FlashCopy offload operations

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In a DB2® environment, the installation of IBM® Storage Protect Snapshot enables the offload function that otherwise is not available.

The following functions are supported by the fcmcli command option -f function:

Figure 1. -f tape_backup function-clause

1   -f tape_backup
1   -d  database-name
1   -i instance
name
1   -N partition_number_list
1   -K
Where:
-f tape_backup
Backs up a snapshot target set to IBM Storage Protect.
-d database-name
The name of the database.
-i instance name
The name of the instance to apply the action against. This parameter is required for the -F option. There are no limitations.
 -N partition_number_list
A single number or list of numbers that are separated by a comma that specifies the partitions to apply the action against. When not specified, the action is applied to all partitions.
-K
In a multi-partition environment, the partitions remain mounted when all participating partitions are successfully offloaded to IBM Storage Protect. The offload agent unmounts all partitions after the last partition is successfully offloaded. Default value: Off. The unmount operation is part of every IBM Storage Protect backup operation.

The functions mount, unmount, or tape_backup cannot run in parallel on the same backup server.

The function update_status is supported by the fcmcli command:

Figure 2. -f update_status function-clause

1   -f update_status
2.1   -d database-name
1   -i instance-name
1   -B backup
ID
1   -S TSM_BACKUP=yes|no
Where:
-f update_status
Update the usability state after a snapshot backup operation completes to one of the following states:
  • Offload a snapshot backup to IBM Storage Protect (TSM_BACKUP=yes).
  • Do not offload a snapshot backup to IBM Storage Protect (TSM_BACKUP=no) if it was scheduled to offload.
-d database-name
The name of the database.
-i instance-name
The name of the instance to apply the action against. This parameter is required for the -F option. There are no limitations.
-B backup ID
The Backup ID as displayed by fcmcli -f inquire [_detail] or db2acsutil command.
 -S TSM_BACKUP=yes|no
Use this option to inform IBM Storage Protect Snapshot that a IBM Storage Protect backup is no longer required or that a IBM Storage Protect backup is requested. This option is only valid with the update_status function.

The fcmcli process connects to the acsd management agent and then runs the function that is specified with the -f option. After the operation is finished, the fcmcli agent passes notification to the acsd agent and the snapshot backup repository is backed up. When started as a daemon (-D option), as is the case for the standard /etc/inittab entry, fcmcli runs offloaded tape backup operations. This action results in a synchronous tape backup of all snapshot backups. When a new snapshot is started with TSM_BACKUP YES, the offload agent starts the backup to tape when it becomes available for mounting on a backup system (REMOTELY_MOUNTABLE).

If the offload agent completes the request without an error and there are no candidates for the request, the return code is 0. If there is a warning, the return code is 1. If there is an error, the return code is 2.