In previous posts it is documented how to recover a server using Enhanced Automated Disaster Recovery Option. Tis applies to the Cell Server too, as this server might be the most important server in a case of a disaster. For the cell server there are several options available to do a fast recovery. The following steps apply to cell server for all supported operating systems and the steps are only 1 possible way for recovery.
The most important information when a recovery of the cell server is required will be the information on which media is the backup of the internal database. With 2 settings you make sure the information is available when needed (if copied off the cell server per scheduled task). First you have to edit the file rdmserver.ini
and to enable the parameter archiving=1
. In this case DP will write the information regarding the backup of IDB to an additional file. Second step is to change file global
and to enable the parameter RecoveryIndexDir=PathToBackupDir
. After saving both files you need to restart the DP services. With the first backup of the IDB information regarding the backup is written to obrindex.dat
.
In this file you now have the information which media was used during the backup and also some additional information regarding the drive used during the backup.
An additional Step to prepare for DR is the export of the devices. This can be done with the tool omnidownload. The command will generate some text files to be used to create devices in case of disaster using the command omniupload. Of course you can use the tool “SaveDevices” to automate this task (can be found in download section).
In case of a disaster in general you can follow the steps below:
- Change / repair defect hardware
- Install operating system
- Installation Data Protector as cell server
- Create new devices to be able to import IDB into IDB
- Import media with IDB backup
- Restore of IDB
- Restore of all other settings
As written above these steps are only one way to recover the cell server. In the articles EADR W2K and Recover Cell Server additional ways using SRD / omniiso are described.
You could also create post-exec copy of media.log file to another location affter DP database backup. File is located in Program Files\\OmniBack\\log\\server\\ folder. Search for OmniDB record in this file.
Hi, you may have a look in my other post, where I implemented that.
Best regards
Daniel
What doing with file obrindex.dat?
Hi,
The file can be used for recovery of IDB, as it contains information regarding devices and media used in IDB backup.
Best regards
Daniel
Hi,
when I try restore IDB on new installed DP I got this:
Restore is not available. There is no backups found after the last restore (or at all) and time of restore is after the time of the last restore.
Hi,
Have you more details, like screensots, session logs?
Best regards
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
what you can say about recovery Cell Manager and IDB to time before disaster?
I mean, we have a backup of IDB at a specific time. We need to restore the Catalog (IDB) from the backup to the point of failure.
Hi Ravil,
it depends on your desaster. If you lost your complete cell Server, the there is no was to replay transactions…
When using my method, yes there might be an lack between last IDB backup, normal backups and the desaster case.
You could “replay” what you have backed up between IDB backup and the Desaster if you know what media have been used between.
I would solve this by adding a postexec script for each backup and dump the backed up objects and used media and store it off the server.
In this case you have all the information you need to import media once you have recovered your cell Server.
Best regards
Daniel