Controlling the System Image › Backup the Knowledge Base

Backup the Knowledge Base

The method you select for backing up the knowledge base depends on the configuration of your product regions and your operations requirements.

Note: The knowledge base is a data set called dsnpref.RAMDB. It is a VSAM data set.

Backup methods depend on whether your regions are:

• Non-production regions
• Production regions

Non-production Regions

With non-production regions, you should be able to shut down a region to perform the backup.

Production Regions

With production regions, it is likely that you cannot shut down a region for backup. However, you can create a backup region and link it to the production regions. During the linking process, the knowledge base in the backup region is updated by the production knowledge base.

Create a Backup Region

To create a backup region

1. Create the backup region.

   Note: Ensure that the knowledge base of the backup region is not on the same DASD as the production knowledge bases.

2. From the backup region, enter /RADMIN.I at the prompt.

   The System Image List panel appears.

3. Press F4 (Add) to create a system image definition, and then enter L beside it to load the empty image.
4. Enter /PARMS at the prompt.

   The parameter groups appear.

5. In the AUTOIDS parameter group, complete the following fields:
   • System Image Name

     Specifies the name of the empty system image.

   • Version

     Specifies the version of the empty system image.

6. In the FTLOGS parameter group, complete the following field:
   • Is Logging Required?

     Specify NO to disable logging of file transfer events.

7. In the EVENTLOG parameter group, complete the following field:
   • Enable Event Logging

     Specify NO to disable recording of file transfer events in the EVNTDG database

8. In the FTPCNTL parameter group, complete the following field:
   • Enable FTP Event Receivers

     Specify NO to disable the FTP event flow.

9. Enter /MADMIN at the prompt.

   The Multi-System Support Menu appears.

10. Select SD.

    The Remote System Identification panel appears.

11. Complete the following fields:
    • Primary Name

      Specify the ACB name of a production region to link to.

    • Role in Multi-System Operation

      Specify FOCAL to link this region as a focal point. Specify SUBORDINATE to link this region as a subordinate point.

    • Work Dataset

      Specify the name of a VSAM data set that can be used as the work data set to reduce the synchronization time.

12. Press F6 (Action).

    The system copies the production regions' knowledge base to the backup region's knowledge base, creating a snapshot copy that you can retain for back up.

13. Enter /MADMIN.U.

    The backup region is unlinked from the production region.

14. Shut down the backup region and save the dsnpref.RAMDB data set.

    Important! Remember that this is a snapshot of the production knowledge base.