This procedure describes how to define volume sets and volumes for ON-Archive with the Informix database if you are using the SAP scripts. For more information about volume sets (including a suggestion for the default number of volumes to create), see Volume Sets and Volumes for ON-Archive.

You should have already entered your device names in the config.arc file. For more information, see Defining Devices for ON-Archive with SAP Scripts.

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

1. Log on as user informix with the following command:

su - informix

You can also log on as user <sid>adm if you prefer.

The first script, arcprep , sets up the volume sets and volumes required to start archiving and backing up your database (that is, the volume sets DBTAP , LOGTAP , and ONDATARTRLOG , each containing the number of volumes you specify).



You must not run arcprep more than once. This script labels volumes starting from 1 upwards. Therefore, running it again can cause problems. If you need to define additional volumes or redefine existing ones, use the script arcvolum .

2. Change to the directory where the scripts arcprep and arcvolum are. This directory is normally /usr/sap/<SID>/SYS/exe/run , but you might have used a different directory when you copied the scripts. For more information, see Preparing SAP Scripts for ON-Archive.
3. Start arcprep by entering the following at the command line:

arcprep

arcprep identifies itself as follows:

Installation script for default Volume-Sets
and Volumes in the SAP R/3 Environment

4. Enter the number of tape volumes in each volume set when arcprep prompts you.

For more information about volume sets (including a suggestion for the default number of volumes to create), see Volume Sets and Volumes for ON-Archive.

arcprep tells you how many tapes you need in total. You can add additional tape volumes later if required using the second script, arcvolum .

5. Mount a tape volume on the specified device when arcprep prompts you.

arcprep calls ON-Archive to write an electronic label to the tape you have mounted.

6. Remove and physically label the tape volume with the name and volume label displayed by arcrep .

Steps 4 and 5 are repeated until all tape volumes in each volume set have been created. Finally, arcprep issues a message to confirm satisfactory completion.

The second script, arcvolum , sets up additional volumes as required. If one of your volumes is damaged, lost, or for some other reason unavailable, you need to redefine the missing volume. You might also want to assign new volumes to a volume set if your database archive and logical-log backup approach changes. For example, you might decide to keep a logical-log backup every day for two months instead of only one month, so requiring an extra set of volumes.

Before you start arcvolum , you need to know the name of the volume set for which you want to create a new volume. The example below uses volume set LOGTAP .

7. Make sure you are in the correct directory (see step 2) and then start arcvolum by entering the following at the command line:

arcvolum -v LOGTAP

The script displays the current contents of the volume set you have chosen.

8. Reply to the arcvolum prompt asking you which of the following types of volume you want to create:

Using the next free volume number (for example, if the last free volume is LOGT30 , the next would be LOGT31 ) as label

Using a label of your own choice (for example, an existing volume is damaged)

9. Mount a tape volume on the specified device when arcvolum prompts you.

arcvolum calls ON-Archive to write an electronic label to the tape you have mounted.

10. Remove and physically label the tape volume with the name and volume label displayed by arcrep .

Look in the archive.log file to see the results. You can see entries similar to the following for each volume set:

You have now completed one of the steps required to configure ON-Archive for performing database archives, logical-log backups, and restores of your database.

Setting Up Volume Sets and Volumes for ON-Archive Without SAP Scripts

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