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testing backup tapes
- Thread starter call
- Start date
Call,
Generally we test our system backup tapes (mksysb) by listing them and by booting off them. Listing will generate a log to where ever you direct it and checks data integrity. Booting off the tape to the " Welcome to BOS" menu indicates that the backup bootable section is good. We also create two tapes for each backup. Tape media has a tendency to go bad when you really need it. Hope this helps...
Generally we test our system backup tapes (mksysb) by listing them and by booting off them. Listing will generate a log to where ever you direct it and checks data integrity. Booting off the tape to the " Welcome to BOS" menu indicates that the backup bootable section is good. We also create two tapes for each backup. Tape media has a tendency to go bad when you really need it. Hope this helps...
- Thread starter
- #4
I will call Ibm and look for a testing facilities.
Its the software that im worrie about.
I can read the tape by doing restore -Tvf /dev/rmt0
If thats the case will it restore for sure or am i better off going to a testing facilities to really make sure.
Thank you both for replying so quick
Its the software that im worrie about.
I can read the tape by doing restore -Tvf /dev/rmt0
If thats the case will it restore for sure or am i better off going to a testing facilities to really make sure.
Thank you both for replying so quick
KenCunningham
Technical User
If you can read the tape, there's a very high probability that it will be restorable. It's the bit beyond the 'very high' which always worries me ;-)
In my opinion, it's always best to test using a dummy environment because as we all know, if something can go wrong, it will!
In my opinion, it's always best to test using a dummy environment because as we all know, if something can go wrong, it will!
You can take this worrying very far if you like.
For disaster recovery, we use SunGard (sites in Philly and Atlanta) as well as maintain our own DR site across town. Our databases are kept on EMC frames with all the internal safeties they have, and we use them to perform backups in a reasonable amoutn of time. For backups we use TSM (was ADSM) which is attached to a highly-available 3494 with two robots. 3494 tapes are duplicated and sent off site to a storage facility. Our main datacenter is connected to the DR datacenter via two "dark fibre" connections (don't ask me too much about that) which keep our DR EMC frames in sync with our production EMC frames. We also use HACMP, but not for DR, just redundancy on the floor. If our main datacenter were to be obliterated, we could get major functions (our six SAP landscapes plus various bolt-ons and other stuff) back in four hours, or so the SLA says... hope I'm on vacation that day. =)
You can never be too careful.
For disaster recovery, we use SunGard (sites in Philly and Atlanta) as well as maintain our own DR site across town. Our databases are kept on EMC frames with all the internal safeties they have, and we use them to perform backups in a reasonable amoutn of time. For backups we use TSM (was ADSM) which is attached to a highly-available 3494 with two robots. 3494 tapes are duplicated and sent off site to a storage facility. Our main datacenter is connected to the DR datacenter via two "dark fibre" connections (don't ask me too much about that) which keep our DR EMC frames in sync with our production EMC frames. We also use HACMP, but not for DR, just redundancy on the floor. If our main datacenter were to be obliterated, we could get major functions (our six SAP landscapes plus various bolt-ons and other stuff) back in four hours, or so the SLA says... hope I'm on vacation that day. =)
You can never be too careful.
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