Right, I should have specifically mentioned the use of FLASHCOPY/snap as the 
much preferred method to copying LIVE fullpack volumes with z/OS. 
As well as the need to determine compatibility, with respect to any COTS/vendor 
products and OS's. 

Good point in regards to another LOCAL backup approach...DB admins should 
definitely consider using the backup software that is included with the DB 
product. 
That would fit well in conjunction with the other methods (which would then 
backup these local backups).

The rationale for the multi-method approach is to protect (i.e. CYA) with 
redundancy, using various methods that may be more suitable for zLinux, DB's 
and the z/VM and CMS storage. 

Doug Ponte
U.S. Department of Justice - OCIO/SDS/zVM
Contractor - z/VM + zLinux Senior Systems Programmer 
Leidos/Ingersoll Consulting
[email protected]
1-202-307-6722


-----Original Message-----
From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alan 
Altmark
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 09:35
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: zLinux backup solutions

On Thursday, 11/10/2016 at 09:12 GMT, "Ponte, Douglas C. (JMD)" 
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Fullpack volume backups ---- can be run daily, weekly and monthly, 
> using
JCL with automation tools
> (existing on z/OS already, e.g. BMC Control-M or Tivoli Automation). 
This should be done with all
> z/VM and zLinux volumes.
>
> In the full volume backup cases, stopping/shutting down is not always
necessary, albeit it may be
> good practice to at least quiesce when it comes to DB?s and heavy use
servers. (e.g. DB2, Oracle,
> etc)

WARNING:  To do this reliably, you need software that is capable of 
establishing an I/O consistency group.  If you want to FLASHCOPY the volumes 
and sequentially backup the volume copies, that's ok, but do NOT just 
sequentially copy the live volumes of a running z/VM system.  (If you wouldn't 
do it to a running z/OS system, don't do it to any other system.)  This process 
is intimately tied to your DR strategy, too, so get it right.

If you have databases, use the backup software for the database.  If you're 
using hardware replication, be sure that it's supported by the database vendor.

Some people take a too-casual approach to backups and DR.  I too often hear 
"Don't worry, I'm doing it from z/OS." as though z/OS has magical powers over 
z/VM and Linux.  Don't fall into that trap.  That way there be dragons.

Alan Altmark

Senior Managing z/VM and Linux Consultant Lab Services System z Delivery 
Practice IBM Systems & Technology Group ibm.com/systems/services/labservices
office: 607.429.3323
mobile; 607.321.7556
[email protected]
IBM Endicott

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