Automation options

Administrative productivity can be improved by using the Data Protection for SAP automation options.

Selectable management classes

Specify different IBM Spectrum Protect management classes for backup data and archive data. Configure Data Protection for SAP to back up directly to a tape storage pool and to archive log files to a disk storage pool.

Multiple management classes can be specified to use with multiple redo log files. For more information about specifying management classes, see the Profile parameter descriptions topic.

Retain backups by version

Retaining backups by version limits the number of full backups that are retained on the IBM Spectrum Protect server. When the number of full backups on the IBM Spectrum Protect server exceeds the value of the MAX_VERSIONS parameter, the oldest versions are deleted. Retaining backups provides a trace of all redo log files, database control files, and partial and incremental backups that are associated with a full backup. All these objects are removed together with the full backup.

Important: If a backup is created while IBM Spectrum Protect for Enterprise Resource Planning profile parameter MAX_VERSIONS is set to zero, this particular backup is excluded from the backup versions processing. It is not considered when counting the number of backup generations, and it is not deleted when it becomes older than the backups that are retained.

Multiple redo log copies

Backing up multiple copies of a log file in a single archive operation helps protect against this data in the event of tape defects or disaster recovery situation. These copies can be on different physical IBM Spectrum Protect volumes or on different IBM Spectrum Protect servers. When a log file copy is unavailable at restore time, Data Protection for SAP automatically switches to another copy. It continues restoring the log file from that copy. The description of the profile keyword REDOLOG_COPIES, in the Profile parameter descriptions topic, provides detailed information about creating and by using multiple redo log copies.

Alternate network paths and servers

The availability of backed up data can be improved by configuring Data Protection for SAP to use multiple IBM Spectrum Protect servers or multiple network connections to a single IBM Spectrum Protect server. In this configuration, Data Protection for SAP checks all servers and network connections for availability and then does the backup even if some resources are unavailable. Policies can also be set that use different IBM Spectrum Protect servers for different days of the week.

Messaging

Policies can be created that enable Data Protection for SAP to send different classes of log messages to the IBM Spectrum Protect server.

Frontend and backend processing

Frontend and backend processing calls programs at specified times during backup processing. See the description of the profile keywords BACKEND and FRONTEND in the Profile parameter descriptions topic.