Backup - SAP for Oracle and SAP for MAXDB - How To

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Back up SAP Data Using the SAP Command Line

Start a Backup

Schedule Backups

Start a Backup in the Suspended State

Start a Backup on New Media

Start a Backup that Marks Media Full on Completion

Start a Backup with a Set Job Priority

Configure Autobackup of Control Files

Preview a Script

Validate a Backup or Restore

Back up SAP Data Using the SAP Command Line

Use the following procedure to back up SAP data, use the SAP command line. For more information, see the appropriate SAP documentation.

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To back up SAP data using the SAP command line:

SAP for Oracle

For SAP for Oracle, use the BRBACKUP program from the SAP command line to back up data. The BRBACKUP program can back up control files, data files within one or more table spaces, and (if necessary) online redo log files. BRBACKUP can back up all of these file types with the database either online or offline. Also, BRBACKUP saves the profiles and logs relevant to the backup.


To back up data from the SAP command line using the BRBACKUP program, complete the following steps.

  1. From the client prompt, type brbackup and press ENTER.

    NOTES

  2. Use the subsequent options that appear as appropriate.

SAP for MAXDB

For SAP for MAXDB, use the backup_start program from the SAP command line to back up data. The backup_start program can back up database files and log files either online or offline.

To back up data from the SAP command line using the backup_start program, complete the following steps.

  1. Access the DBmanager command line interface.
  2. From the client prompt, type backup_start followed by the appropriate parameters and press ENTER.

Start a Backup

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To start an immediate backup job:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, expand Client Computers by double-clicking Client Computers | iDA File System | defaultBackupSet. The default and other subclients (if available) are displayed on the right-hand windowpane.
  2. To back up the default subclient, right-click the subclient, and click Backup.
  3. From the Backup Options dialog box, select Run Immediately.
  4. Select Full, Incremental, Differential or Synthetic Full backup.

    In certain circumstances a non-full backup may automatically be converted to a full backup. For a listing of these circumstances, see When a Non-Full Backup is Automatically Converted to a Full Backup.

  5. Click OK. You can track the progress of the backup job from the Job Controller window. If you are using a stand-alone drive, you are  prompted to load a specific cartridge into the drive. If you are using a library, you will not receive this prompt. The system loads the tapes automatically. Your cartridges should be appropriately labeled. This will enable you to locate the correct cartridge for a restore job, if necessary.

  6. When the backup has completed, the Job Controller displays Completed.

    After running a backup, you may want to verify the backup data. You can do this by viewing the Backup History. For more information, see Backup Job History.

  • You can also run backups of the following:
    • For a user-defined backup set or instance, right-click the backup set you want to back up, click All Tasks, and click Backup All Subclients.
    • For the Lotus Notes Document iDataAgent, to back up a partition, right-click the partition you want to back up, click All Tasks, and click Backup Default Backup Set.
      For the Lotus Notes Database iDataAgent, to back up a partition, right-click the partition you want to back up, click All Tasks, and click Backup All Subclients.
    • For Agents that do not have backup set or instance levels, to back up all subclients, right-click the agent icon, click All Tasks, and click Backup All Subclients.
      • If you chose a level higher than subclient (i.e., backup set, etc.), you are prompted to confirm that you want to back up all the subclients below that level/node. Click Yes.
      • Starting a data protection operation on a backup set, instance or agent level causes the system to start individual data protection operations for each subclient contained therein. If the subclients are associated with the same storage policy, then their operations will run sequentially unless that storage policy is configured to accommodate multiple data streams.

Schedule Backups

You can schedule backups to occur with the following procedure. You will be prompted to create a schedule for the data protection operation after selecting your data protection options.

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To schedule a backup operation:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, select one of the following:
  2. If you chose a level higher than subclient (i.e., backup set, etc.), you are prompted to confirm that you want to back up all the subclients below that level/node. Click Yes.
  3. From the Backup Options dialog box, select the type of backup that you want to initiate. In certain circumstances a non-full backup may automatically be converted to a full backup. For a listing of these circumstances, see When a Non-Full Backup is Automatically Converted to a Full Backup.   
  4. Click Schedule. Click OK to continue.
  5. From the Schedule Details (Schedule Details) dialog box, create a schedule for this operation. For step-by-step instructions, see Create a Job Schedule. Click OK to continue.
  6. Your backup operation will execute according to the specified schedule.
Starting a data protection operation on a backup set, instance or agent level causes the system to start individual data protection operations for each subclient contained therein. If the subclients are associated with the same storage policy, then their operations will run sequentially unless that storage policy is configured to accommodate multiple data streams.

Start a Backup in the Suspended State

Use the following procedure to start a backup in the suspended state.

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To start an immediate backup job with advanced backup options:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, select one of the following:
  2. If you chose a level higher than subclient (i.e., backup set, etc.), you are prompted to confirm that you want to back up all the subclients below that level/node. Click Yes.
  3. From the Backup Options dialog box, select Run Immediately.
  4. Select the type of backup that you want to initiate.
    In certain circumstances a non-full backup may automatically be converted to a full backup. For a listing of these circumstances, see When a Non-Full Backup is Automatically Converted to a Full Backup.
  5. Click the Advanced button to open the Advanced Backup Options dialog box.
  6. Click on the Advanced Backup Options (Startup) tab, and select Startup in suspended state and click OK.
  7. From the Backup Options dialog box, click OK. You can track the progress of the backup job from the Job Controller window.

  8. If you are using a stand-alone drive, you are  prompted to load a specific cartridge into the drive. If you are using a library, you will not receive this prompt. The system loads the tapes automatically.

    Your cartridges should be appropriately labeled. This will enable you to locate the correct cartridge for a restore job, if necessary.
  9. When the backup has completed, Job Controller displays Completed.
Starting a data protection operation on a backup set, instance or agent level causes the system to start individual data protection operations for each subclient contained therein. If the subclients are associated with the same storage policy, then their operations will run sequentially unless that storage policy is configured to accommodate multiple data streams.

Start a Backup on New Media

Use the following procedure to start a backup on new media.

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To start an immediate backup job with advanced backup options:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, select one of the following:
  2. If you chose a level higher than subclient (i.e., backup set, etc.), you are prompted to confirm that you want to back up all the subclients below that level/node. Click Yes.
  3. From the Backup Options dialog box, select Run Immediately.
  4. Select the type of backup that you want to initiate.
    In certain circumstances a non-full backup may automatically be converted to a full backup. For a listing of these circumstances, see When a Non-Full Backup is Automatically Converted to a Full Backup.
  5. Click the Advanced button to open the Advanced Backup Options dialog box.
  6. Click on the Advanced Backup Options (Media) tab, and select Start new media and click OK.
    If you would like jobs with other Job IDs to use this new media, also select the Allow other schedule to use media set option.
  7. From the Backup Options dialog box, click OK. You can track the progress of the backup job from the Job Controller window.

  8. If you are using a stand-alone drive, you are  prompted to load a specific cartridge into the drive. If you are using a library, you will not receive this prompt. The system loads the tapes automatically.

    Your cartridges should be appropriately labeled. This will enable you to locate the correct cartridge for a restore job, if necessary.
  9. When the backup has completed, Job Controller displays Completed.
Starting a data protection operation on a backup set, instance or agent level causes the system to start individual data protection operations for each subclient contained therein. If the subclients are associated with the same storage policy, then their operations will run sequentially unless that storage policy is configured to accommodate multiple data streams.

Start a Backup that Marks Media Full on Completion

Use the following procedure to start a backup that marks media full on completion.

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To start an immediate backup job with advanced backup options:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, select one of the following:
  2. If you chose a level higher than subclient (i.e., backup set, etc.), you are prompted to confirm that you want to back up all the subclients below that level/node. Click Yes.
  3. From the Backup Options dialog box, select Run Immediately.
  4. Select the type of backup that you want to initiate.
    In certain circumstances a non-full backup may automatically be converted to a full backup. For a listing of these circumstances, see When a Non-Full Backup is Automatically Converted to a Full Backup.
  5. Click the Advanced button to open the Advanced Backup Options dialog box.
  6. Click on the Advanced Backup Options (Media) tab, and select Mark media full after successful operation and click OK.
  7. From the Backup Options dialog box, click OK. You can track the progress of the backup job from the Job Controller window.

  8. If you are using a stand-alone drive, you are  prompted to load a specific cartridge into the drive. If you are using a library, you will not receive this prompt. The system loads the tapes automatically.

    Your cartridges should be appropriately labeled. This will enable you to locate the correct cartridge for a restore job, if necessary.
  9. When the backup has completed, Job Controller displays Completed.
Starting a data protection operation on a backup set, instance or agent level causes the system to start individual data protection operations for each subclient contained therein. If the subclients are associated with the same storage policy, then their operations will run sequentially unless that storage policy is configured to accommodate multiple data streams.

Start a Backup with a Set Job Priority

This option allows you to manually set a job priority. This is useful if you have jobs that are very important and must complete, and/or jobs that can be moved to a lower priority. For more information, see Job Priorities and Priority Precedence.

Before You Begin

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To start an immediate backup job with advanced backup options:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, select one of the following:
  2. If you chose a level higher than subclient (i.e., backup set, etc.), you are prompted to confirm that you want to back up all the subclients below that level/node. Click Yes.
  3. From the Backup Options dialog box, select Run Immediately.
  4. Select the type of backup that you want to initiate.
    In certain circumstances a non-full backup may automatically be converted to a full backup. For a listing of these circumstances, see When a Non-Full Backup is Automatically Converted to a Full Backup.
  5. Click the Advanced button to open the Advanced Backup Options dialog box.
  6. Click on the Advanced Backup Options (Startup) tab, and select Change Priority and then enter a value. Click OK to continue.
  7. From the Backup Options dialog box, click OK. You can track the progress of the backup job from the Job Controller window.

  8. If you are using a stand-alone drive, you are  prompted to load a specific cartridge into the drive. If you are using a library, you will not receive this prompt. The system loads the tapes automatically.

    Your cartridges should be appropriately labeled. This will enable you to locate the correct cartridge for a restore job, if necessary.
  9. When the backup has completed, Job Controller displays Completed.
Starting a data protection operation on a backup set, instance or agent level causes the system to start individual data protection operations for each subclient contained therein. If the subclients are associated with the same storage policy, then their operations will run sequentially unless that storage policy is configured to accommodate multiple data streams.

Configure Autobackup of Control Files

Related Topics

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To configure autobackup of the control file from the CommCell Console:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the Oracle instance then click Properties.
  2. From the Details tab of the Instance Properties dialog box, select one of the following options from the selection list for the Ctl File Autobackup field:
    • Not Configure - Disables autobackup of the control file.
    • Configure On - If the backup includes a datafile, then RMAN will not automatically include the current control file in the datafile backupset, but will write the control file and server parameter file to a separate autobackup piece. If the backup does not include a datafile, the control file and server parameter file will be written to their own autobackup piece.
    • Configure Off - If the backup includes a datafile, then RMAN automatically includes the current control file and server parameter file in the datafile backupset. RMAN will not create a separate autobackup piece containing the control file and server parameter file.
  3. Click OK to save your settings.
  4. After autobackup has been enabled in the CommCell Console, the control file will be automatically backed up every time you perform a backup from either the CommCell Console or command line.

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To configure autobackup of the control file from RMAN:

  1. Enter the following commands/parameters at the RMAN prompt (the catalog connect string is optional):

    $rman target <connect string for target> catalog <connect string for catalog> RMAN>configure controlfile autobackup on;

    For Example:

    $rman target systemuser/systempass@rman92 RMAN>configure controlfile autobackup on;

  2. After autobackup has been enabled in RMAN, the control file will be automatically backed up every time you perform a backup from either the CommCell Console or command line.

Preview a Script

Related Topics

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To preview a backup script:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the subclient containing the data whose backup script you want to preview, then click Backup.
  2. From the Backup Options dialog, click Script Preview.
  3. To change the script, click OK to close the preview window, then enter the desired changes on the Backup Options and Advanced Backup Options dialogs, and click Script Preview again to see if the script now reflects the configuration you want. Repeat this if necessary to achieve the desired result.
  4. Once you are satisfied with the script, perform one of the following actions:
    • To have the system run the script in RMAN, click OK to close the preview windows, then click OK on the Backup Options dialog to save the current settings. This script will be executed the next time that a backup is run for this subclient.
    • To run the script yourself in RMAN, you can copy and paste the script from the preview window into a text file for that purpose (or select the Save as Script option on the Backup Options dialog). Click OK to close the preview window. Click OK to save the subclient configuration changes.

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To preview a restore script:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the instance containing the data whose restore script you want to preview, select All Tasks, then click Restore (or click Browse Backup Data).
  2. From the Oracle Restore Options (General) dialog, click Script Preview.
  3. To change the script, click OK to close the preview window, then enter the desired changes on the Restore Options and Advanced Restore Options dialogs, and click Script Preview again to see if the script now reflects the restore settings you want. Repeat this if necessary to achieve the desired result.
  4. Once you are satisfied with the script, perform one of the following actions:
    • To have the system run the script in RMAN, click OK to close the preview window, then click OK on the Restore Options dialog to save the current settings. This script will be executed the next time that a restore is run for this instance.
    • To run the script yourself in RMAN, you can copy and paste the script from the preview window into a text file for that purpose (or select the Save as Script option on the Restore Options (Job Initiation) tab). Click OK to close the preview window. Click OK to save the restore settings.

NOTES:

Validate a Backup or Restore

Related Topics

See Also:

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To validate a backup:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the subclient containing the backup data you want to validate, then click Properties.
  2. Click the Backup Arguments tab, then select Validate and click OK.
  3. Start a Backup for the subclient. A Validate job will run, which will cause RMAN to examine the database and scan all of the backup pieces to verify that the backup can be successfully restored.
  4. Once the Validate job completes you can view the log file for the job to determine whether there were any errors in the validation. To view the log file:
    • From the CommCell Browser, right-click the subclient, click View and then click Backup History.
    • Click OK on the History Filter dialog.
    • On the Job History window, right-click the Validate job, then select View Log File. The RMAN Output Log will display for the job.
    • If you determine that there are any errors in the validation, take the appropriate corrective action before running the actual backup.

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To validate a restore:

  1. From the CommCell Browser, right-click the instance whose restore you want to validate, select All Tasks, then click Restore.
  2. From the Restore Options dialog, click Advanced.
  3. Click the Options tab, then select Validate and click OK.

    NOTE: For the Oracle iDataAgent, keep in mind that the Options tab is unavailable when the Duplicate DB option is selected on the Restore Options (General) tab.

  4. Start a Basic Restore for the Instance. A Validate job will run, which will cause RMAN to decide which database pieces need to be restored and then scans them to verify their contents, but no output will be created and no data will be over-written.
  5. Once the Validate job completes you can view the log file for the job to determine whether there were any errors in the validation. To view the log file:
    • From the CommCell Browser, right-click the instance, click View and then click Restore History.
    • Click OK on the History Filter dialog.
    • On the Job History window, right-click the Validate job, then select View Log File. The RMAN Output Log will display for the job.
    • If you determine that there are any errors in the validation, take the appropriate corrective action before running the actual restore.

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