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Informix Error -43196: ERROR: Logical Logs cannot be restored because LTAPEDEV value is <null-device> . </null-device> Restoring a normal backup (done by onbar -b) is not possible without restore of logical logs. Only whole system backups (done with onbar -b -w) can be restored without logical logs as whole system physical-only restore (using onbar -r -w -p). Then use onmode commands (options -s or -m) to bring server up without logical log restore.

Cause and resolution

ERROR: Logical Logs cannot be restored because LTAPEDEV value is <null-device> . </null-device> Restoring a normal backup (done by onbar -b) is not possible without restore of logical logs. Only whole system backups (done with onbar -b -w) can be restored without logical logs as whole system physical-only restore (using onbar -r -w -p). Then use onmode commands (options -s or -m) to bring server up without logical log restore.

If the LTAPEDEV parameter value in your ONCONFIG file is /dev/null (UNIX) or NUL (NT) or blank, logical log restore cannot be performed. These are special values that the user sets to tell the server and ON-Bar that log backup and restore is not desired. Data in the logical log cannot be restored.

ACTION Set the LTAPEDEV parameter value to something other than /dev/null (UNIX) or NUL (NT) or blank if logical log backup and restore is desired. Only whole system backups (done with onbar -b -w) can be restored without logical logs as whole system physical-only restore (using onbar -r -w -p).

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-43196 fires when LTAPEDEV is /dev/null (UNIX), NUL (Windows), or blank and restoring a normal (non-whole-system) backup is attempted — per the official guidance, a normal backup can't be restored without a logical-log restore, which these special LTAPEDEV values disable.

  1. LTAPEDEV set to /dev/null/NUL/blank while attempting to restore a normal (onbar -b) backup, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Set LTAPEDEV to something other than /dev/null/NUL/blank if logical-log backup/restore is wanted, per the official guidance.
  2. Otherwise, restore only whole-system backups (made with onbar -b -w) via whole-system physical-only restore (onbar -r -w -p), per the official guidance, then bring the server up with onmode -s/onmode -m without a logical-log restore.
Examples
Whole-system physical-only restore, then bringing the server up
$ onbar -r -w -p
$ onmode -m
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check ONCONFIG's LTAPEDEV value, and either set it to a real device/file or restore only whole-system backups physical-only.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -43189 — "Logical Logs cannot be restored because LTAPEDEV value is ." A related, more general LTAPEDEV restore restriction, rather than one specific to normal (non-whole-system) backups.
  • -43195 — "ERROR: Logical Logs will not be backed up / salvaged because LTAPEDEV value is . Normal backup (onbar -b) cannot be done without logical logs being backed up, because restore of such backups requires a logical log restore." The backup-side equivalent of this same LTAPEDEV restriction.

LTAPEDEV disables logical-log restore, so a normal backup can't be restored — set a real LTAPEDEV value, or restore only whole-system backups physical-only.