Configuring a snapshot policy for NetBackup for DB2
The following procedure shows how to configure a snapshot policy with optional instant recovery, snapshot retention, and off-host backup.
To configure a snapshot policy
- Open the NetBackup web UI.
- On the left, select Protection > Policies.
- Select Add.
- Select the Attributes tab.
- Select the DB2 policy type.
- Select a policy storage unit from the Policy storage list.
Select a policy storage unit in this step even if you plan to select Snapshots only later in this procedure.
- Click Perform snapshot backups.
- (Optional) Click Snapshot options to choose a snapshot method.
By default NetBackup chooses a snapshot method for you. To choose a snapshot method, click auto (the default) or click one of the methods that are presented in the list.
The snapshot method that you can use depends on your hardware environment and software environment. Only certain snapshot methods are supported in certain environments. See the supported platforms matrix on the Cohesity Technical Support website for more information.
You can configure only one snapshot method per policy. For example, assume that you want one snapshot method for clients a, b, and c, and a different method for clients d, e, and f. Then you need to create two policies for each group of clients and select one method for each policy.
- (Optional) Select Retain snapshots for Instant Recovery or SLP management.
When this option is selected, NetBackup retains the snapshot backup image on disk for later use in recovery.
- (Optional) Select Perform off-host backup.
By default, the client that hosts the database performs the backup. If you want to reduce the I/O processing load on the client that hosts the database, specify an alternate client to perform the backup.
- (Conditional) For off-host backup method, select Alternate client.
Specify the name of the client to perform the backup. This option may require additional configuration. The alternate client must be a client that shares the disk array.
- Select the Schedules tab.
- Select Add.
- Configure an Automatic schedule for the database files.
- (Conditional) In the Instant Recovery group, select Snapshots only.
This setting suppresses NetBackup's default behavior, which is to copy the snapshot to a storage unit. When you select Snapshots only, NetBackup creates the on-disk snapshot copy of the database, but it does not copy the snapshot to a storage unit. The on-disk snapshot becomes the only backup copy. Note that the on-disk snapshot is not considered to be a replacement for a traditional backup.
- Configure an Application backup schedule.
NetBackup uses this storage unit for the initial stream-based backup of the database before subsequent snapshot backups are performed. It is also used for stream-based backups of the transaction logs if you use the VENDOR method.
- (Conditional) For BLI backups it is permissible to create Automatic cumulative incremental and Automatic differential incremental backup schedules.
- On the Clients tab, specify the clients to be included in this policy.
- On the Backup selections tab, specify a backup script.
More information is available about how to use scripts for a NetBackup for DB2 policy with Snapshot Client.
- Configure other attributes and add any additional schedules and backup selections.