RE: OnBar script needed for NetBackup

Dear Doug, Thanks for your valuable information. It's really help me a lot. BTW, where can I get the backup/restore guide (RTPrettyM)? Is it come together with the Netbackup manual??? Regards, Jason -----Original Message----- From: Agnew, Doug [mailto:dagnew@charlottepipe.com] Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 10:08 PM To: Pang, JasonYL Cc: 'informix-list@iiug.org' Subject: RE: OnBar script needed for NetBackup Jason, ' I'll be glad to, but suggest you also look at the backup/restore guide (RTPrettyM).' If you are doing a cross system restore (from source to target), you must copy three files from the source to the target.' In addition, you should be backing these files up' (or printing them) as they are required to restore your system with OnBar.' Lose these files and you cannot do a cold restore. ' ixbar.# is the file used by OnBar to accomplish a cold restore of instance # on the server.' ixbar.0 refers to instance 0, ixbar.1 to instance 1, etc.' This file is located in $INFORMIXDIR/etc and must be copied from the source system to the target system.' It contains a list of all the objects backed up by OnBar, both dbspaces and logs.' During a cold restore, OnBar uses this instead of the sysutils database (which is not accessible during a cold restore) to determine what has to be processed. ' The $ONCONFIG file from your source'must also be copied to the target.' What you are trying to do is make your target look like your original source machine to both Informix and the Storage Manager. ' There is a file named oncfg_$INFORMIXSERVER.0 in $INFORMIXDIR/etc that must also be copied.' This contains a list of all the dbspaces and log files that need to be restored or salvaged.' Due to a bug in Informix, some manipulation of this file is necessary before doing the logical restore step, since the system will attempt to salvage logs otherwise, which is NOT something you want to do during the cross-system restore. ' Also, don't forget to adjust the sqlhosts file on your target system to include the $INFORMIXSERVER value from the source system.' And, you'will have to change some environment variables (like $INFORMIXSERVER)' on the target system to match the source system. ' Also, you will need to tell NetBackup (and I can't remember whether it is with an environment variable or a configuration file entry -- I think configuration file) to use the source NetBackup client for the restore. ' Cross-system restores with OnBar are not simple, but when setup properly, they work.' Again, because of the amount of work you would have to do for each restore, I would STRONGLY suggest that you discuss with the development team whether or not you always need the LATEST, UP-TO-THE-MINUTE data from production.' Explain that it will require significant work EVERY day (It would be REALLY tough to automate all these changes, and then the reversal of said changes), and you might have to move the time of the restore (like to 2 in the afternoon or 8 in the morning, which should wreck havoc on their workday) because you HAVE to be there to be sure it starts okay and finishes okay, after which you have some setup work to do to get the engine up.' Of course, if they are willing to pay you extra to come in at oh-dark-30 and do all this stuff and let you take the daytime off, go for it.' I think, given this option, any intelligent individual would be willing to accept a weekly or bi-weekly refresh from production.' But then, we are talking about programmers and/or management, aren't we? ' Hope that helps, Doug -----Original Message----- From: JasonYLPang@pg.SLR.com [mailto:JasonYLPang@pg.SLR.com] Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 5:17 AM To: dagnew@charlottepipe.com Subject: RE: OnBar script needed for NetBackup Hi Doug, Can you explain more details in ixbar.0, coconfig, etc.... Thanks, Jason -----Original Message----- From: Agnew, Doug [ mailto:dagnew@charlottepipe.com <mailto:dagnew@charlottepipe.com> ] Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 9:44 PM To: Pang, JasonYL Subject: Re: OnBar script needed for NetBackup Jason, It should be possible to just replace your 'ontape -r' command in the cron script with an 'onbar -r' command.' You don't HAVE to schedule the restore through the Storage Manager.' Of course, you have to copy the ixbar.0, onconfig, and oncfg.... files from production to do the restore, as well as override the name of the database server to match the production name so that the restore can find the proper files.' And that is the painful part. Question: Do they ALWAYS need the latest production database?' Surely, if the data is one or two weeks old, they can still test with it.' If so, then maybe do a special restore from production once a week and immediately back it up with OnBar.' Then the OnBar restore becomes real simple, since it is not moving between machines. Just a thought to simplify your life... HTH, Doug <JasonYLPang@pg.SLR.com> wrote in message news:8pmio9$2nf$1@news.xmission.com <news:8pmio9$2nf$1@news.xmission.com> ... > > Hi Mike & Doug, > > I'm the one that need to use cron to restore. It's because of my company > always do restoration from live server to test server for development > purpose. Our development teams need to test thier program on the live > database before putting into the live server. Currently, we're using ontape> methond to restore and schedule the ontape script to run it at mid night > which is not requires any user interaction. However, when come to Netbackup, > I have no idea how to schedule the restoration and run it automatically > without any user interaction. Anyone can help???? > > Thanks/Regards, > Jason > > -----Original Message----- > From: Doug Agnew [ mailto:dagnew@charlottepipe.com <mailto:dagnew@charlottepipe.com> ] > Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 4:18 AM > To: informix-list@iiug.org > Subject: Re: OnBar script needed for NetBackup > > > Mike, > > Just a small point... I was not the one that was interested in using cron to > restore, I was asking why someone else wanted to. > > Yeah, I realize you can do your backup scheduling in netbackup, but cron is > SOOOOO much easier (and since we were evaluating, I had no interest in > working out another scheduling method).' When the final SM solution is > bought, THEN I'll think about scheduling within the SM. > > Thanks, > Doug > > "Mike Langen" <mike.langen@tamedia.ch> wrote in message > news:39BE6861.19B37F18@tamedia.ch <news:39BE6861.19B37F18@tamedia.ch> ... > > Hi Doug! > > > > We're using Netbackup from Veritas with Informix on a Sun. > > I think you need to know how to do a schedule on an Informix BACKUP and > not > > restore? (Since I can't imagine a situation, that you have to regularly > cron a > > restoration? > > > > The schedule of a backup in netbackup was kind of difficult to do but > after > > reading the manuals twice, i could implement it... > > > > cheers > > > > > > "Agnew, Doug" schrieb: > > > > > I use OnBar from the command line, without regard for the storage@@