Performing an operating system backup
When performing a backup using an operating system utility instead of PROBKUP, you must perform the following extra steps:
- Be sure to back up all the proper files.
- Make sure that the database is not used during the backup. Otherwise, the backup will be invalid. If you have an Enterprise database license, you can do this by using the PROQUIET command to create a database quiet point. Regardless of your database license you can shut down the server and make any single-user session inactive.
- After you perform and verify the backup, mark the database as backed up.
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To perform a backup using an operating system utility: |
- Shut down the database server.
- Verify that the database is not in use.
- Make a note of the last entry in the log file. You will use this information later to verify that the database is not used during the backup.
- Back up the database.
- Verify that the backup is valid.
- Mark the database as backed up.
Before you back up the database, you must shut down the database server. See Chapter 3, "Starting Up and Shutting Down," for information about shutting down the database.
Use the PROUTIL BUSY utility to determine whether the database is in use:
The BUSY qualifier returns a code indicating whether the database is in use. You can use the codes returned by the BUSY qualifier in scripts, files, or procedures. For detailed information, see the "PROUTIL BUSY qualifier" section.
Use an operating system backup utility to back up the database files. Ensure that your backup technique backs up the entire file. On many UNIX systems, certain utilities (for example, cpio) back up only the first part of files that are larger than a specified size (controlled by the ULIMIT parameter). Backups of only the first portion of a database file are of no value.
First, compare the last entry in the log file against the entry you noted in Step 3. If an entry has been added to the log file since you checked in Step 3, the database might have been used. If the database was used during the backup, then the backup is invalid. You must perform another backup.
Second, verify that you have backed up the entire database. The PROBKUP utility automatically backs up the proper files; with an operating system utility, you must make sure the proper files are included in the backup.
After you have verified the backup, use the RFUTIL MARK BACKEDUP utility to mark the database as backed up:
For more information, see Chapter 22, " RFUTIL Utility."