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Component documentation Connecting External Backup Tools Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

Purpose

You can use external backup tools together with MaxDB database tools to save and restore or load and unload data.

Implementation Considerations

For further information on the database system, see Database System Concepts and Glossary.

Features

If, for example, you want to back up the data stored in a database instance, or load data from a database instance, you can save this data directly to files, pipes, or, using a tape device, to tapes. However, you can also use an external backup tool to save the data on to a permanent medium. You can also control the necessary actions using the MaxDB database tools. The external backup tool provides the tapes on to which you can save or load your data. You need to configure the MaxDB software in order to use the MaxDB database tool together with the external backup tool.

You can use external backup tools for the following actions:

·        To back up on to external backup media

¡        Incremental Data Backups

¡        Complete Data Backups

¡        Log Backups

¡        Archive Version Files

·        To restore from external backup media

¡        Restore the database instance using data backups, log backups, and archived log backups

·        To unload data on to external backup media:

¡        Unload the entire database instance

¡        Unload the entire database catalog

·        To load data from external backup media:

¡        Load the entire database instance

¡        Load the entire database catalog

Depending on which tool you use, the following documentation includes the procedures for backing up and restoring data after you have defined the relevant configuration:
Database Manager CLI documentation under Using External Backup Tools for Backups and Using External Backup Tools for Restores
Database Manager GUI documentation under Using External Backup Tools for Backups and Using External Backup Tools for Restores.

The procedures for loading and unloading data after you have defined the relevant configuration are described in the Loader documentation under Loading and Unloading with External Backup Tools.

Recommendation

After you have defined the configuration, test all planned actions. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the relevant MaxDB database tool, and test the correct configuration of the MaxDB software for your external backup tool. This is a prerequisite for ensuring that no errors occur when the external backup tool is used to back up, restore, load or unload data while the system is running in live mode.

Constraints

When backing up or restoring data, you can switch from Microsoft Windows to Linux and vice versa only. This means that a backup created on a Microsoft Windows operating system can only be restored on the same operating system or on a Linux operating system. A backup created on Linux can only be restored on the same operating system or on a Microsoft Windows operating system.

If you are planning to migrate data between different operating systems, it is generally recommended that you use Loader. This tool does not impose any restrictions on switching operating systems when loading or unloading data. The only restriction relates to the limited independence of the operating systems of the various backup devices. If, for example, you want to switch from Microsoft Windows to UNIX, a tape device or an external backup tool would need to be compatible with both operating systems. Check this beforehand in the documentation for your backup device.

 

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