Backup Options for Informix
A user running Informix 11.5 on a Linux VM with no tape drive asked how to do mostly unattended backups, wishing ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs. Answer: point TAPEDEV and LTAPEDEV at a file system directory; ontape then writes archive and log-backup files there (named hostname_servernum_Ln / _Lognnnn, overridable via IFX_ONTAPE_FILE_PREFIX, with timestamps added to older files), using ontape -a from ALARMPROGRAM or ontape -c for continuous log backup, plus -d to suppress prompts. Doc references from the Backup and Restore Guide (chapters 12/13) were supplied; the poster had simply been looking in the wrong place (onbar).
Auto-generated by DrWatson from the posts below — may be imperfect; read the full thread.
We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual Machine
running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be right in
line with what we're looking for . . .
Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
--
--------------------------------------------
Chris Salch
Programmer/Analyst
Programming Services
LeTourneau University
903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
Just set LTAPEDEV to a directory or filesystem and ontape will create
filenames for the logical log archives based on the servername, log number,
and time of day in the specified directory. You can then use ontape -a from
the ALARMPROGRAM script to archive each log as i fills or use ontape -c for
continuous log archiving (in this case set LTAPESIZE so that the files don't
become too large and you can copy them offline periodically).
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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu> wrote:
> We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual Machine
> running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
> looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
> ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be right in
> line with what we're looking for . . .
>
> Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------
> Chris Salch
> Programmer/Analyst
> Programming Services
> LeTourneau University
> 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--20cf307f325a1565d004a7e626bb
I just discovered that in other research, is this documented anywhere?
I've been reading through stuff on ontape/onbar all day and haven't seen
anything about it.
On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 17:40 -0400, Art Kagel wrote:
> Just set LTAPEDEV to a directory or filesystem and ontape will create
> filenames for the logical log archives based on the servername, log number,
> and time of day in the specified directory. You can then use ontape -a from
> the ALARMPROGRAM script to archive each log as i fills or use ontape -c for
> continuous log archiving (in this case set LTAPESIZE so that the files don't
> become too large and you can copy them offline periodically).
>
> 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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu> wrote:
>
> > We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual Machine
> > running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
> > looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
> > ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be right in
> > line with what we're looking for . . .
> >
> > Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
> >
> > --
> > --------------------------------------------
> > Chris Salch
> > Programmer/Analyst
> > Programming Services
> > LeTourneau University
> > 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> > http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
*******************************************************************************
> > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> >
> >
>
> --20cf307f325a1565d004a7e626bb
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
>
--
--------------------------------------------
Chris Salch
Programmer/Analyst
Programming Services
LeTourneau University
903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
In the Informix info center if you search "backup directory" you should
find a lot of information.
John F. Miller III
STSM, Embedability Architect
miller3@us.ibm.com
503-578-5645
IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS)
ids-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 07/12/2011 03:17:39 PM:
> From: "chrissalch" <chrissalch@letu.edu>
> To: ids@iiug.org
> Date: 07/12/2011 03:18 PM
> Subject: Re: Backup Options for Informix [24329]
> Sent by: ids-bounces@iiug.org
>
> I just discovered that in other research, is this documented anywhere?
> I've been reading through stuff on ontape/onbar all day and haven't seen
> anything about it.
>
> On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 17:40 -0400, Art Kagel wrote:
> > Just set LTAPEDEV to a directory or filesystem and ontape will create
> > filenames for the logical log archives based on the servername, log
number,
> > and time of day in the specified directory. You can then use ontape -a
from
> > the ALARMPROGRAM script to archive each log as i fills or use ontape -c
for
> > continuous log archiving (in this case set LTAPESIZE so that the
> files don't
> > become too large and you can copy them offline periodically).
> >
> > 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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu>
wrote:
> >
> > > We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual
Machine
> > > running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
> > > looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
> > > ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be right
in
> > > line with what we're looking for . . .
> > >
> > > Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
> > >
> > > --
> > > --------------------------------------------
> > > Chris Salch
> > > Programmer/Analyst
> > > Programming Services
> > > LeTourneau University
> > > 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> > > http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
*******************************************************************************
> > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --20cf307f325a1565d004a7e626bb
> >
> >
> >
>
*******************************************************************************
> > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------
> Chris Salch
> Programmer/Analyst
> Programming Services
> LeTourneau University
> 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
It's not well documented, but here is what there is:
Administrator's Reference (Informix 11.70.xC3) page 102:
LTAPEDEV specifies the device or directory file system to which the logical
logs
are backed up when you use ontape for backups.
Backup and Restore Guide (Informix 11.70.xC3) page 13-15:
LTAPEDEV specifies the device or directory file system to which the logical
logs
are backed up when you use ontape for backups.
Despite the apparent specificity of using a directory to using it with
ontape -c, this also works the same way when backing up logical logs using
ontape -a.
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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 6:17 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu> wrote:
> I just discovered that in other research, is this documented anywhere?
> I've been reading through stuff on ontape/onbar all day and haven't seen
> anything about it.
>
> On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 17:40 -0400, Art Kagel wrote:
> > Just set LTAPEDEV to a directory or filesystem and ontape will create
> > filenames for the logical log archives based on the servername, log
> number,
> > and time of day in the specified directory. You can then use ontape -a
> from
> > the ALARMPROGRAM script to archive each log as i fills or use ontape -c
> for
> > continuous log archiving (in this case set LTAPESIZE so that the files
> don't
> > become too large and you can copy them offline periodically).
> >
> > 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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu> wrote:
> >
> > > We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual Machine
> > > running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
> > > looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
> > > ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be right
> in
> > > line with what we're looking for . . .
> > >
> > > Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
> > >
> > > --
> > > --------------------------------------------
> > > Chris Salch
> > > Programmer/Analyst
> > > Programming Services
> > > LeTourneau University
> > > 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> > > http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --20cf307f325a1565d004a7e626bb
> >
> >
> >
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------
> Chris Salch
> Programmer/Analyst
> Programming Services
> LeTourneau University
> 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--20cf303ea4a897d98b04a7e83172
Hi,
the Backup and Restore Guide says in chapter 12 (ontape Config):
------------------------------------------------
Specify a file system directory
You can perform a storage-space (level 0, 1, or 2) archive, or a
logical-log backup to a directory in the file system by using the ontape
utility. For each storage-space archive and logical-log backup, ontape
creates a file in the specified directory. To specify a file system
directory, set the LTAPEDEV and TAPEDEV configuration parameters to the
absolute path name for the directory.
When ontape repeats an archive operation, it renames the existing files
so that old files are not rewritten. A timestamp is added to the file
name, which provides a way for related storage space or logical log
files to be organized together.
To learn about the file naming schema, see ?Rename existing files? on
page 13-6.
-------------------------------------------------
and in the forementioned chapter 13 (Backup with ontape):
-------------------------------------------------
Back up to a directory
If you choose to back up to a directory, you do not need to provide
tapes. Instead, you back up the data to a directory of a local file
system or a directory that has been mounted on the local system.
The person who runs the backup must have write permission to the
directory. The directory must have enough disk space to hold the
backed-up data. You can use operating system utilities to compress the
data after it is backed up.
Backing up to a directory has the following advantages:
v Multiple instances can simultaneously back up to the same directory
file system.
v You can use operating system utilities to compress or otherwise
process the data.
v You can easily configure your system to automatically back up a log
file when the file is full.
Set the file directory path:
Use the TAPEDEV configuration parameter to specify the absolute path
name on a directory of a file system to use for the storage-space
archive file. This is the destination where ontape writes storage space
data during an archive and the source from which ontape reads data
during a restore. You specify the directory where the logical log backup
files are written with the LTAPEDEV configuration parameter.
Tip: When you back up to a directory file system, specify the -d option
to turn off ontape interactive prompts.
Rename existing files:
When ontape repeats an archive operation, it renames the existing files
so that old files are not rewritten. A timestamp is added to the file
name, which provides a way for related storage space or logical log
files to be organized together.
Renaming conventions:
v Storage-space archive files
The archive checkpoint time is added, and has the format
filename_YYYYMMDD_hhmmss_archive-level.
v Logical log backup files
The backup time is added, and has the format filename_YYYYMMDD_hhmmss.
For example, the file My_instance_L0 is renamed to
My_instance_20080913_091527_L0
When restoring from a file system directory, ontape requires that
storage-space archive and logical-log backup files be named as specified
by the TAPEDEV and LTAPEDEV parameters. If files have been renamed,
including by ontape because of repeated archives and backups, files must
be manually renamed to their original file names.
Override the default name of the archive files:
You can override the default name of the archive files. When TAPEDEV or
LTAPEDEV is a directory path, the default permanent file name consists
of hostname_servernum_Ln (for levels), and
hostname_servernum_Lognnnnnnnnnn (for log files). You can override the
prefix part of the permanent file name, hostname_servernum, by setting
the environment variable IFX_ONTAPE_FILE_PREFIX.
For example, if you set IFX_ONTAPE_FILE_PREFIX to ?My_Instance?, then
during archive, the files are named My_Instance_L0, My_Instance_L1,
My_Instance_L2, and, My_Instance_Log0000000001,
My_Instance_Log0000000002, and so on. During restore, ontape searches
for files in the TAPEDEV directory with file names like My_Instance_L0,
and searches for files in the LTAPEDEV directory with file names like
My_Instance_Log0000000001.
-------------------------------------------------
Not sure where you were "reading around" all day ... :)
Regards, Martin
--
Martin Fuerderer
IBM Informix Development Munich, Germany
Information Management
Read about the Informix Warehouse Accelerator:
http://tinyurl.com/the-iwa-blog
IBM Deutschland Research & Development GmbH
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Martin Jetter
Board of Management: Dirk Wittkopp
Corporate Seat: Boeblingen, Germany
Reg.-Gericht: Amtsgericht Stuttgart, HRB 243294
ids-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 07/13/2011 12:17:39 AM:
>
> I just discovered that in other research, is this documented anywhere?
> I've been reading through stuff on ontape/onbar all day and haven't seen
> anything about it.
>
> On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 17:40 -0400, Art Kagel wrote:
> > Just set LTAPEDEV to a directory or filesystem and ontape will create
> > filenames for the logical log archives based on the servername, log
number,
> > and time of day in the specified directory. You can then use ontape -a
from
> > the ALARMPROGRAM script to archive each log as i fills or use ontape
-c for
> > continuous log archiving (in this case set LTAPESIZE so that the files
don't
> > become too large and you can copy them offline periodically).
> >
> > 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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu>
wrote:
> >
> > > We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual
Machine
> > > running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
> > > looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
> > > ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be
right in
> > > line with what we're looking for . . .
> > >
> > > Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
> > >
> > > --
> > > --------------------------------------------
> > > Chris Salch
> > > Programmer/Analyst
> > > Programming Services
> > > LeTourneau University
> > > 903-233-3537 | 903-233-3500
> > > http://www.letu.edu | http://www.twitter.com/letuit
>
*******************************************************************************
> > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
*******************************************************************************
> > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a re
Apparently the wrong places . . . I think I got side tracked by onbar.
On Wed, 2011-07-13 at 08:40 -0400, Martin Fuerderer wrote:
> Hi,
>
> the Backup and Restore Guide says in chapter 12 (ontape Config):
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> Specify a file system directory
>
> You can perform a storage-space (level 0, 1, or 2) archive, or a
> logical-log backup to a directory in the file system by using the ontape
> utility. For each storage-space archive and logical-log backup, ontape
> creates a file in the specified directory. To specify a file system
> directory, set the LTAPEDEV and TAPEDEV configuration parameters to the
> absolute path name for the directory.
>
> When ontape repeats an archive operation, it renames the existing files
> so that old files are not rewritten. A timestamp is added to the file
> name, which provides a way for related storage space or logical log
> files to be organized together.
>
> To learn about the file naming schema, see ?Rename existing files? on
> page 13-6.
> -------------------------------------------------
>
> and in the forementioned chapter 13 (Backup with ontape):
>
> -------------------------------------------------
> Back up to a directory
>
> If you choose to back up to a directory, you do not need to provide
> tapes. Instead, you back up the data to a directory of a local file
> system or a directory that has been mounted on the local system.
>
> The person who runs the backup must have write permission to the
> directory. The directory must have enough disk space to hold the
> backed-up data. You can use operating system utilities to compress the
> data after it is backed up.
>
> Backing up to a directory has the following advantages:
>
> v Multiple instances can simultaneously back up to the same directory
> file system.
> v You can use operating system utilities to compress or otherwise
> process the data.
> v You can easily configure your system to automatically back up a log
> file when the file is full.
>
> Set the file directory path:
>
> Use the TAPEDEV configuration parameter to specify the absolute path
> name on a directory of a file system to use for the storage-space
> archive file. This is the destination where ontape writes storage space
> data during an archive and the source from which ontape reads data
> during a restore. You specify the directory where the logical log backup
> files are written with the LTAPEDEV configuration parameter.
>
> Tip: When you back up to a directory file system, specify the -d option
> to turn off ontape interactive prompts.
>
> Rename existing files:
>
> When ontape repeats an archive operation, it renames the existing files
> so that old files are not rewritten. A timestamp is added to the file
> name, which provides a way for related storage space or logical log
> files to be organized together.
>
> Renaming conventions:
>
> v Storage-space archive files
> The archive checkpoint time is added, and has the format
> filename_YYYYMMDD_hhmmss_archive-level.
> v Logical log backup files
> The backup time is added, and has the format filename_YYYYMMDD_hhmmss.
>
> For example, the file My_instance_L0 is renamed to
> My_instance_20080913_091527_L0
>
> When restoring from a file system directory, ontape requires that
> storage-space archive and logical-log backup files be named as specified
> by the TAPEDEV and LTAPEDEV parameters. If files have been renamed,
> including by ontape because of repeated archives and backups, files must
> be manually renamed to their original file names.
>
> Override the default name of the archive files:
>
> You can override the default name of the archive files. When TAPEDEV or
> LTAPEDEV is a directory path, the default permanent file name consists
> of hostname_servernum_Ln (for levels), and
> hostname_servernum_Lognnnnnnnnnn (for log files). You can override the
> prefix part of the permanent file name, hostname_servernum, by setting
> the environment variable IFX_ONTAPE_FILE_PREFIX.
>
> For example, if you set IFX_ONTAPE_FILE_PREFIX to ?My_Instance?, then
> during archive, the files are named My_Instance_L0, My_Instance_L1,
> My_Instance_L2, and, My_Instance_Log0000000001,
> My_Instance_Log0000000002, and so on. During restore, ontape searches
> for files in the TAPEDEV directory with file names like My_Instance_L0,
> and searches for files in the LTAPEDEV directory with file names like
> My_Instance_Log0000000001.
> -------------------------------------------------
>
> Not sure where you were "reading around" all day ... :)
>
> Regards, Martin
> --
> Martin Fuerderer
> IBM Informix Development Munich, Germany
> Information Management
>
> Read about the Informix Warehouse Accelerator:
> http://tinyurl.com/the-iwa-blog
>
> IBM Deutschland Research & Development GmbH
> Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Martin Jetter
> Board of Management: Dirk Wittkopp
> Corporate Seat: Boeblingen, Germany
> Reg.-Gericht: Amtsgericht Stuttgart, HRB 243294
>
> ids-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 07/13/2011 12:17:39 AM:
> >
> > I just discovered that in other research, is this documented anywhere?
> > I've been reading through stuff on ontape/onbar all day and haven't seen
>
> > anything about it.
> >
> > On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 17:40 -0400, Art Kagel wrote:
> > > Just set LTAPEDEV to a directory or filesystem and ontape will create
> > > filenames for the logical log archives based on the servername, log
> number,
> > > and time of day in the specified directory. You can then use ontape -a
> from
> > > the ALARMPROGRAM script to archive each log as i fills or use ontape
> -c for
> > > continuous log archiving (in this case set LTAPESIZE so that the files
> don't
> > > become too large and you can copy them offline periodically).
> > >
> > > 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 Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 5:36 PM, chrissalch <chrissalch@letu.edu>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > > We will very shortly have an Informix 11.5 system on a Virtual
> Machine
> > > > running Linux. This machine does not have tape drives and we are
> > > > looking options that would allow for minimally attended backups. If
> > > > ontape supported -t STDIO for logical logs it would probably be
> right in
> > > > line with what we're looking for . . .
> > > >
> > > > Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > --------------------------------------------
> > > > Chris Salch
> > > > Programmer/Analyst
> > > > Programming Services
> > > > Le