BusinesSuite Module for Informix

NetWorker® BusinesSuite™ Module for Informix®

Contents
Overview
Sys. Requirements
Part Nos.
Q & A

Overview

The database Module for Informix is a BusinesSuite™ option for Legato NetWorker that delivers online data protection for Informix ODS databases by providing a seamless connection to the Informix Enhanced Backup and Restore Utility (ON-Bar). The BusinesSuite Module for Informix is an implementation of the XBSA specification, which defines a high-performance API between NetWorker and the ON-Bar Utility. The database Module and ON-Bar integrate backup and recovery services for Informix dbspaces, blobspaces and logical log files into NetWorker's comprehensive, enterprise-strength storage management solution.

The NetWorker backup server runs the NetWorker administrative software, with a backup device connected to it. Using the BusinesSuite Module, the system running Informix ON-Bar is configured as a client of the NetWorker server. The backup server software and database server software may run on the same system or separate systems. The database Module is a client-side product, and must reside on the same system as the Informix database.

System Requirements

All BusinesSuite Modules are licensed on a per NetWorker client basis, and require a client connection, as well as the appropriate NetWorker client software. The BusinesSuite Module for Informix software is available for Solaris client systems. To protect Informix ODS databases with NetWorker, the following three products are required:

NetWorker BusinesSuite Module for Informix - on the NetWorker client (database server)
NetWorker server software - on the NetWorker server
NetWorker client software - on the NetWorker client (database server)

NetWorker Client (Database Server) NetWorker Server

Platform Solaris 2.4, 2.5, 2.51 Platform Solaris 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.51 AIX 3.2.5, 4.1.4, 4.2 HP-UX 9.x, 10.x Windows NT 3.51, 4.0

Database Module Software BusinesSuite Module for Informix,
Solaris version Backup Server Software NetWorker for UNIX, v. 4.2 and up
(TurboPak required) NetWorker for Windows NT, v. 4.3 and up

Backup Client Software NetWorker for Solaris, v. 4.2 and up

Informix Database Software Informix OnLine Dynamic Server, v. 7.21 and up (includes ON-Bar)

Part Numbers

Platform Part No.

Solaris 2652

Questions & Answers

Question Answer

How is the BusinesSuite Module licensed? The BusinesSuite Module for Informix is licensed on a per-NetWorker server, per client OS basis.

Can I back up my databases over the network? Certainly! Multiple databases can be backed up "over-the-wire" to a centralized NetWorker backup server, running autochangers or tape devices.

Does ON-Bar support incremental backup? Yes. ON-Bar supports full, incremental and differential database backup.

How is an Informix database backup executed? To execute a backup, the dba executes ON-Bar from the command line, indicating what he wants backed up in the parameters to the ON-Bar command. ON-Bar then sends the data to NetWorker for storage, to an autochanger, for example.

How is a database restore executed? The dba uses NetWorker's graphical scheduling to initiate the scheduled execution of ON-Bar. Schedules for database and logical log backup can be set independently.
To execute a restore, the dba sets the database in an appropriate mode (offline or online), then executes ON-Bar from the command line, indicating to what point in time he wants the database restored to (or alternatively, which part of the database he wants restored) ON-Bar requests the information from NetWorker, which then uses the autochanger to fetch the tape and restore the information to disk.

How is ON-Bar different from the ON-tape utility? ON-Bar differs primarily in that ON-Bar is a high performance, parallel backup solution that is designed to be operated in unattended mode. ON-Bar also provides automatic backup of logical logs and selected dbspace backup.

How is ON-Bar different from the ON-Archive utility? ON-Bar has simpler commands than ON-Archive. In addition, ON-Bar was designed from the beginning to be integrated with a storage management engine such as NetWorker which provides support for more sophisticated backup storage devices and better scheduling.

NetWorker Client (Database Server)		NetWorker Server
Platform	Solaris 2.4, 2.5, 2.51	Platform	Solaris 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.51	AIX 3.2.5, 4.1.4, 4.2	HP-UX 9.x, 10.x	Windows NT 3.51, 4.0
Database Module Software	BusinesSuite Module for Informix, Solaris version	Backup Server Software	NetWorker for UNIX, v. 4.2 and up (TurboPak required)			NetWorker for Windows NT, v. 4.3 and up
Backup Client Software	NetWorker for Solaris, v. 4.2 and up
Informix Database Software	Informix OnLine Dynamic Server, v. 7.21 and up (includes ON-Bar)

Question	Answer
How is the BusinesSuite Module licensed?	The BusinesSuite Module for Informix is licensed on a per-NetWorker server, per client OS basis.
Can I back up my databases over the network?	Certainly! Multiple databases can be backed up "over-the-wire" to a centralized NetWorker backup server, running autochangers or tape devices.
Does ON-Bar support incremental backup?	Yes. ON-Bar supports full, incremental and differential database backup.
How is an Informix database backup executed?	To execute a backup, the dba executes ON-Bar from the command line, indicating what he wants backed up in the parameters to the ON-Bar command. ON-Bar then sends the data to NetWorker for storage, to an autochanger, for example.
How is a database restore executed?	The dba uses NetWorker's graphical scheduling to initiate the scheduled execution of ON-Bar. Schedules for database and logical log backup can be set independently. To execute a restore, the dba sets the database in an appropriate mode (offline or online), then executes ON-Bar from the command line, indicating to what point in time he wants the database restored to (or alternatively, which part of the database he wants restored) ON-Bar requests the information from NetWorker, which then uses the autochanger to fetch the tape and restore the information to disk.
How is ON-Bar different from the ON-tape utility?	ON-Bar differs primarily in that ON-Bar is a high performance, parallel backup solution that is designed to be operated in unattended mode. ON-Bar also provides automatic backup of logical logs and selected dbspace backup.
How is ON-Bar different from the ON-Archive utility?	ON-Bar has simpler commands than ON-Archive. In addition, ON-Bar was designed from the beginning to be integrated with a storage management engine such as NetWorker which provides support for more sophisticated backup storage devices and better scheduling.