System Backup and Restore for DB2 on z/OS and Symmetrix

Overview

DB2 for z/OS is the foundation database for many enterprise applications that manage today’s business processes. Its performance, scalability and high availability features provide the data management support required for large and complex application systems such as SAP. These large and complex DB2 systems require special consideration when planning and implementing backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies.

RBR Screenshot

Modern storage processing systems provide fast data replication and copying services that allow databases to be backed up instantaneously and recovered quickly. Using storage processor functions to backup and restore the data on behalf of the database systems reduces backup and recovery time, allows for entire DB2 systems to be backed up and recovered as a unit, and saves valuable host processing resources. Automation is required to coordinate database layout and database activities with appropriate storage processor functions to provide simple, fast, and efficient backup and recovery of DB2 systems.

Rocket System Backup and Restore for DB2 on z/OS (RBR) provides DB2 system backup and system recovery functions using EMC Symmetrix storage systems. The RBR product provides tight integration between DB2 on z/OS and EMC TimeFinder/Mirror, TimeFinder/Clone and EMC Consistency Technology. The product is easy to install, configure and use. RBR has integrated EMC’s Enginuety Consistency Assist (ECA) functions which provide the ability to create a consistent full system backup of DB2 with almost no impact on its availability.

With ECA, DB2 updates are held in the storage system while the volumes are copied to provide a consistent “point-in-time” backup of the data. RBR provides excellent backup and recovery reporting capabilities and has robust database and storage validity checking to ensure successful creation and usage of database system backups. RBR supports both DB2 v7 and v8.

Mainframe users having SAP on DB2 for z/OS or any other DB2 for z/OS application wanting to implement a DB2 system backup and system restore strategy will appreciate the integration it provides between DB2 and EMC Symmetrix storage systems. RBR can be used to facilitate and automate local backup and recovery as well as remote DB2 disaster recovery strategies.

Features

  • Subsystems Setup feature evaluates an existing DB2 system dataset layout and provides recommendations on how to establish a DB2 environment suitable for implementing a system backup and recovery strategy. It will optionally move DB2 objects to accommodate a systems backup and recovery approach.
  • Provides an easy to use ISPF interface to create and maintain backup profiles. These profiles map the storage resources in use by DB2 to the storage resources used for backups.
  • Creates consistent “full” or “data only” system level backups with minimal impact to DB2 processing.
  • Performs DB2 recovery based on a backup set boundary, an RBA/LRSN boundary, or a time stamp value.
  • Provides robust backup and recover validity checking to ensure backups are complete, consistent and isolated from non-DB2 data.
  • Produces detailed reports on each backup and restore executed showing the volumes involved and the type of DB2 data they contain.

Additional Features

  • Provides an RBA Capture Utility to assist users in selecting a recovery point. The RBA capture utility records the current RBA of a DB2 subsystem with its associated timestamp value. RBAs can be captured at intervals ranging from 1 to 60 minutes.
  • System Restore interface allows users to view, delete, and restore from all backups that have been taken.
  • Shows all DB2 system checkpoints and archive log times when performing a restore to aid in choosing a restore point.
  • Manages its own repository metadata separate from any DB2 system and optionally backs up this data with each system backup performed.
  • Provides functionality to keep metadata on backups that have been copied to tape.

Software and Hardware Requirements

  • MVS OS/390 Version 2 Release 8 or higher (or any z/OS version)
  • DB2 Version 7 or higher
  • EMC Symmetrix using Enginuity 5×67 or higher
  • EMC Timefinder Mirror for z/OS – when BCVs are use for backup
  • EMC Timefinder Clone Mainframe SNAP Facility 5.3 – when Clone (Snap) is used for backup
  • Enginuity Consistency Assist (Recommended but not required):
    • Enginuity 5×69 or higher, or Enginuity 5×67 with patch 14882, or Enginuity 5×68 with patch 18954

Availability

Rocket System Backup and Restore for DB2 on z/OS is available now and can be ordered through the EMC Select Program.

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