Planning for the creation of an IMS System Level Backup

IMS Recovery Expert performs the process of creating an IBM System Level Backup using information specified in System Level Backup profiles and using DASD volume relationships specified in the volume mapping section of the System Level Backup profile.

About this task

Figure 1 outlines the process of creating a System Level Backup.

Figure 1. Creating an IMS full System Level Backup
This figure shows the six steps that are performed to create an IMS System Level Backup. The six steps include IMS discovery, IMS system volume mapping, backup volume selection, System Level Backup validation, invoking fast-replication processes, and recording information in the metadata repository.

The following steps describe how to perform a System Level Backup:

Procedure

  1. The IMS system is discovered and analyzed. Source volumes are identified, and data set and catalog placement is analyzed to determine if the IMS layout can accommodate the System Level Backup methodology for the intended recovery needs.
  2. All source IMS volumes are identified and analyzed to determine if non-IMS data resides on the volumes. Warning messages are issued when non-IMS data is included in an IMS System Level Backup.
  3. Source IMS volumes are mapped to target volumes that will contain the System Level Backup. The source to target volume mapping is done during the backup profile creation process.
  4. IMS Recovery Expert performs System Level Backup validation checks before each backup to ensure that the backup is complete and can be used for a successful restore operation.
  5. IMS Recovery Expert invokes an appropriate storage-based fast-replication process. The backup is performed in the storage processor without using host CPU and I/O resources. The System Level Backup is completed from an IMS system and application perspective when the storage-based fast-replication command is issued. Typically, full IMS System Level Backups complete in seconds or less. Data consistency functions are employed to ensure that the backup data state can be used for recovery purposes. Data consistency is ensured by suspending IMS logging activity or using the appropriate storage processor consistency functions.
  6. When the backup is complete, information about the backup is recorded in the IMS Recovery Expert metadata repository. The metadata information includes an inventory of where each IMS database data set resides on the backup volumes. This information is used to restore individual data sets when performing an IMS application or database recovery operation.