## Notes on the Different Types of Data Carriers

#### All Types of Data Carriers

● Use a separate data carrier for each database instance.

● Do not overwrite a backup with the backup that immediately follows it. Always keep an older version of the backup.

● You can use the Database Manager to back up to data carriers on a remote computer, check the backups, and use these backups to restore a database instance. This will require some preparation, see Backing Up and Restoring Data with Remote Computers.

#### File Type Data Carriers

● Do not create backups on data carriers of the file type on the same hard disk as the volumes of the database instance, but on a separate hard disk.

● Use operating system commands to copy the backups regularly to another computer or another data carrier.

#### Tape Type Data Carriers

● Do not use tapes more often than is recommended by the manufacturer.

● UNIX

○ Be sure to address the correct device driver.

○ Use a rewind tape for the data backup.

#### Pipe Type Data Carriers

● In Microsoft Windows the pipes are created by the database kernel.

In UNIX the Pipes are not created by the database kernel:

○ The following applies for backups without backup tools:

You must create the pipe explicitly before you begin the backup operation.

○ The following applies for backups using backup tools from other providers that are not directly supported by MaxDB:

You must create the pipe explicitly before you begin the backup operation.

○ The following applies for backups using backup tools from other providers that are directly supported by MaxDB:

The pipe is created by the Database Manager during the backup operation. The pipe may not exist beforehand.

● Before you carry out a log backup to a pipe without a backup tool or with a backup tool from another provider that is not directly supported by MaxDB, first set the value of the special database parameter LOG_BACKUP_TO_PIPE to YES.

This ensures that the system can overwrite the log entries in the log area that have already been written to the pipe. Note that the system does not check whether the log backup to the pipe was successful.

See also:

Backup Templates and Data Carriers

Using Backup Tools from Other Providers

Special Database Parameters