To back up data and log entries, you need backup media, such as tapes, to which the database system can write the backups and from which it can re-import them in case of system failure.
To be able to use a backup medium for a database instance, you first have to create the corresponding definition of the backup medium with the Database Manager. See:
· Database Manager GUI, Creating a Single Backup Medium, Creating a Group of Parallel Backup Media
· Database Manager CLI, medium_put
·
Database Administration in CCMS:
MaxDB, Backup
Media
·
Database Administration in CCMS: SAP liveCache
Technology, Backup
Media
The Database Manager stores the definitions of the backup media in the file dbm.cfg. See Configuration Files.
Backup media are always created for a particular backup type.
Types of Backup Media
Type of the Backup Medium |
Usable for Backup Types |
Remarks |
File (FILE) |
· Data backup · Automatic log backup · Interactive log backup |
With automatic log backup, the database system writes the log entries in chronological order to sequentially numbered files (version files) |
Tape (TAPE) |
· Data backup |
You can use an autoloader. |
Pipe (PIPE) |
· Data backup · Interactive log backup |
The pipes for transferring the backup data are implicitly created by the Database Manager during the backup process. They must not be available beforehand. |
The path specifications and properties of the tape device, tapes, or files are grouped together in the media definition of a backup medium under a freely definable, practical name. The backup media can be re-used for all possible backup operations under these names.
All Types
· If you operate multiple database instances on the same computer, define a separate backup medium for each database instance.
· Do not overwrite a backup with the backup that immediately follows it. Always keep an older version of the backup.
File Type
· Do not create backups on backup media of the file type on the same hard disk as the volumes of the database instance, but on a separate hard disk. To protect against data loss, regularly copy the backups to another computer using operating system commands.
· With the Database Manager, you can also create backups on backup media of the file type on a remote computer. Note that backing up directly to a remote computer is susceptible to transmission errors and is slower than a backup to the local computer.
Observe the following special points for Microsoft Windows networks:
¡ Before you create a backup medium on a remote computer, first start the database instance on the local computer using an operating system user name that exists on both computers. To do so, use the area Services ® Log On in the Microsoft Management Console. For more information, see the documentation for your operating system.
¡ To restore the database instance after an error, the database instance must have been started using an operating system user name that exists on both computers.
¡ Before you check a backup on a remote computer, for the service database instance, enter this operating system user in the area Services ® Log On in the Microsoft Management Console.
Tape Type
· Do not use tapes more often than is recommend by the manufacturer.
· UNIX
¡ Be sure to address the device driver correctly.
¡ Use a rewind tape for the data backup.
Pipe Type
· If you do are not using an external backup tool and want to execute interactive log backups in pipes, you first have to set the value of the special database parameter LOG_BACKUP_TO_PIPE to YES.
To manage the definitions of the backup media, use the Database Manager or, in SAP systems, the CCMS: See:
· Database Manager GUI, Managing the Backup Media
· Database Manager CLI, Backing Up and Restoring Database Instances
·
Database Administration in CCMS:
MaxDB, Backup
Media
·
Database Administration in CCMS: SAP liveCache
Technology, Backup
Media
To accelerate backing up and restoring, you can back up data to multiple backup media in parallel and likewise, when restoring, import in parallel from multiple backup media to the database instance. You configure the maximum number of backup media that you can use in a parallel backup with the general database parameter MAXBACKUPDEVS.
Regularly check whether your backups are intact. See:
· Database Manager GUI, Checking Backups
· Database Manager CLI, Checking Backups
See also:
Supported Backup Tools from Other Providers