RDF System Management Manual

Table Of Contents
Triple Contingency
HP NonStop RDF System Management Manual524388-003
10-2
How Does It Work?
How Does It Work?
In general, the triple contingency feature works as follows:
The RETAINCOUNT configuration parameter on both backup systems prevents
the purger process from purging image trail files that might be needed for triple
contingency recovery.
If the primary system fails, you execute two takeovers: one on each backup
system. Upon successful completion of both takeovers (signalled by a 724
message in the EMS event log of both backup systems), the databases on the two
backup systems will almost assuredly not be identical: one of the extractors will
have been ahead of the other in its RDF processing when the failure occurred.
Examine the EMS event log on both backup systems for a 735 message. That
message, which follows the 724 message in the log, specifies the last position in
the MAT that was seen by the receiver process. Compare the MAT positions in
the two 735 messages and determine which of the two systems was further behind
in its RDF processing when the failure occurred (that is, which system had
received the least amount of audit data from the extractor by the time the primary
system was lost).
On the backup system that was further behind (had the least amount of audit data),
issue the COPYAUDIT command specifying the name of the other backup system
and its RDF control subvolume. That command copies over all missing audit
records from the designated system.
Upon successful completion of the COPYAUDIT operation, do a second takeover
on that system. When the second takeover has completed successfully, initialize
and configure the two backup systems as a new primary-backup pair (either
system can be the primary) and then restart application processing on the new
primary system.
The remainder of this section discusses the hardware and software requirements, the
RETAINCOUNT parameter, and the COPYAUDIT command in detail.
Hardware Requirements
Both backup systems should have similar hardware with respect to RDF operation (in
particular, the data volumes and image trails must be identical between the two
systems). It is also strongly recommended that the Expand bandwidth between the
primary and backup systems be the same for both configurations, as well as between
the two backup systems.
WARNING. To be able to use the triple contingency feature, it is imperative that you carefully
obey the instructions and caveats presented in this section.