Tuning server operations for client backups

File backup performance is degraded when there are many versions of an object. Use the DEFINE COPYGROUP command and modify the VEREXISTS parameter to control the number of versions, or use the UPDATE COPYGROUP command. The default number of backup versions is 2.

If the retention requirements in your environment differ among client systems, use different copy groups rather than taking the lowest common denominator. For example, if your accounting systems require records to be kept for seven years, but other systems need data to be kept for only two years, do not specify seven for all of them. Instead, create two separate copy groups. Not only are backups potentially faster, but you also use less storage because you are not keeping data that you do not need.

Similarly, you can set up a separate copy group for system state backups to avoid keeping unnecessary operating system files. For example, if you want to retain system state data for a week and all other data for a year, create a separate copy group for the system state data.