Topics | Restore Options | Support | Related Topics
What You Need to Know Before Performing a Restore
Factors in Choosing the Appropriate Restore Methods and Options
This page provides a global overview of restore operations. For specific restore information on each agent, see Agent-Specific Overviews.
To avoid common problems, review the following before starting a restore operation:
Listed below are different methods by which data can be restored.
The primary interface from which most restores are usually conducted is the CommCell Console. In general, this method offers the greatest flexibility and richest set of options for restoring data. There are various types of restores that can be conducted using the CommCell Console, which are listed below, with links provided for more information on each type.
This type of restore, available for the File System iDataAgents and File Archiver agents, is the simplest most direct method of restoring a single data object. All you do is type in the path and file name of the data object that you want to restore, select the restore options, and then the data is restored.
Most agents allow you to select data objects to be restored from a browse data window. This type of restore is appropriate for selecting multiple objects for restore (but can be used for single objects as well), and provides the additional flexibility of allowing you to select a time range in which to browse for data to be restored, and from which storage policy copy the data is to be restored from.
Some agents allow you to search for data that matches a certain pattern (e.g., wildcards/regular expressions), and selectively restore the objects returned as results from the search.
Windows and Unix File System iDataAgents support the capability to perform an EZ Restore, which is a simplified method for restoring data from an EZ Backup operation.
The command line methods of restoring data provide a text-based shell-style interface from which to conduct restore operations. Supported command line interfaces are described below.
The Command Line Interface provides a way to restore data from the command line, as an alternative to the CommCell Console, where various restore options can be specified either as parameters on the command line or in a separate arguments file. For more information, see Command Line Interface - Qoperation restore.
Agents such as DB2, Oracle, Oracle RAC, Informix, SAP for Oracle and SAP for MAXDB offer the capability of initiating restore jobs from a command line that is native to the associated application. For example, Oracle data can be restored through the Recovery Manager (RMAN) command line. For all of these agents, the third-party command line interfaces provide an alternative to the CommCell Console for restoring data. Note, however, that the SAP for MAXDB iDataAgent can restore data only from the SAP command line. For more information, see Third-Party Command Line Operations.
There are two specialized recovery tools that can be used to restore data in the event of a system failure.
Media Explorer can be used to quickly view and recover data from CommServe Disaster Recovery backup in the event that the entire CommCell has been rendered unusable or inaccessible.
The CommServe Disaster Recovery Tool restores the meta data (stored in the CommServe SQL database) from the Disaster Recovery Backup file which is created when a Disaster Recovery backup is performed from the CommCell Console. This tool is useful for rebuilding the CommServe computer as well as for creating and maintaining a CommServe in the hot-site, and other uses.
Consider the following factors when planning your restore strategy.
To what degree does data need to be restored?
Does the data need to be restored from the latest available backup data or from a previous point-in-time?
In a Basic Restore, point-in-time data can be restored by specifying time range options in the Advanced Restore Options (Time Range) dialog box. See Time Range Options for Basic Restore for step-by-step instructions.
Does the data need to be restored from a specific source object?
Where is the data being restored to?
Does the restore involve any version considerations?
Given below is a list of supported Agents. The corresponding linked page provides information on the Agent specific restore options and procedures.
The Restore Job Summary Report provides a summary of restore jobs for each client.