Rules for an external backup

Before you begin an external backup, keep in mind the following rules:
  • The database server must be online or quiescent during an external backup.
  • Use ontape to back up all logical logs including the current log so that you can restore the logical logs at the end of the external restore.
  • Suspend continuous logical-log backups before you block the database server for an external backup. After the external backup is complete, resume the continuous logical-log backup.
  • Wait until all ontape backup sessions have completed before you block the database server. If any backup sessions are active, the block command displays an error message.
  • Any OLTP work or queries are suspended while the database server is blocked. They resume after the database server is unblocked.
  • All critical dbspaces of the database server instance must be backed up together simultaneously within the same command bracket of onmode -c block … onmode -c unblock. Backups of different critical dbspaces done at different times cannot be restored to a consistent system.
Important: Because the external backup is outside the control of ontape, you must track these backups manually. For more information, see Track an external backup.