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Use

SAP MaxDB offers these types of backup:

  • Complete data backup

  • Incremental data backup

  • Automatic log backup

  • Interactive log backup

Data backups are consistent copies of the database data.

More information: Backing Up Databases

You can perform SAP MaxDB backups in ONLINE and ADMIN operational states . Only a backup in ADMIN state causes system downtime.

In SAP Systems, you use CCMS or Database Studio .

Process
  1. You work out your backup strategy before you start production operation of your database. For more information, see Periodic Administration Tasks .

    Use the DBA Planning Calendar in the CCMS if possible to schedule data backups.

    Caution

    A data backup does not back up log entries.

  2. You avoid the log area filling up.

    To back up the log area when necessary, you can activate the automatic log backup. In the DBA Planning Calendar in CCMS, enable AutoLog .

  3. You choose between complete data backup and incremental data backup.

    If you have decided that complete data backups take too long, use incremental data backups, which only back up all data changes starting with the last complete data backup. For example, perform a complete data backup at the weekend and incremental data backups every day.

  4. To speed up the backup process, you can use parallel backup data carriers for complete or incremental data backups. However, you cannot back up the log area using parallel media.

  5. You choose the best method for log backup, according to your requirements.

    • You can use the automatic log backup in CCMS or Database Studio to back up the log area when necessary. After the backup, the part of the log area that has been backed up is released again, and the system can write new log entries to it. Therefore, the fill level of the log area decreases.

    • You can use the interactive log backup in the CCMS or Database Studio to back up the entire unsaved portion of the log area.

  6. You keep not only the latest backups, but a few older versions as well. If a complete data backup is faulty, you then still have an older version available that you can use - together with subsequent incremental data backups and log backups - to fully restore the database.

    Note

    The time required for backups depends on the load and the throughput of the backup data carriers (for example, disks are faster than tapes).