Comparison of ON-Bar, ON-Archive, and ontape for Data Recovery 

This section compares the different tools for data recovery with Informix databases for the R/3 System. The following tools are available from Informix:

ON-Bar is the most recent data recovery tool. It is easy to use with powerful functionality. SAP recommends ON-Bar particularly for larger databases where you want to use third party storage manager and storage devices. If you are starting data recovery for the first time, SAP recommends you to use ON-Bar .

ON-Archive is complex to operate, but has powerful functionality. With ON-Archive, you can use the DBA Planning Calendar in the Computing Center Management System (CCMS) of the R/3 System to automatically schedule your database archives and backups.

ontape is the oldest of the Informix tools. It is easy to use, but the most restricted.

The archives and backups written by ON-Bar , ON-Archive , and ontape are not compatible with each other. You cannot mix archives and backups from different tools. Therefore, you must decide which tool you want to use and stay with the chosen tool. Never use one tool to back up the logical log and another one to create archives or database backups.

In certain circumstances you must use a particular tool:

The following table compares the available tools:

Comparison of Data Recovery with ON-Bar, ON-Archive, and ontape

Feature

ON-Bar

ON-Archive

ontape

  • General functionality
    • Limited
    • Extensive
    • Easy to use

 

No

Yes

Yes

 

No

Yes

No

 

Yes

No

Yes

    • 6.0
    • 7.x
    • 7.23UC3 and higher

 

No

No

Yes

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

    • NT
    • UNIX

 

Yes

Yes

 

No

Yes

 

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

    • Sequential
    • Of specified dbspaces


Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No (1)


Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes


Yes

Yes

No

No

No

 

No (1)

Not relevant

 

Yes

Yes (2)

 

No

No

  • Storage Media
    • Tape
    • Disk
    • Advanced backup media

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Yes

Yes

No

 

Yes

No

No

    • Specified dbspaces
    • Prompt for specific tapes

 

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

 

Yes (3)

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

No

Yes

No

No

  • Scheduling

 

No (1)

 

Yes

 

No

  • SAPDBA

 

Not relevant

No

 

Yes (2)

Yes

 

No

No

  • Tape volume administration
    • Integrated software
    • Third party software
    • Recognize end of tape

 

No (4)

Yes

Not relevant

 

Yes

No

Yes

 

No

No

No

  • Other features
    • Software data compression
    • Unattended operations
    • Access control for storage and operations
    • Standard interface for third party software

 

No (4)

No (4)

No (4)

Yes

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

 

No

No

No

No

(1) It is planned to integrate ON-Bar into the CCMS.

(2) Emergency log backup with SAPDBA is only available for Informix version 6.0. If you are using version 7.x, see Emergency Logical-Log Backup.

(3) Point-in-time restore has been available since Informix version 7.2.

(4) Functionality for these and other features with ON-Bar is located in the Informix Storage Manager (ISM, released with Informix version 7.3) or a third-party storage manager.

 

See also:

ON-Bar for Data Recovery

ON-Archive for Data Recovery

ontape for Data Recovery