empty and assume nothing to recovery. You can contact support to have them help you through this. John F. Miller III STSM, Embedability Architect miller3@us.ibm.com 503-578-5645 IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) |------------> | From: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |"Larry Sorensen" <lsorensen25@msn.com> = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | To: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |ids@iiug.org = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | Date: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |06/28/2011 11:28 PM = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | Subject: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |RE: IDS 8.21 on AIX 5.2 - lost physical log lo.... [24172] = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |------------> | Sent by: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| |ids-bounces@iiug.org = = | >--------------------------------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------------------------------------------= -------| We (a client) lost the hard drive that contained the raw logical volume= used for the physical log. I have replaced the hard drive and recreated the logical volume and the symbolic link expected by the database. We also = have no backup of the database - Don't ask. Anyway, is there a way to get the database to use the new logical volum= e for the physical log without starting from scratch? Larry ***********************************************************************= ******** Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. = **************************************************************************** *** Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.