Description of the hbackup command

The hbackup command sends a request to DFSMShsm to create a backup copy of the matching file and empty directories. You can back up a UNIX file to either DASD or tape.

Only eligible UNIX files are backed up. Whether an SMS-managed UNIX file is eligible to be backed up by command is determined by the SMS management class attributes of the zFS that contains the file. For a UNIX file contained in a non-SMS-managed zFS file system, eligibility for backup is determined by the VERSIONS parameter of the HALTERDS command.

You can create backup copies of:
  • One UNIX file.
  • A list of UNIX files.
  • All files within a directory.
  • All files within subdirectories.
  • A set of files based on a pattern specification that filters the selection of files to process.
Restriction: When you back up a UNIX file to DASD, it must fit on a migration level 1 volume. If it does not, the command fails.

RACF® authority: To back up a UNIX file, you must be either the owner, or have read permission to the file.