UNLOAD

The UNLOAD control statement is used to unload the database to a sequential output file for backup purposes. The records in the database are written in ascending key sequence order to the SARUNLD data set as variable-length blocked records.

The high-level name of the database must have been defined with the NAME control statement (or PARM in the EXEC JCL statement).

Syntax:

UNLOAD [SECOND|NOSECOND]

where

SECOND/NOSECOND: Use this parameter when you have archival data in secondary (optical disk) storage and are planning to use the MERGE function.

Note: Do not use these parameters if you plan to use the LOAD function. The LOAD function copies the index information about the SYSOUT groups on secondary disk storage:

LOAD only transfers ownership of the secondary disk storage data that is already archived.
MERGE actually reloads the data to another optical disk data set.

The SECOND/NOSECOND parameter has a default value of NOSECOND. Specifying SECOND can substantially increase the time required to perform the UNLOAD function.