Backing up the Cognos database (Db2)

Applies to: On premises

Create a backup of the Cognos® database. Do this procedure if you use a separate database for Cognos.

About this task

Use the utilities that are provided with IBM® Db2® to back up the database.

Note: You can back up the database by using other methods. For example, you can use a combination of full and incremental backups. If you want to use an alternative method, it is critical that you have the necessary skills available within your organization to complete all aspects of the backup and restore activity.

For information about developing a database backup and restore strategy, see Backup overview in the Db2 documentation.

For more information about the commands that are used in this procedure, see the IBM DB2® documentation.

Procedure

  1. Shut down all OpenPages® components: application servers (admin and non-admin), reporting servers (active and standby), and the search server.
    For more information, see Starting and stopping servers.
  2. Ensure that all Cognos components are shut down.
  3. Open a command or shell window and connect to the Cognos database as the database instance owner.

    For Windows users only, you must use the db2cmd command in the Command Prompt window to initialize the Db2 command line processor (CLP).

  4. Go to the sqllib directory.
  5. Force any applications from the database.
    Run the following command:
    db2 force application all
  6. Deactivate the database.
    Run the following command:
    db2 deactivate database <db_name>
  7. Create a directory in which to store the backup.
  8. Do an offline backup by using the db2 backup command. 
    db2 backup database <db_name> to <backup_directory>
    Example: 
    db2 backup database cognosdb to /home/db2inst2/backup