Understanding the BACKINT interface

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Data Protection for SAP provides the BACKINT interface to run full online and offline backups of Oracle databases, control files, and redo log files. The BACKINT interface communicates directly with SAP.

The following figure shows the interaction between BR*Tools, Data Protection for SAP, and the BACKINT interface when a backup or restore is running.
Figure 1. Data Protection for SAP with BR*Tools by using the BACKINT Interface

The graphic shows the entities that are involved and their interactions when it is employed with BR*Tools that use the BACKINT interface. Entities include the following, the Oracle instance, the BR*Tools, the BR*Tools file repository, and the BACKINT interface, IBM Storage Protect, the database containers. Interactions are numbered 1 - 5 according to their sequence during a backup operation. They comprise control flow and data flow. There is control flow between the Oracle Instance and BR*Tools (number 1), between BR*Tools and the BACKINT interface (number 2), from to the repository (number 3) and from the BR*Tools to the repository (number 5). There is data flow between the database containers and (number 3) and between and the IBM Storage Protect (number 4). The interactions that are required for backup are described in detail.
The BR*Tools record the status of the Oracle data file backups and log file backups by using tables that are contained within the Oracle database and system data. This information enables SAP to automatically restore the correct data files and their specific database transaction log files (redo log files), if necessary. The data files are in the Oracle database (Oracle Instance). Data Protection for SAP runs as a separate process, independently from the database. It receives the data through the BACKINT interface and saves the data to the IBM Storage Protect server.

A backup operation proceeds in the following order (see circled numbers):

  1. The BR*Tools utility BRBACKUP informs Oracle which data is to be backed up. It then places the database in the online or offline backup state.
  2. BRBACKUP calls Data Protection for SAP through the BACKINT interface with a list of all files to be backed up.
  3. Data Protection for SAP reads all requested files from the database and reports back to BRBACKUP. BRBACKUP adds these files to the repository that contains all processed backups.
  4. BACKINT saves the data to the IBM Storage Protect server.
  5. The BR*Tools update the file repository with status information about the files.

Oracle Backup/Restore and Data Protection for SAP

The SAP database administration provides four tools (referred to as the BR*Tools) for Oracle databases:
  • BRBACKUP: Provides online or offline partial or full backups of table spaces.
  • BRARCHIVE: Provides back ups of archived redo log files.
  • BRRESTORE: Provides system-guided restore of Oracle backups.
  • BRRECOVER: Provides recover capabilities.
These SAP database administration tools offer all the functions necessary to administer a database. Oracle also provides a Recovery Manager administration utility (RMAN) which is required to run an incremental backup. Data Protection for SAP integrates with SAP BR*Tools and Oracle RMAN to provide unattended, 24-hour, 7-days-per-week production backup and restore tasks.