Connecting Third-Party Backup Tools

Together with SAP MaxDB database tools, you can use third-party backup tools to backup, restore, export, and import data.

SAP MaxDB supports a direct connection to a range of third-party backup tools. This requires you to configure the SAP MaxDB software accordingly.

You may also use third-party backup tools which are not directly supported by SAP MaxDB, provided that these tools can retrieve data from pipes.

If, for example, you want to back up the data stored in a database or export data from a database, you can save this data using the SAP MaxDB database tools to files, pipes, or tapes (by means of a tape device).

However, you can also use a third-party backup tool to back up the data on to a data carrier. Even then you can control the necessary actions using the SAP MaxDB database tools. The backup tool provides the data carrier onto which you can save or export your data.

You can use third-party backup tools for the following actions:

• Backing up to data carriers and restoring backups

  • Complete data backups

  • Incremental data backups

  • Log backups

  • Archiving the backup files (for log backups)

  • Restoring the database using data backups, log backups, and archived log backups

  See also: Block Diagram: Backing Up and Restoring

• Exporting data to data carriers and importing data from the data carriers

  • Exporting/Importing the entire database

  • Exporting/Importing the entire database catalog

  See also: Block Diagram: Importing and Exporting Data

With backups and restores, you only can switch from Microsoft Windows to Linux and vice versa. This means that a backup created on the Microsoft Windows operating system can only be restored on the same operating system or on Linux. A backup created on Linux can only be restored on the same operating system or on a Microsoft Windows operating system.

For data migration between different operating systems, in most cases Loader will be the best tool to use. Loaderl does not impose any restrictions on switching operating systems when exporting or importing data. However, there may be restrictions since various backup devices have a limited independence of the operating system. If, for example, you want to switch from Microsoft Windows to Unix, a tape device or a third-party backup tool must be compatible with both operating systems. Check this beforehand in your backup device documentation.

Database Administration, Using Third-Party Backup Tools

Database Manager CLI, Backing Up and Restoring Databases

Loader, Exporting and Importing Using Third-Party Backup Tools

SAP Note 822240