Backup Templates and Data Carriers 

Use

During backups, the data/log entries are saved onto a data carrier, such as a tape or a file in the file system.

Before you can back up data and log entries onto a data carrier, you have to define a backup template. In the properties of the backup template you specify, among others, the backup type and the type of data carrier that is to be used. The Database Manager stores the backup templates in the file dbm.mmm (see Configuration Files). You can use the same backup template more than once.

Properties of Backup Templates

●      Name

You can use any name for the backup template. The name of the backup template has no influence on the names of the backups created with this backup template.

●      Backup type (full or incremental data backup, log backup, automatic log backup)

●      Data carrier type

Type	Usable for Backup Types	Remarks
File (FILE)	●      Data backup ●      Log backup ●      Automatic log backup
Tape (TAPE)	●      Data backup	You can use an autoloader.
Pipe (PIPE)	●      Data backup ●      Log backup	Automatic log backups to pipes are not possible.

Note the further recommendations and restrictions; see Information on Different Types of Data Carriers.

●      Data carrier (Device/File)

Enter the name of the tape device in the operating system, or the path and file name of the file in the file system, or the path and name of the pipe.

The system adds a sequence number to the name of each new backup file for log backups to files. The system assigns the numbers sequentially as long as the history of the log backups is not interrupted. If the log backup history is interrupted (for example if the database instance is initialized), the system begins numbering at 001 again.

The system also uses sequential numbers if you carry out multiple log backups for one database instance onto different data carriers, and thereby to files with different file names.

LogUri.001

LogKai.002

LogOleg.003

LogUri.004

LogUri.005

If automatic log backup is switched on, the system stores all backup files under the same file name and adds the sequential number.

autoLog.001

autoLog.002

autoLog.003

autoLog.004

autoLog.005

●      Size of data carrier

You can select the size of the data carrier for data backups. There is no size restriction in default mode

The size of log backups in files is the size of a log segment (general database parameter LOG_SEGMENT_SIZE) plus the space required by system information.

●      Overwritable

If you want to back up to a file and use this file more than once, define the backup template so that the data carrier can be overwritten. If you use this type of backup template for backups, the system overwrites old backups with new backups.

●      Block size

You can define the block size that the system uses to write backups onto the data carrier.

Example: Backup Template

Property	Value
Name of the backup template	My data backup of DEMODB
Backup type	Complete data backup (DATA)
Data carrier type	File (FILE)
Data carrier (Device/File)	backup 2005\data\complDataJan
Size of data carrier	No restriction (empty)
Block size	6 pages
Overwritable	No

Activities

You use the Database Manager or the CCMS (in SAP systems).

Defining a Backup Template

●      Database Manager GUI, Backup Template for a Single Data Carrier, Backup Template for a Group of Parallel Data Carriers

Database Manager CLI, medium_put

Database Administration Tutorial, Defining Backup Templates

Database Administration in CCMS: MaxDB, Backup Templates

Database Administration in CCMS: SAP liveCache Technology, Backup Templates

You can also define backup templates for parallel backups.

Managing Backup Templates

Database Manager GUI, Managing the Backup Templates

Database Manager CLI, Backing Up and Restoring Database Instances

Database Administration in CCMS: MaxDB, Backup Templates

Database Administration in CCMS: SAP liveCache Technology, Backup Templates

Checking Backups on a Data Carrier

Regularly check whether your backups are intact. See

Database Manager GUI, Checking Backups

Database Manager CLI, recover_check

See also:

Backing Up and Restoring

Using Backup Tools from Other Providers

General Database Parameters

Database Administration Tutorial, Defining Backup Templates