CHAPTER 10 Managing Backup Information

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Table of Contents

Backup Information Management Functions
Display Dump Status
Recycling Backup Volumes
Manual Recycling
Automatic Recycling
Offlining Backup Information
Manual Offlining
Automatic Offlining
Onlining Backup Information

The Manage Tables Dumps option is used to manage backup information, and is available to users with BACKUP.UNET operator privileges.

Backup Information Management Functions

Backup information management functions include:

• Recycling backup volumes, either manually or automatically
  

• Onlining or offlining BACKUP.UNET table information.
  

For instructions on using the recycle commands, refer to the BACKUP.UNET Command Reference and to the BACKUP.UNET Customization and Reference Guide.

Display Dump Status

To display the status of a dump:

1. From the BACKUP.UNET main dialog, choose Manage Tables Dumps. The Dumps dialog is displayed (Figure 10 1).
   

   Graphic: Figure 10-1. Dumps Dialog

2. Select the desired dump from the Dumps list box.
   

3. Click the Show button to display the Dump Information dialog (Figure 10 2).
   

   Graphic: Figure 10-2. Dump Information Dialog

   The following dump status information is displayed:
   ID---The dump ID.
   Status--- Indicates whether the dump information is online or has been offlined.
   Name--- If the dump was named, the name is displayed here.
   Level--- Indicates the backup type: Full, Incremental, or Special Incremental.
   Date--- Indicates the date the backup was run.
   Based On--- If an incremental backup, indicates the dump ID of the backup on which it was based.
   Volumes--- Lists all volumes associated with this dump and displays each volume name, segment number, and amount of data on the volume.
   
   

4. When you are finished viewing the dump status, click the Dismiss button to close the Dump Information dialog.
   

Recycling Backup Volumes

When the data for a backup is no longer needed, the volume that holds the unneeded data can be recycled. If the data is on a multi segmented volume, then the segment that holds the data can be recycled, rather than the whole volume. Recycling can be performed either manually or automatically (using a recycle script). You can then use that recycled volume or segment to perform another backup.

From the BACKUP.UNET main dialog, choose Manage Tables Dumps. The Dumps dialog is displayed.

The Dumps dialog lists all of the currently saved dumps. From this dialog you can recycle dumps manually or automatically.

Manual Recycling

Manual recycling forces backup volumes associated with a given dump name or dump date to be recycled. Use this option to recycle named backups.

1. From the Dumps dialog, select the dump to be recycled.
   

2. Click the Manual Recycle button.
   

The selected dump and all dumps based on this dump are recycled.

Automatic Recycling

Automatic recycling recycles eligible dumps based on the schedule in the recycle script. By default, automatic recycling occurs after every successful backup completes. This recycling is controlled through the 'nbk.bterm' processing escape. If to meet the needs of your environment, you have modified this script so automatic recycling is not attempted after each backup, then you may wish to periodically run automatic recycling through the GUI. Refer to the BACKUP.UNET Customization and Reference Guide for additional information about automatic recycling.

From the Dumps dialog, click the Auto Recycle button.

All eligible dumps are recycled.

Offlining Backup Information

BACKUP.UNET stores information about its backups in online tables. These tables contain data and information about backup volumes used in a backup cycle. However, between the time a backup volume is created and it is recycled (if ever), you may want to free disk space used by the backed up data files. This process is called offlining. You can offline backup information either automatically or manually.

Manual Offlining

1. Choose Manage Tables Dumps to display the Dumps dialog.
   

2. The Dumps dialog displays all dumps. To display the volumes for that dump, select the dump name in the Dumps list box.
   

3. Click the Show button. The Dump Information dialog is displayed. Check the Status field to see if the dump is online. 4. Dismiss the Dump Information dialog.
   

4. Select the volume to be offlined from the Dumps list box of the Dumps dialog.
   

5. Click the Offline button.
   

6. The operation is accepted and the operation key is displayed.
   

Automatic Offlining

Backup information can be offlined automatically after each backup operation by including an OFFLINE statement in your recycle script.

For information about the OFFLINE statement, refer to the BACKUP.UNET Customization and Reference Guide.

Onlining Backup Information

To recreate data information in the tables in order to restore files, offlined backups must be explicitly onlined. This process restores the online data associated with a specific backup.

1. Choose Manage Tables Dumps to display the Dumps dialog.
   

2. The Dumps dialog displays all dumps. To display the volumes for that dump, select the dump name in the Dumps list box.
   

3. Click the Show button. The Dump Information dialog is displayed. Check the Status field to see if the dump is offline.
   

4. Dismiss the Dump Information dialog.
   

5. Select the volume to be onlined from the Dumps list box of the Dumps dialog.
   

6. Click the Online button.
   

7. The operation is accepted and the operation key is displayed.