Re: ontape vs onbar

Ontape can be used with logs to give consistent restores if the database is active in the same way onbar can. The only snag I am aware of is that if you only have one backup device you have to stop backing your logs to tape while you perform the ontape archive. onbar's major benefit would appear to be parallel backups, and more support for unattended backups than ontape provides. "Colin Bull" <c.bull@videonetworks.com> wrote in message news:<c5gect$cu1$1@terabinaries.xmission.com>... > brett wrote > > > > Is onbar a viable backup solution with IBS 9.x or is ontape > > still the best ? > > > > I keep reading in the newsgroup, talk about using ontape as > > backup and not > > onbar. Why ? > > > Ontape is quick and easy, but does not guarantee consistent restores if databse is active when backed up. > > Onbar works with logs to give reliable restore when database is active, and is therefore more demanding to use. > > Horses for courses. > > Colin Bull > c.bull@videonetworks.com > sending to informix-list

"scottishpoet" <dryburghj@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:81714288.0404131113.49bb808e@posting.google.com... > Ontape can be used with logs to give consistent restores if the > database is active in the same way onbar can. > > The only snag I am aware of is that if you only have one backup device > you have to stop backing your logs to tape while you perform the > ontape archive. > > onbar's major benefit would appear to be parallel backups, and more > support for unattended backups than ontape provides. > Yep. Most people need unattended backups and so should be using onbar with ISM (Informix Storage Manager). Also ism allows you to see progress better (try ism_watch). Also you get more logs with onbar and can enable debug levels with it to track problems. http://www.google.co.uk/groups?q=ism_watch+group:comp.databases.informix+author:djw%40smooth1.fsnet.co.uk&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=b7v5pa%24p0u%241%40newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk&rnum=1 gives the info from the ism_chk.pl script. > > > "Colin Bull" <c.bull@videonetworks.com> wrote in message news:<c5gect$cu1$1@terabinaries.xmission.com>... > > brett wrote > > > > > > Is onbar a viable backup solution with IBS 9.x or is ontape > > > still the best ? > > > > > > I keep reading in the newsgroup, talk about using ontape as > > > backup and not > > > onbar. Why ? > > > > > Ontape is quick and easy, but does not guarantee consistent restores if databse is active when backed up. > > > > Onbar works with logs to give reliable restore when database is active, and is therefore more demanding to use. > > > > Horses for courses. > > > > Colin Bull > > c.bull@videonetworks.com > > sending to informix-list

I also meant to add that ontape is only useful for small systems when doing a level 0 archive prior to an upgrade as this is simpler to restore when upgrading.