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 Connecting External Backup Tools 

Implementation Considerations

To manage MaxDB database instances and, in particular, to guarantee data security, easy-to-use database tools are provided as part of the software package. You can use these tools together with external backup tools.

To back up and restore MaxDB database instances, use the Database Manager. To load and unload data into or from MaxDB database instances, use the Loader.

For general information on the MaxDB database system, see the documentation Database Administration. The section External Backup Tools contains a list of external backup tools that are supported by MaxDB.

Content of this Document

This document describes the configuration of the MaxDB software for use with various external backup tools. It gives you an overview of which MaxDB database versions can be connected to which external backup tools, and for which database versions you can create parallel backups or restores.

Use

If, for example, you want to back up the data of a database instance, or load data from the database instance, you can save this data directly to files, pipes, or, by using a tape device, to tapes. However, you can also save data on a permanent medium by using an external backup tool. In this case, too, you use the MaxDB database tools to control the necessary actions. The external backup tool provides the tapes on which you can save or load the data. To be able to use the MaxDB database tool together with the external backup tool, you have to configure the MaxDB software accordingly.

You can use external backup tools for the following actions:

·        Back up on external backup media

¡        Incremental data backups

¡        Complete data backups

¡        Log backups

¡        Archive version files

·        Restore from external backup media

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

·        Unload data to external backup media

¡        Unload the whole database instance

¡        Unload the whole database catalog

·        Load data from external backup media

¡        Load the whole database instance

¡        Load the whole database catalog

The procedures for backups and restores after the relevant configuration are contained in the following documents (depending on which tool you use):
Database Manager CLI, sections Using External Backup Tools for Backups and Using External Backup Tools for Restores
Database Manager GUI, sections Using External Backup Tools for Backups und Using External Backup Tools for Restores.

The procedures for loading and unloading data after the relevant configuration are described in the documentation Loader, sections Unloading with External Backup Tools and Loading with External Backup Tools.

After you have completed the configuration, test all planned actions. In this way, you familiarize yourself with the relevant MaxDB database tool, and test the correct configuration of the MaxDB software for your external backup tool. This is the prerequisite for ensuring that all actions that are performed with the external backup tool for backing up, restoring, loading, and unloading data run without errors during production operation.

Switching the Operating System

When you back up or restore, you can switch from Microsoft Windows to Linux and the other way round only. This means that a backup created on the operating system Microsoft Windows can be restored only on the same operating system or on Linux. A backup created on Linux can be restored only on the same operating system or on Microsoft Windows.

If you are planning to migrate data between different operating systems, it is advisable in most cases to use the Loader. When you load or unload data, there are no restrictions for switching the operating system as far as this database tool is concerned. A switch is restricted only by the various backup devices being independent of operating systems only to a limited extent. If, for example, you want to switch from Microsoft Windows to UNIX, a tape device or an external backup tool would have to be compatible with both operating systems. Check this in advance in the documentation on your backup device.

 

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