RE: Backup question -- MIDRANGE-L

Rob, and others, thanks for the input. I still don't know what triggered the
original conversation that I was not included on. Seems like what we were
doing was exactly what was needed. Makes me think that somebody just
volunteered something and magic buttons got pushed.

About 9 months ago, I decided to get DSL. I use an Asus eeepc, which runs
Linux. The DSL modem came with an install CD - my notebook has no CD drive. I
called AT&T for assistance. I made the mistake of informing the "tech" that I
had a Linux notebook. He immediately went into "we do not support Linux" mode.
I ended up contacting the modem manufacturer and was properly told how to set
it up with a web interface. The web page clearly shows AT&T. Just was not on
that tech person's script to give me the URL for the modem, even though I
explicitly asked him for it. Later, I found a web site with the precise
install instructions, thus not requiring installation of numerous pieces of
software I did not need.

John McKee
Quoting "Ketzes, Larry" <Larry.Ketzes@xxxxxxx>:

Rob,
I agree with all of your points, but if you go into the 'Go Save'
menu, and take option 20, it will bring you to the Define save system and
user data defaults screen. You can then change the 'Prompt for Commands'
parameter from a 'Y' to a 'N', and the backup will simply go from one save
command to the next without prompting.

Larry

Larry Ketzes | Senior iSeries System Administrator | AIG / ALICO - American
Life Insurance Company
One ALICO Plaza, 600 N. King Street, AMIS | Wilmington, DE 19801 | *:
302.594.2146 | 7: 302.830.4524| *: larry.ketzes@xxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 2:33 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: Backup question

John,

As you can see by the confusion of some people as to what is included in a
SAVSYS, and,
by the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality of some people who are
still using their pre IFS backup programs,
I can see why IBM encourages a GO SAVE option 21.

Biggest problems I have with GO SAVE 21 are:
- the lack of logging of times on each step (see earlier comments on V6R1
- STRSBS at the end. Most times I do an IPL afterwards and I sure don't
want to do that. Also, I almost never prompt for commands. What a time
waster if you leave the room between steps.

Rob Berendt
--
Group Dekko Services, LLC
Dept 01.073
Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

John McKee <jmmckee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
08/26/2008 02:21 PM
Please respond to
Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

To
midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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Subject
RE: Backup question

The Operations Manager had told me, in his words, that we needed to use
Go SAVE
to continue to receive support. Exactly what was said, and why, I was not
included on that. My curiosity was definitely peaked. For one thing, how
could IBM determine that our backup was NOT performed via option 21? I
suppose
that some object used date could be checked. But, as far as the
content of the
backup itself, it would seem to be the same no matter which method was
used. Which is why I am confused and asking what seemed a no-brainer
question.

John McKee

Quoting "Ingvaldson, Scott" <scott.ingvaldson@xxxxxxxxxx>:

I was told that IBM pretty much demanded that Go SAVE option 21 be

used instead.

What? Who told you that? IBM might recommend the option 21 save but
they would never "demand" it. Many, many installations cannot ever run
an option 21 save due to the needs of their business or application.

It would appear that you have all that you need for a full system
restore per "Are you saving the Right Stuff?"
http://wiki.midrange.com/index.php/Are_You_Saving_The_Right_Stuff%3F

I would expect that you could even run a native Option 21 restore on a
tape created with this backup, assuming "appropriate options" are truly
used. You *might* need to specify Prompt for commands: YES, it's been a
while since I've tested this. As with any and all backup and restore
procedures this should be tested and documented.

If you want to analyze the IBM full system backup do RTVCLSRC
PGM(QMNSAVE)

Regards,

Scott Ingvaldson
Senior IBM Support Specialist
Fiserv Midwest

-----Original Message-----
From: John McKee [mailto:jmmckee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:01 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Backup question

Our software package is provided by HBOC. They have a number of
commands that are based on IBM commands, with subtle changes. They
differentiate them by prefacing their versions with a 'B'.

Using their commands, a full save of the system was accomplished with
BBACKUP.
This command brings up a number of options. Ultimately, a set of user
defined commands is run. In our case, the commands were: SAVSYS,
SAVLIB, SAVDLO, and SAV, with appropriate options.

I was told that IBM pretty much demanded that Go SAVE option 21 be used
instead.

According to the command help, the only commands that appear different
are that the controlling subsystem is ended and restarted. That process
was performed by operators when BBACKUP command was used.

Is there something else that is going on that is different from the
scripted backup? One reason to ask is that the BBACKUP command logs
start and stop time of each step - which is sometimes an issue.

Thanks,

John McKee

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