Virtual tape is available (and works very well) at V5R4. I would
recommend using virtual tape over save files if you go that route.
Virtual tape can be duplicated to physical tape and restored directly
from the physical tape if needed.
But most likely SWA will get you all the uptime you need. The "right"
way to implement SWA is the way that makes sense for your business, but
since you already have two hours of daily downtime taking 15 minutes
(more likely 5) to establish the sync point should not be too difficult.
However you choose to implement SWA(BRMS or native) you'll need to look
at the individual steps in your backup. Using BRMS your backup item
*ALLUSR should be SWA *SYNCLIB, your backup items *ALLDLO and *LINK
should be SWA *YES. You'll need to quiesce your library based
applications before the *ALLUSR item and anything that locks DLO's or
IFS objects before you do the *ALLDLO and *LINK items.
The MONSWABRM exit can be used to monitor for the sync point and you can
restart your applications at that point.
See the Backup Recovery and Media Services for OS/400: A Practical
Approach and Backup Recovery and Media Services for OS/400: More
Practical Information redbooks for detailed information.
http://tinyurl.com/practicalbrms
http://tinyurl.com/morebrms
Regards,
Scott Ingvaldson
Senior IBM Support Specialist
Midwest Region Data Center
Fiserv.
-----Original Message-----
From: lgoodbar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lgoodbar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 9:49 AM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Using BRMS for SWA and save to save file?
We are looking to reduce our daily backup time. System is a 9406-810,
7409 capacity processor, 3GB main storage, 350GB. Backing up to a
3581-H13 (LTO-1 cartridges) connected to a 2749 controller. Our 350GB
DASD is spread over 6 4327 70GB drives, all at 56% space used. OS
version is V5R4 using BRMS. A full system save fits on one tape.
Our daily backups (Tuesday-Saturday morning) only save critical
information, including security data, config, ERP / financial data,
in-house files, QGPL, DLO and IFS. The save takes just over 2 hours,
3:00am-5:09am on 9/1. On Sunday we take a full system backup (BRMS
equivalent of Save 21), which lasts for 3.5 hours (2:00am-5:32am 8/30).
ERP and financial data is the bulk of our system.
Money is tight so getting another tape drive is out. I would like to use
BRMS to either or both of using save while active and saving to a save
file. I forget if virtual tape is available in V5R4.
I'm in the process of reviewing the save/restore and BRMS manuals, but
looking for some real-world data from anyone who has done either or both
of these strategies.
What is the "right" way to implement SWA?
Any info, tips, and tricks appreciated.
--Loyd
--
Loyd Goodbar
Business Systems
BorgWarner Shared Services
662-473-5713
midrange.com
