The Loader uses a medium to physically store the data stream outside the database instance. When you unload or load data using the Loader, the data source and data target are database instances and media.
<mediumtype_spec> ::= FILE | PIPE | TAPE [<ebid_spec>]
<ebid_spec> ::= EBID '<valEBID>'
FILE |
The medium for the data stream is the file system. |
PIPE |
The medium for the data stream is a pipe. |
TAPE |
(relevant for unloading data only): The medium for the data stream is a tape that is addressed by an external backup tool. |
TAPE <ebid_spec> |
(relevant for loading data only): the medium for the data stream is a tape that is addressed by an external backup tool. You must also specify the external backup ID of the data stream that you want to load. |
valEBID |
External backup ID |
You can use the syntax rule mediumtype_spec to assign a medium to the data stream. The load differentiates between the media types specified in mediumtype_spec. If you do not specify a media type, the Loader uses the file system (FILE) as the medium for the data stream.
The media type TAPE is supported for unloading or loading the entire database or database catalog (this means that it is currently only supported for the following commands: DBEXTRACT/DBLOAD, CATALOGEXTRACT ALL/CATALOGLOAD ALL).
If you specify TAPE, an external backup tool is used for unloading or loading the data. You must perform the following steps when you use external backup tools:
After you have finished unloading data with external backup tools, the external backup ID valEBID is written to the log file and the transformation tables of the Loader (see Log Functions). If necessary, you must use this log information to determine the external backup ID.
When you load data using external backup tools, the external backup ID must be specified after the key word TAPE.