CA ARCserve Backup for Windows ® Agent for IBM Informix Guide r12.
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CA Product References This documentation set references the following CA products: ■ BrightStor® ARCserve® Backup for Laptops and Desktops ■ BrightStor® CA-Dynam®/TLMS Tape Management ■ BrightStor® CA-Vtape™ Virtual Tape System ■ BrightStor® Enterprise Backup ■ BrightStor® High Availability ■ BrightStor® Storage Resource Manager ■ CA Antivirus ■ CA ARCserve® Backup Agent for Advantage™ Ingres® ■ CA ARCserve® Backup Agent for Novell Open Enterprise Server for Linux ■ CA ARCserve® Backup Ag
■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Disaster Recovery Option ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Disk to Disk to Tape Option ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Enterprise Module ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Enterprise Option for IBM 3494 ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Enterprise Option for SAP R/3 for Oracle ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Enterprise Option for StorageTek ACSLS ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Image Option ■ CA ARCserve® Backup for Windows Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy S
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Contents Chapter 1: Introducing the Agent for IBM Informix 9 How the Agent for IBM Informix Works.......................................................... 9 Remote Procedure Call Service ............................................................ 10 Agent Parameters ......................................................................... 10 Full Offline Backups ....................................................................... 11 Access Control Lists ...............................................
Cannot find the Backup Agent home subdirectory \TAPEINFO from the CA ARCserve Backup Restore Manager Tree View ........................................................ 37 A restore job from CA ARCserve Backup failed but BAR_.LOG on the Informix Server indicated it as successful................................................... 38 A rescheduled backup or restore job stops responding.......................................
Chapter 1: Introducing the Agent for IBM Informix CA ARCserve Backup is a comprehensive, distributed storage solution for applications, databases, distributed servers, and file systems. It provides backup and restore capabilities for databases, business-critical applications, and network clients. The CA ARCserve Backup Agent for IBM Informix provides backup and restore capabilities for the IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS).
How the Agent for IBM Informix Works Remote Procedure Call Service With Remote Procedure Call (RPC) enabled, the agent operates as a Windows service and can be configured to start automatically through standard Windows setup or through the Services feature of the Control Panel. This configuration lets you run the agent without logging in. Agent Parameters You can customize the agent by modifying settings in the Windows registry, using the Windows REGEDT32 utility.
How the Agent for IBM Informix Works Full Offline Backups You should keep at least one recent offline backup of your IDS databases. When performing a full offline backup, you must select the appropriate directories (in particular, the Informix home directory and Informix data files) from the Backup Manager window. Access Control Lists Access Control Lists (ACLs) let you to specify the CA ARCserve Backup servers permitted to back up the IDS database.
Chapter 2: Installing the Agent for IBM Informix This chapter describes how you can install and configure the Agent for IBM Informix. The chapter also explains the post-installation tasks you must perform before performing the first backup and restore operation.
Preinstallation Tasks Preinstallation Tasks Before installing the agent on computers running IDS, modify the Windows environment as described in the following sections. Modify the Windows Environment for ISM Systems on IDS Versions You must modify the Windows environment for computers running Informix Storage Manager (ISM) with IDS Versions 9.40, 10.0, and 11.10. To modify the Windows environment 1. Select System in the Control Panel. The System Properties dialog opens. 2.
Install the Agent for IBM Informix Install the Agent for IBM Informix The Agent for IBM Informix follows the standard installation procedure for CA ARCserve Backup system components, agents, and options. For detailed procedures about how to install CA ARCserve Backup, see the Implementation Guide. Note: After you complete the installation procedure, restart your computer when prompted.
Post-Installation Tasks Set the IDS ONCONFIG File The installation program updates the ONCONFIG file in the IBM Informixdir\etc directory so that the agent can operate properly. Note: If you do not update the ONCONFIG file during installation, you must use a text editor to manually enter the changes in the ONCONFIG file before you install and deploy the agent in your network. Skip this procedure if you modified the ONCONFIG file during installation. To manually modify the ONCONFIG file 1.
Post-Installation Tasks Communication with ON-Bar CA ARCserve Backup lets you configure batch jobs. Using CA ARCserve Backup, you can configure one IDS instance at a time. You can use the Informix Agent Batch Job Configuration dialog to submit backup and restore jobs using the ON-Bar command line on the IDS. However, if the agent server is hosting multiple instances of IDS, you must reconfigure the batch job configuration for each backup or restore job submitted through the ON-Bar command line.
Uninstall the Agent 3. Enter the requested information in the fields provided for each unique instance of IDS operation. 4. Click Finish. The agent is configured for ON-Bar interaction. Prepare the Agent for Operation After you install and configure the Agent for IBM Informix, perform the following steps before you run backup and restore jobs for IDS. To prepare the agent for operation 1.
Chapter 3: Using the Agent You can use the Agent for IBM Informix to back up IDS objects such as dbspaces, blobspaces, and logical logs. Command line options associated with the ON-Bar utility are also available. For more information about using ON-Bar, see the Informix ON-Bar documentation.
Back Up an IDS Database ■ Before submitting jobs using the Backup Manager, ensure that the following CA ARCserve Backup services are running: – Job Engine – Tape Engine – Database Engine Back Up an IDS Database When you submit a backup job, ON-Bar evaluates your backup privileges and IDS status, and submits the job to CA ARCserve Backup. You can view one (or more) job per dbspace, blobspace, or logical log being backed up. To back up an IDS database 1. Verify that IDS is online.
Back Up an IDS Database 3. Click the Source tab if it is not already visible. In the Source view, select the Informix server you want to back up. Selecting the server in Backup Manager is equivalent to the following ONBar full-backup command: onbar_d -b –w (for Informix 9.x, 10.0 or 11.10) Note: When you select a full Informix server backup (that is, one that includes all IDS objects on the server), the system backs up all files located in the \etc directory under the Informix home directory.
Back Up an IDS Database If you select individual dbspaces or blobspaces, the Informix server is automatically selected. The box to the left of the selection is partially shaded even when all objects are selected. The box is partially shaded because dbspaces and the logical logs were individually selected. In this case, a full Informix server-level backup does not occur. Important! For logical log backup options to work properly, you must select the #LOGFILE# entry.
Back Up an IDS Database 4. Right-click the Informix server and choose Backup Agent Options. The Backup Agent Backup Option dialog opens. 5. Specify the options to complete a backup.
Back Up an IDS Database IDS Status: Online CA ARCserve Backup Option: Salvage Logs ON-Bar Option: -s Description: Backs up all logical logs that reside on the disk IDS Status: Offline Note: By default, the agent performs a Level 0 backup. Important! A full offline restore always attempts to salvage logical logs before restoring the root dbspace. If the salvage fails, the restore continues; however, transactions that cannot be salvaged are lost.
Back Up an IDS Database 8. Click the Schedule tab and select the scheduling options. You can run the backup job at this point or schedule the job to run later. For more information about scheduling options, see the Administration Guide. 9. Click Start on the toolbar. Depending on your selection, the job is either executed immediately or queued for execution. 10. Click Security. 11. Enter your security information and click OK.
Unsupported Backup Functions Note: The first job submitted for backup is always a test job, with no actual data. It is used to trigger ON-Bar. If the job is successful, the message, Backup Operation Successful appears. This message indicates that ON-Bar was successfully activated. However, the actual backup process is still in progress. You can track the progress of the job using the Job Status option.
Recommendations for Restoring an IDS Database Recommendations for Restoring an IDS Database Before restoring IDS logical logs, dbspaces, and blobspaces, you must note the following: ■ Restores always consist of the complete backed-up set of data. You cannot restore these objects individually unless they are damaged; to restore damaged dbspaces and blobspaces, you must perform a disaster recovery restore.
Restore an IDS Database Restore an IDS Database You can restore an IDS database including logical logs, dbspaces and blobspaces. To restore an IDS database 1. From the Restore Manager, select the items to be restored. This can be either the entire Informix server or individual dbspaces or blobspaces. Note: Only one dbspace can be restored at a time. Note: Do not restore the #LOGFILE#. The Informix server restores the logical logs automatically when a logical restore is performed.
Restore an IDS Database 2. On the Source tab, right-click the Informix server. The Restore Options dialog opens. CA ARCserve Backup Option ON-Bar Option Description Restore Methods Physical and Logical -r Restores all dbspaces, blobspaces, and logical logs. Physical Only -p Restores all dbspaces and blobspaces. Logical Only -l Restores logs only. Last Logical -n log The number of the last log to be restored. If any logs exist after this one, they are not restored.
Restore an IDS Database 7. Verify the user name and password for the computer to which the files are being restored. If the restore session needs to access media or any another computer that requires a user name and password different than those used for IDS or CA ARCserve Backup, then enter that user name and password here. 8. Click OK. The Submit Job dialog displays the job details. 9. Click OK. The job is submitted to the CA ARCserve Backup queue.
Media Rotation Precautions When the job is complete, a message appears indicating that the restore was successful. The first restore message results from the creation of the ON-Bar process. Depending on the progress of the restore procedure, other messages from actual (not test) restore jobs will follow. Note: Do not interrupt the restore procedure by browsing IDS objects from the Backup Manager, or do not attempt to stop the restore operation. Wait until the BAR_INFORMIX SERVER.
Perform Disaster Recovery ■ Using session or tape view for dbspace or blobspace restores ■ Specifying Filter options ■ Specifying the following Restore Destination options: – Directory structure – File conflict resolution – Restore to different locations For more information about restore functions, see the Administration Guide.
Verify IDS Status 6. Compare the xbsatape.tbl file in the agent home directory under \tapeinfo. If the agent home directory has an old version of the file, copy the xbsatape.tbl from the \tapeinfo directory to the agent home directory (one level up), as shown in the following illustration: 7. Compare and carefully restore the critical files under \etc in the Informix home directory from CA ARCserve Backup. 8. Select and restore the full Informix server from CA ARCserve Backup.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting The Agent for IBM Informix provides logs for examining backup activities and lets you to modify settings if you encounter any problems.
Enable Debug Mode Enable Debug Mode To receive debug information, you must enable the debug mode. You can set the debug mode in the Windows registry using the Regedt32 editor. By default, the debug mode is disabled. To enable debug mode 1. Run WINNT\SYSTEM32\REGEDT32.exe. 2. In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE window, open: SOFTWARE\ComputerAssociates\CA ARCserve BACKUP\DSAGENT\CURRENTVERSION\AGENT\dbaifmx@ Informix Server 3. Double-click Debug. The DWORD editor opens. 4.
Problems and Solutions Problems and Solutions This section describes a few common problems that you might encounter. A backup job was reported as successful but nothing happens A backup job was reported as successful but nothing happens. Reason: The Informix server has problems and cannot handle the job. Action: Check the BAR_INFORMIX SERVER.LOG in the Informix home directory to see if ON-Bar has returned any error.
Problems and Solutions A restore job from CA ARCserve Backup failed but BAR_.LOG on the Informix Server indicated it as successful A restore job from CA ARCserve Backup failed but BAR_.LOG on the Informix Server indicated it as successful. Reason: In rare cases, ON-Bar does not need the entire backup image to accomplish its restore, and terminates the restore process in the middle of its operation.
Problems and Solutions A job from the Informix Backup or Restore Utility is in the job queue, but nothing is happening A job from the Informix Backup or Restore Utility is in the job queue, but nothing is happening. Reason: CA ARCserve Backup engine services are not running. Action: Using the Server Admin feature, start the CA ARCserve Backup engine services--Database, Tape, and Job Engines. If you start the engines from any other location, be sure to start the Database Engine first.
Error Messages A backup and restore job is submitted from the ON-Bar utility of Informix, but nothing happens A backup and restore job is submitted from the ON-Bar utility of Informix, but nothing happens. Reason: The system's environment may not be set properly, or your agent configuration is not set properly. Action: Use the Informix Agent Batch Job Configuration utility to set the current CA ARCserve Backup configuration-like media name and user information.
Error Messages A backup job returned the error (123) Cannot start onbar utility Reason: The agent could not start ONBAR_D.EXE. Action: Check your system environment to see if INFORMIXDIR is defined. Also, verify that the path is valid. A backup job returned the error (128) Invalid object name to handle Reason: The agent cannot process the Informix object. Action: Verify that you are using CA ARCserve Backup, and if necessary, generate a trace log. For assistance, contact Technical Support at http://ca.
Error Messages A backup or restore job returned the error (130) Cannot write to XBSA named pipe Reason: The agent cannot communicate with the XBSA ON-Bar component. Action: Check the BAR_INFORMIX SERVER.LOG to see if ON-Bar has generated an error message. If necessary, check the XBSA.LOG. Reschedule the job. For assistance, contact Technical Support at http://ca.com/support. A backup job returned the error (131) Cannot handle the tape ID information Reason: The agent cannot process the job.
Error Messages A backup job returned the error (133) Cannot impersonate to the user Reason: The agent cannot impersonate the Informix user. Action: Check the current Windows and CA ARCserve Backup user privileges to determine if you can impersonate to the Informix user. If not, you do not have the necessary privileges to submit a backup job. Otherwise, provide all the security information on your job submission and reschedule the job.
Error Messages A backup job returned the error (136) Error: no backup/restore option is set Reason: Backup and restore options, needed by the agent to execute the process, were not sent from CA ARCserve Backup. Action: In CA ARCserve Backup, right-click the Informix server. Provide detailed backup or restore options before submitting your job.
Error Messages A backup job returned the error (140) Cannot get log information from Informix Server Reason: The agent is unable to receive logical log information from the Informix server. Action: See the solution for error message 137. A backup job returned the error (141) Cannot get current domain name Reason: The agent cannot get the local domain name. Action: Verify that your machine has its own domain. If the problem continues, generate a trace log.
Error Messages A backup or restore job returned the error (144) Invalid Job Type Reason: The agent cannot interpret the job type. Action: Verify that you are using CA ARCserve Backup, and if necessary, generate a trace log. For assistance, contact Technical Support at http://ca.com/support. A restore job returned the error (145) Cannot restore any specific Informix log.
Error Messages A restore job returned the error (147) Restore option from CA ARCserve Backup is invalid Reason: The agent cannot process the restore option you selected in CA ARCserve Backup. Action: Check your restore option before submitting jobs. A backup job returned the error (148) Cannot submit log backup job with salvage log option. Informix Server should be in offline mode Reason: The agent detected that Informix is online. Log salvage must be done when the Informix server is offline.
Error Messages A restore job returned the error (150) Cannot create thread Reason: The agent failed to create a thread. Action: Generate a trace log. For assistance, contact Technical Support at http://ca.com/support. A restore job returned the error (151) Cannot connect to Informix Server Reason: The agent failed to connect with the Informix server. Action: Check the client connection environment of your Informix server. If the error persists, generate a trace log.
Error Messages A backup job returned the error (160) Cannot submit backup job. Informix Server should be in Online mode Reason: The agent was unable to connect with the Informix server for the backup job. Action: Load the Informix server or back up your Informix files as regular files. A restore job returned the error (164) Previous onbar job was not successful or another job is going on. Please check BAR_.log. If the ON-Bar job was not successful before, you should run STOPXBSA.
Error Messages A backup job returned the error (166) Backup job has failed due to expiration of named pipe wait time. Please make sure your original backup job had not been created by dbabatch (onbar) Reason: The agent handles two kinds of backup jobs; one from CA ARCserve Backup (user) and another from dbabatch (ON-Bar). Users cannot reschedule dbabatch jobs, even though they appear in the CA ARCserve Backup job queue. Action: Use the CA ARCserve Backup Manager to submit your backup job.
Error Messages A restore job returned the error (169) Cannot submit point-in-time restore with dbspace name. Point-in-time restore works only with Physical Logical or Physical Only on Informix Server level Reason: The message is self-explanatory. Action: Select the Physical & Logical or Physical Only restore option. You should restore the entire Informix server, not specific dbspaces or blobspaces, using this option.
Index A Access Control Lists (ACLs) • 11 agent for Sybase file location • 36 ON-Bar utility configuration • 17 settings, modifying • 10 spaces, home directory path • 16 uninstalling • 18 unsupported functions for backups • 26 B backing up, Informix server • 20 backup levels, defined • 20 options • 20 unsupported functions • 26 Backup Manager, browsing limitations • 28 batch job configuration utility • 17 blobspace backing up • 20 display status • 33 restoring • 28 browsing limitations • 28 build version •
multiple IDS instances • 17 restore IDS • 28 ONCONFIG file, manually modifying • 16 onstat.
