I am trying to restore a database using option 'Database -> create -> database from backup' option of Control Center. after filling in the fields for database name, backup device, backup file date & time, i am not able to successfully restore the database. the message displayed is 'SQL2040N - database alias paramater <dbalias> not valid'. I gave the same alias name as that of the database of which the backup was taken.

SQL2040N - says database alias parameter not valid
DB2 version - 4.0

where am i going wrong ?

Regds
Prashant

What name are you giving ?
Are you sure you are on Version 4 ?
What platform are you on ?

Is the backup taken on the same version of the database ?

Cheers
Sathyaram

As Sathyaram said, the backup DB2 version should be the same as restore DB2 version (fixpaks doesnt matter) additionally the OS family should also be the same. Like you cannot backup on Windows 2000 and restore on Windows XP (I have tried this and it gave me a Bad Container error).

Why dont you go to the command line and do a

RESTORE DATABASE <database> FROM "<Location>" TAKEN AT <timestamp>;

This worked for me.

By the way what OS are you on?

Newbie

[QUOTE=sathyaram_s]What name are you giving ? - i am prompted for 'new database name' where i key-in some new name which does not exist on the server where i am restoring the backup.

Are you sure you are on Version 4 ? yes i am on version 4. the backup is also taken on version 4.

What platform are you on ? i am on Win 2K. The version from where the backup is taken is also win 2K.

Is the backup taken on the same version of the database ? yes.

Regds
Prashant

[QUOTE=sathyaram_s]What name are you giving ? - i am prompted for 'new database name' where i key-in some new name which does not exist on the server where i am restoring the backup.

Are you sure you are on Version 4 ? yes i am on version 4. the backup is also taken on version 4.

What platform are you on ? i am on Win 2K. The version from where the backup is taken is also win 2K.

Is the backup taken on the same version of the database ? yes.

Regds
Prashant

There is no verison 4 of DB2 for Windows. IBM went from verson 2.1 to version 5.1 in order to be in synch (version number wise) with DB2 for OS/390.

Maybe you are on fixpak 4 (version unknown). The current release is version 8.1 fixpack 5.

Prashant,

Maybe using the DB2level command would clear the version your on for us.

Next, from the command centre can you use the show command option to capture the restore command for us to see.

Paste this command into the command centre and run it to double check you get the same error.

Hi Prashant,

I had posted the same in your last thread so I don't see the need for you to start a new duplicate thread anyways what I had posted is below.

Given below is the explanation of the error.

-----------------------------------------------------
C:\>db2 ? SQL2040N


SQL2040N The database alias parameter "<dbalias>" is not valid
or not specified.

Explanation:

The application calling the Backup or Restore utility has
supplied a database alias parameter that is not valid. The alias
must be 1 to 8 bytes and the characters must be chosen from the
database manager base character set.

User Response:

Reissue the Backup or Restore command with a valid database
alias.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Try giving a dbalias name which is in between 1-8 characters and I think that should solve your problem

Hi, Nitin
Thanks for your reply for both the threads (second was created because in first thread the TITLE was not explanatory). anyway, the error discription which u has provided was already available along with the error code. pl find some other solution if possible.
Regds
Prashant

Dear Sathyaram,
sorry for wrongly putting the version number. I have atually put the Websphere version number and not DB2 version number. Correct info is as below.

What name are you giving ? I am giving 'new database name' ie 'gskjun03'

Are you sure you are on Version 4 ? no, i am on version 7.

What platform are you on ? OS platform of server is 'Win2K' and the OS on the PC where i am trying to restore is 'Windows NT workstation'

Is the backup taken on the same version of the database ? yes, the backup taken is on DB2 version 7

Regds
Prashant

sorry for wrongly putting the version number. I have atually put the Websphere version number and not DB2 version number. Correct info is as below.

What name are you giving ? I am giving 'new database name' ie 'gskjun03'

Are you sure you are on Version 4 ? no, i am on version 7.

What platform are you on ? OS platform of server is 'Win2K' and the OS on the PC where i am trying to restore is 'Windows NT workstation'

Is the backup taken on the same version of the database ? yes, the backup taken is on DB2 version 7