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Procedure documentation Defining Devices for ON-Archive Without SAP Scripts  Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

Use

This procedure describes how to define devices for ON-Archive with the Informix database if you are not using the SAP scripts. You define devices in the config.arc file. SAP recommends that you use the logical device names given in this procedure, but there might be particular requirements at your site for different names.

Follow this procedure before you start performing archives, backups, and restores of your database.

Caution

Check your Informix release notes for valid tape devices or other restrictions.

Procedure

Note

The physical device names shown below are examples only. Use the suffix _VOP in your device names. This suffix means that a request with this device can be executed in unattended mode, that is, no user messages are issued, and user intervention during the execution of the request is not necessary. This is important, for example, if you want to run your archives overnight.
  1. Log on as user informix using the following command:

    2. su - informix
  2. Open the config.arc file, which you can normally find in the $INFORMIXDIR/etc directory. If the file is not in this directory, see the note in Editing the config.arc File for ON-Archive.

    3. The physical device names (for example, /dev/rmt/0m ) given in the following steps are examples only. The logical device names (for example, DBTAP_VOP ) are recommended by SAP.

  3. Enter tape device(s) for archive:

    4. Device name(s) to enter

    Purpose

    Comment

    DEVICE DBTAP_VOP = /dev/rmt/0m

    Sequential archive to a single logical device, which is linked to a single physical device.

    This is the simplest setup. However, if the tape on the specified device fills, the archive cannot continue.

    DEVICE DBTAP_VOP = /dev/rmt/0m, /dev/rmt/3m, /dev/rmt/5m

    Sequential archive to single logical device linked to multiple physical devices

    If the tape on the first physical device fills, the archive can still continue using the tape on the next device.

    DEVICE DBTAP_VOP = /dev/rmt/0m, /dev/rmt/3m, /dev/rmt/5m
    DEVICE DBTAP0_VOP = /dev/rmt/0m
    DEVICE DBTAP3_VOP = /dev/rmt/3m
    DEVICE DBTAP5_VOP = /dev/rmt/5m

    Parallel archive to multiple logical and physical devices

    Parallel archives are useful for large databases or to reduce the time taken. You need to set up dbspace sets for parallel archives. For more information on setting up dbspace sets, see the Informix documentation.

    Note

    SAP does not recommend parallel archives unless necessary. However, if you have a good reason to do parallel archives, you can use the DBA Planning Calendar, which you access from the Computing Center Management System (CCMS) in the SAP System.

  4. Enter tape or disk devices for logical-log file backup:

    5. Device name(s) to enter

    Purpose

    Comment

    DEVICE LOGTAP_VOP = /dev/rmt/0m

    Tape backup or copy to tape.

    This could be used to copy logs from temporary storage area in a disk backup, as well as for normal tape backup (that is, directly to tape).

    DEVICE LOGDIR_VOP = /infbackup/logdir

    Disk backup

    Logs written to temporary storage area on disk, then copied to tape (see previous table entry). Physical device should be on separate disk for performance reasons.

  5. Enter a disk device for emergency logical-log file backup and salvaging the logs:
    6.

    DEVICE LOGPANIC = /infbackup/logpanic

    This device is used when the logical log has filled up and the database has stopped processing. Refer to Emergency Backup without SAP Scripts (ON-Archive). For a summary of measures which you can take to avoid the problem of emergency logical-log backups, see Preventing Emergency Logical-Log Backup.

  6. When you have finished editing device names in the config.arc file, you need to restart the ON-Archive cataloger for the changes to take effect. Enter the following from the command line (it does not matter if the cataloger is already running):

$ stop_oncatlgr

$ start_oncatlgr

Result

You have now completed one of the steps required to configure ON-Archive for performing archives, backups, and restores of your database. When you set up volume sets and volumes without SAP scripts, you need to enter the devices you have set up in this procedure. Refer to Setting Up Volume Sets and Volumes for ON-Archive Without SAP Scripts.

 

See also:

Configuration Files for ON-Archive

Defining Devices for ON-Archive with SAP Scripts

Informix documentation at http://www.informix.com