Informix database reorganization

We're looking for a way to dump and reload our Informix database (right now 7.22UC3) that will cause the minimal amount of downtime to our users. Our machines are RS/6000 F50s, AIX4.2.1, and we use SSA disk drives. Our database server is a three-way box with 2GB of RAM. We have 6 dbspaces, one for root, baan tables, temp, log, index, and data. As far as data goes, we've got about 24 million rows of data and 71000 tables. We use BaaN IV as our ERP package and the way our BaaN install has been done has put plenty of tables in our Informix database. Right now, it would take us about 5 days to do a full dump and reload. We have about 400 tables with the number of extents over 4 (some as high as 100 extents) and I know this is not helping our performance. We can dump and reload individual tables, alter the next extent size, and this will help some. I've also heard of people taking another drawer of disks and dumping those tables out to it as well so that you put off the total re-org for a lot longer. Is it possible to use the replication feature of Informix to have a separate, identical server set up as your secondary, break the link so it becomes a primary, point your clients to that server when the link is dead, dump and reload the primary, then bring it back up, replicate the changes, and then do the same to the secondary? We're not sure how you can maintain 100% uptime and still keep your database in top shape. We're trying to find out how other people are doing this. It's getting ever more difficult to get days of downtime (our next window is the Thanksgiving holiday) because our company is becoming more dependant on the BaaN system we have in place. Most of the reason that we're having these problems is due to the fact that our implementation is still in progress and the tables are fragmenting more because of this and as data is added, cleaned up, removed, etc. Can anyone give me a few pointers on what we should expect, some "best practices," or tell us how you maintain your database and your uptimes for your users? Informix has been minimally helpful on this issue, even at their classes the instructors give only vague answers because they want you to use their consulting services. I guess what we're mainly trying to find out is "how the big boys do it." We've had IBM run some BaaN and Informix sizing for us, but they don't address the issues that we're concerned with. They can say "you need these big boxes" but they don't address redundancy or maintenance. I would certainly appreciate any help. We're wanting to purchase equipment to do the job, but we have a one time shot to get it right the first time and we want to make the right choices. Thanks in advance. Jon Freeland<*> Database Administrator Miller Industries, Inc. eclypse@millerind.com