DB2 Backups for a MSQL DBA

dirtydavey · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 10:00

Hello all,

I am a SQL server DBA. I have just become the proud owner of a DB2 server. Howerver I have never used it before in my life.

Its DB2 on v8.1.9.762 Build Level s041221 on windows server 2003.

What I would like to be able to do is a backup, howerver from what I have read there is a diffreance between offline and online backups.

I used the built in backup notebook and managed to get a backup out of it. Howerver it crashed the aplication it supports.

I would like to be able to create a batch job that stops the aplications service does a full backup, then starts the service.

What would be the best way of doing this?

Also I am still having problems telling the diffrance between online and offline backups.

Forgive my ignrance but I guess we all start some where.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Dave

ARWinner · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 10:10

Offline backup = No users can use the database while the backup is in progress.
Online backup = Users can use the database while the backup is in progress.

Andy

dirtydavey · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 10:12

Hi Andy,

Yeah thats what I figured. But what is the difrance between the two in regards to the file that falls out the bottom of the back its self.

ARWinner · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 10:20

Offline backup = Is used to recreate the database at the point in time the backup was initiated.

Online backup = Is used to recreate the DB and apply any changes made during the backup. Make sure you use the "INCLUDE LOGS" clause in the BACKUP command.

There really is not much difference on what comes out the back end. If you include the logs with an online backup, you will get a backup image with either method that you can then recreate a usable database from.

Andy

dirtydavey · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 10:46

Great thanks Andy,

so I guess in my case I want a off line backup.

So what commands would I need to issue from Dos to get this?

Thanks so much for all your help.

Dave

ARWinner · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 10:57

Your script would look something like this:

Code:

db2 connect to MyDB
db2 quiesce db immediate force connections 
db2 disconnect all
db2 backup database MyDB to c:\backups
db2 unquiesce db

Andy

ARWinner · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-10, 11:00

I should note that by forcing the connections will probably make the application crash if they do not properly handle having their connections to the database disconnected without their control.

Andy