Procedure documentationStandby Database Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

A standby database is a copy of the active database. To update the standby database, you manually import the log backups of the original database. The standby database always is in ADMIN operational state.

If the original database breaks down, you can start the standby database immediately, thus continuing work without long downtimes. You can also revert the standby database to the state the original database was in at an earlier point in time.

Procedure

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

Original Database and Standby Database

To set up and manage standby databases, use Database Studio or Database Manager CLI.

  1. Create the standby database by creating a copy of your original database. Proceed as described in the Database Copy section, while observing the following:

    • Set up the original database and the standby database on different computers.

    • Use the same version of the database software for both the original and the standby database.

    • Configure separate working directories for the databases.

    • Use the same values for the database parameters for both databases.

    • Do not start the standby database; instead, leave it in the ADMIN operational state.

  2. In the standby database, define a backup template for log backups with the following property:

    Data Carrier (device/file) points to the log backup of the original database.

    More information:

  3. In your original database, regularly create log backups.

    More information:

  4. In the standby database, regularly import the log backups of the original database, thus updating the standby database.

    More information:

Result

The standby database now contains the same data as the original database at the time the log backup that was last imported was created in the original database.

You can activate the standby database at any time.

More information: Making the Standby Database the Active Database

More Information

You can find example scripts in the SAP MaxDB wiki on SCN, see https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/wiki?path=/display/MaxDB/Main.