Backing up the database online using IBM® Data Studio client

You can use the online method to back up a IBM Spectrum Control database and ensure continuous availability of the database and the applications that use it.

About this task

When you use the online backup method, DB2® does not clean up old archive log files. You need to have processes in place to clean up the old log files after a specific amount of time to prevent the system from filling up. You also need to plan for the amount of space you might need. The log space that is required for a IBM Spectrum Control database can grow larger than the DB2 database over period of time.

Procedure

To backup the database, complete these steps:

  1. Open IBM® Data Studio client.
  2. Start the IBM Data Studio client.
    To start the product from a command window, enter:
    • On Windows operating system: 
      product_installation_directory\eclipse.exe
    • On Linux operating system:
      .product_installation_directory/eclipse
  3. On the New Connection page, select DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows and configure your IBM Spectrum Control database connection parameters.
  4. Click Next.
  5. On the Database Administration - IBM Data Studio page, expand DB2 .
  6. Right-click DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows and select TPCDB > Set Up and Configure > Configure Database Logging.
  7. On the Configure Database Logging TPCDB page, click Logging Type and select Archive.
  8. Click Logging Size and enter your log file size information. For example, 2500.
  9. Click Log Location and enter the DB2 log path information.
  10. On theDatabase Administration - IBM Data Studio page, expand DB2 .
  11. Right-click DB2 and select TPCDB and select Back Up and Restore > Back Up.
  12. Click Backup Image and select File System as the media type.
  13. Click Backup Options.
  14. In the Backup options compression and throttle section, select the Compress backup image and Throttle this utility to regulate the performance impact on the database workload check boxes.
  15. Click Backup Performance.
    You can increase the number of table spaces and buffers, from the default values, to improve performance.
  16. After you set all of the options, click Run or Preview Command to see the actual DB2 command that is run as part of the backup.

Results

The online database backup to a file system is run and the backup is complete.
Tip: You can also perform an online backup of the IBM Spectrum Control databases to a Tivoli® Storage Manager server. The significant difference between online and offline backup is the need to enable archive logging on the databases. When you use the online method, it provides many backup and recovery benefits at the expense of increased complexity in the database operation. Set up and test your DB2 to Tivoli Storage Manager integration before you implement the online method to the Tivoli Storage Manager output destination to verify the communication is working properly.