VTLBackup4i Backup your IBM i data to remote location automatically Quick Reference and Tutorial Version 02.00 Manufacture and distributed by VRTech.Biz LTD Last Update:16.9.2013
Contents 1. About VTLBackup4i... - 2-2. Download and install the product... - 3-3. Get trial code for the product... - 3-4. Configure the product and install the IBM i part... - 4-5. General settings... - 5-5.1. Production definition... - 5-5.2. Install IBM i module... - 5-5.3. Backup host... - 6-5.4. Backup... - 6-5.5. General... - 7-5.6. Email... - 7-5.7. Java run time environment (Advanced settings)... - 8-5.8. Virtual tape (Advanced settings)... - 8-5.9. Demo environment (Advanced settings)... - 9-6. Backup definitions... - 10-7. Backup schedule... - 12-8. Backup progress... - 13-9. Restore... - 14-10. Restore log... - 16 - - 1 -
1. About VTLBackup4i VTLBackup4i is a complete software solution that provides a remote backup for companies that need periodically synchronize IBM i libraries between systems. VTLBackup4i can be used as DRP solution in companies that do not need a on-line backup and restore solution. VTLBackup4i can backup to remote IBM i or remote storage such as PC or any FTP server available to the system. VTLBackup4i highlights: Full backup of IBM i libraries into virtual tape Incremental backup (SAVCHGOBJ) of IBM i libraries into virtual tape Full backup of IBM i folders into virtual tape Automatic transfer of virtual tape cartridge to remote IBM i via FTP protocol Automatic transfer of virtual tape cartridge to remote FTP location Compression of virtual tape allows speedy transmission of the virtual tape cartridge to backup system Creating a backup archive on the remote location, allowing restore of backup libraries, folders and objects from the specific date Restoring libraries and folders on remote IBM i automatically Insures a full backup by releasing locked objects during backup Providing a complete log for each library and folder backup Comparison summary report of the backup operation on the source and destination systems Backup and summery report submitted to system administrators via email Automatic backup archive maintenance the system keeps [n] days backups Support save library command with save active parameter (SAVACT) - 2 -
2. Download and install the product The Easy Way to Excel Databases! Download and install JRE on your PC server/station. VTLBackup4i requires JRE - Java Run time version 1.6 (J2SE). The JRE can be downloaded from VRtech website at: For 32 bit system: http://vrtech.biz/downloads/support/java/1.6/32bit/jre-6u38-windows-i586.zip For 64 bit system: http://vrtech.biz/downloads/support/java/1.6/64bit/jre-6u38-windows-x64.zip Note: It is recommended to install the java run time to the default installation path (C:\Program Files\Java\jre6). Download and install VTLBackup4i on your PC server/station VTLBackup4i software can be downloaded from VRtech web site at http://vrtech.biz/downloads/products/vtlbackup4i.zip Extract VTLBackup4i.zip file into temporary directory. It should contain the following files: - VTLBackup4iSetup.msi - setup.exe Run the setup.exe installation program and follow the instruction on the screen. 3. Get trial code for the product To activate the VTLBackup4i product a trial code is required. The code can be received by filling the trial code request form at http://www.vrtech.biz/index.php?option=com_rsform&formid=18&itemid=99999&lang=en Note: The information provided in this form is for VRtech internal use only. - 3 -
4. Configure the product and install the IBM i part Start VTLBackup4i administrator. The icon can be found on the PC desktop. At the Welcome screen select the General settings tab - 4 -
5. General settings This tab includes all general definitions of the product 5.1. Production definition In Production frame please fill following fields: System the IBM i IP or address of the production IBM i. User the user that will be used by the product to connect to the IBM i system Password - the user password that will be used by the product to connect to the IBM i system. 5.2. Install IBM i module Press the Install button to start the IBM i installation. The following window will appear: The installation must be performed with QSECOFR or QSECOFR class Fill in the User name and the Password and press the Install button The installation procedure will install two libraries on the production IBM i VR12 and VR12DTA At the end of the installation procedure the Installation complete message will appear - 5 -
At the end of the installation procedure the Installation complete message will appear The installation date and time will appear at the Status line, and the install button will be disabled to prevent reinstallation. 5.3. Backup host Please select between IBM i or Remote storage (FTP) as backup host. 5.4. Backup If IBM i selected as backup host please fill following fields: System the IBM i IP or name of the backup IBM i. User the user that will be used by the product to connect to the backup IBM i system. Password - the user password that will be used by the product to connect to the backup. - 6 -
If Remote storage (FTP) selected as backup host, please fill following fields: System the remote storage IP. User the user that will be used by the product to connect to the remote storage Password - the user password that will be used by the product to connect to the remote storage. Root directory- the root directory on the storage where the backups will be saved. 5.5. General Please fill following fields Code the product authorization code. This code is provided by VRtech. Please refer to the following link for more information: http://www.vrtech.biz/index.php?option=com_rsform&formid=18&itemid=99999&lang=en Keep last [days] of archive Set the number of archive sets (daily, weekly and monthly) that the system will keep. Default is 7 last sets. Comparison report please select this option if a comparison report (between production IBM i and backup IBM i) will be produced at the end of the backup. This option available only in backup host is IBM i. 5.6. Email This email settings are used in product to send backup report at the end of the backup. Please fill following fields: SMTP server the SMTP server that will be used for outgoing emails. User the user that will be used to logon to the SMTP server. Password - the user password that will be used by the product to logon to the SMTP server. - 7 -
Authentication Select this option if the email server requires authentication. From the email account that messages will be send from. To administrator of VTLBackup4i email account. 5.7. Java run time environment (Advanced settings) The java run time environment is set to the default java installation path and can be changed as needed by selecting different path. The Display java service console option is used to debug the java programs that serves the VTLbackup4i administrator. This option should by unchecked 5.8. Virtual tape (Advanced settings) By default the virtual tapes objects are compressed on the production system to decries the amount of disks that are being occupied and to increase the transfer rate to the backup up system. The transmitted virtual tape file (compressed) is decompressed on the backup system and archived there. Both options should by checked. - 8 -
5.9. Demo environment (Advanced settings) The demo environment allow the user to test the VTLBackup4i on a single IBM i system that acts as production and backup system. The saved virtual tapes are transferred from the IBM i system to itself and then restored to libraries and folders that constructed from the demo environment initial and the original library or folder. e.g. The library MyLib will be restored to library @MyLib Note: In demo mode library name can not exceed the length of 9 chars. The folder /MyFlr will be restored to /VRVTLBACKUP4iDEMO/MyFlr Library initial The char that will be add as a initial to the original library name in demo mode environment Folder initial The path that will be add as a initial to the original path name in demo mode environment Press Save button the save all the definitions - 9 -
6. Backup definitions This tab used to define all the libraries or folders to be backed up Select Library or Folder to backup. For Library, enter library name - maximum 10 characters For Folder, enter folder path maximum 50 characters In daily set select if to perform full or incremental backup of the library. Currently folder backup supports only full backup. Select Unlock to allow VTLBackup4i to unlock backed up library if it is lock during the back up procedure. Currently unlock option is valid only for library. In weekly set please select if to perform weekly backup for this library/folder. - 10 -
Select Unlock to allow VTLBackup4i to unlock backed up library if it is lock during the back up procedure. Currently unlock option is valid only for library. In monthly set please select if to perform weekly backup for this library/folder. Select Unlock to allow VTLBackup4i to unlock backed up library if it is lock during the back up procedure. Currently unlock option is valid only for library. For object type library the save active (SAVACT) parameter can be selected from a list. (For future use - not in use in this version). Press Add button to add this library/folder to the backup list. To add another library/folder press New button. To update existing definitions, select the library/folder in the list, change the required data and press Update button. To remove the library/folder from the backup list, select the library in the list and press Remove button. - 11 -
7. Backup schedule This tab used to define the backup plan for each day of the week. The schedule plan will be uploaded to the IBM i scheduler. Select Daily or Weekly or None for each day in week Type the hour and the minute in Backup time field to indicate the backup start time For Monthly backup please select First day of month or Last day of month and the hour of start of monthly backup. Press Update button to save this settings VTLBackup4i schedule jobs will appear in the Work with Job Schedule Entries (wrkjobscde) with the initial VR_ - 12 -
8. Backup progress This tab is used to display current running back up or the last finished backup set. Each backed up library or folder is displayed as a line in the table showing the following data: Library/Folder name name of backed up library/folder Save type type of backup full or incremental Backup backup status of the library/folder on production system Transfer status indentifying if the library/folder already transferred to the backup IBM i or remote storage. Archive status indentifying if the library/folder already archived at the backup IBM i or at remote storage. Restore status indentifying if the library already restored at backup IBM i. Valid only for IBM i as backup host. Start at time stamp when the system started to backup the library/folder End at time stamp when the library or folder was restored to the backup system or transferred to the remote FTP location. At the bottom we can see start time and end time of whole backup set. - 13 -
9. Restore This tab is used to select back up set and restore it from backup IBM i/remote storage to the production system. Select library or folder to be restored in Library/Folder name list Select the backup sets (date, time) from the table list. To restore specific object from the restored library/folder type object name in Objects field Name, generic*, *ALL are allowed in this filed. To restore specific object type from the restored library/folder type the object type in Object types field *ALL, *ALRTBL, *BNDDIR... are allowed in this filed. - 14 -
Refer to the command RSTOBJ fields OBJ and OBJTYPE for full list of values that allowed in Objects and Object types field. To restore all object from specific library leave the default *ALL in Objects and Object type field In the Restore to library/folder field type the name of library/folder in production IBM i that will receive the restored objects. The content and the quality of the backup set can be observed in the backup log report of specific set, select the set in the list and press Open log report button to display it. Press Restore now to restore the selected objects. Press Ok in the following message to confirm selected restore Restore activity will be submitted and following message will appear - 15 -
10. Restore log This tab displays history of all the libraries/folders that have been restored manually from backup to the production system There are following information in the list Library/Folder name - Name of the restored library or folder Backup set Name of the set it was restored from Start time start time stamp of the restore process End time end time stamp of the restore process Progress - status in percentage of the restore process Total size total size of restored data Status final status of the restore process Use the Refresh button to refresh the screen to display the updated status of the restore procedure. The screen will be refreshed automatically every 30 seconds To clear following list ad delete the history press Remove all finished button. To remove specific record, select this record in the list and press Remove button. - 16 -