Abstract: Database performance may be improved by creating additional backups from an existing backup, rather than the original database or audit log source. A second backup may be created from a first backup by copying the files from the first backup to the second backup. The replication from a first backup to a second backup with modification of the file history information allows identical backups to exist on different types of storage devices, including virtual storage devices. Continue functionality may be implemented during a move function to restart replication at a new starting point while retaining the existing move set. Tape-type-override functionality may be implemented during the replication to replace the tape type for the backups with another compatible type while retaining the original type for history file entries, tape trailers, and messages.

Abstract: Database performance may be improved by creating additional backups from an existing backup, rather than the original database or audit log source. A second backup may be created from a first backup by copying the files from the first backup to the second backup. The replication from a first backup to a second backup with modification of the file history information allows identical backups to exist on different types of storage devices, including virtual storage devices. Continue functionality may be implemented during a move function to restart replication at a new starting point while retaining the existing move set. Tape-type-override functionality may be implemented during the replication to replace the tape type for the backups with another compatible type while retaining the original type for history file entries, tape trailers, and messages.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a processor, a timestamp as a start-point for extracting information from the storage tape. The method further includes determining, by the processor, a reel identification and a device type of a storage tape. The method further includes extracting the information, by the processor, from the storage tape starting at the start-point. The method further includes determining, by the processor, whether an end-point of the information has been reached. The method further includes reproducing, by the processor, the information to a computer-readable medium. The method further includes formatting, by the processor, the information to conform with format requirements of an activity log analyzing tool.

Abstract: Database performance may be improved by creating additional backups from an existing backup, rather than the original database or audit log source. A second backup may be created from a first backup by copying the files from the first backup to the second backup. The replication from a first backup to a second backup with modification of the file history information allows identical backups to exist on different types of storage devices, including virtual storage devices. Continue functionality may be implemented during a move function to restart replication at a new starting point while retaining the existing move set. Tape-type-override functionality may be implemented during the replication to replace the tape type for the backups with another compatible type while retaining the original type for history file entries, tape trailers, and messages.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a processor, an identification of a storage tape. The method further includes determining, at the processor, a start-point for extracting information from the storage tape. The method further includes extracting the information, by the processor, from the storage tape starting at the start-point. The method further includes determining, by the processor, whether an end-point of the information has been reached. The method further includes reproducing, by the processor, the information to a computer-readable medium. The method further includes formatting, by the processor, the information to conform with format requirements of an activity log analyzing tool.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a processor, a timestamp as a start-point for extracting information from the storage tape. The method further includes determining, by the processor, a reel identification and a device type of a storage tape. The method further includes extracting the information, by the processor, from the storage tape starting at the start-point. The method further includes determining, by the processor, whether an end-point of the information has been reached. The method further includes reproducing, by the processor, the information to a computer-readable medium. The method further includes formatting, by the processor, the information to conform with format requirements of an activity log analyzing tool.

Abstract: Database performance may be improved by creating additional backups from an existing backup, rather than the original database or audit log source. A second backup may be created from a first backup by copying the files from the first backup to the second backup. The replication from a first backup to a second backup with modification of the file history information allows identical backups to exist on different types of storage devices, including virtual storage devices. Continue functionality may be implemented during a move function to restart replication at a new starting point while retaining the existing move set. Tape-type-override functionality may be implemented during the replication to replace the tape type for the backups with another compatible type while retaining the original type for history file entries, tape trailers, and messages.

Abstract: Database performance may be improved by creating additional backups from an existing backup, rather than the original database or audit log source. A second backup may be created from a first backup by copying the files from the first backup to the second backup. The replication from a first backup to a second backup with modification of the file history information allows identical backups to exist on different types of storage devices, including virtual storage devices. Continue functionality may be implemented during a move function to restart replication at a new starting point while retaining the existing move set. Tape-type-override functionality may be implemented during the replication to replace the tape type for the backups with another compatible type while retaining the original type for history file entries, tape trailers, and messages.

Abstract: A rollback record may be created for each step identifier (ID). The rollback record indicates how many times the step record identified by the step ID has been rolled back during operation of the database. The rollback record may be stored in a periodic save record (PSR), separate from or stored in an audit trail containing the step records. By processing the rollback records in the periodic save record during a recovery, a database may identify a time on an audit trail for initiating a recovery prior to the last resume point for a step without going back in the audit trail to a time before the initial start of the step.

Abstract: One or more transactions, and their audited update actions, operating on a database may be identified by a step ID. The step ID may include a first set of bits identifying a time the step was created. The step ID may also include a second set of bits uniquely identifying a step created at a certain time from other step created at the same time. The first set of bits may be generated from a coordinated universal time (UTC) that does not change with local seasons, such as daylight saving time.

Abstract: A backup system override may be specified to allow a backup system to access a backup created on an old storage device. For example, an archival backup may be accessed long after the storage device that created the backup has been decommissioned. The file history information in the backup may specify a storage device no longer accessible by the backup system. An override in the backup system allows the backup system to access the backup with the file history information through a different storage device than the storage device that created the backup. The different storage device may have a different name and/or be of a different type than the original storage device that created the backup. The override may also allow access to command scripts and links in the backup.

Abstract: Databases may be backed up on a mass storage device. Storing the database backup on mass storage, rather than tape drive, allows operations, such as from a database manager, with large input/output to improve performance. A method of backing up a database to a mass storage device may include receiving, at a database manager, a call from a backup utility to copy data from a source file to a destination file, performing, at the database manager, a plurality of input/output requests, in response to the call, to copy data from the source file to the destination file, and returning, to the backup utility, status information regarding completion of the call Placing the database backup on mass storage can further enable use of that backup as a shadow or alternate database.

Abstract: Databases may be copied to a shadow database on amass storage device. The structure of the files containing the database, such as blocking information and a dump history, may be copied in whole to the mass storage device. The method may include creating a shadow database on a mass storage device, populating the shadow database with data from a production database, idling an application accessing the production database to create an idle point in the production database, and updating the shadow database to the production database.

Abstract: One or more transactions, and their audited update actions, operating on a database may be identified by a step ID. The step ID may include a first set of bits identifying a time the step was created. The step ID may also include a second set of bits uniquely identifying a step created at a certain time from other step created at the same time. The first set of bits may be generated from a coordinated universal time (UTC) that does not change with local seasons, such as daylight saving time.

Abstract: A rollback record may be created for each step identifier (ID). The rollback record indicates how many times the step record identified by the step ID has been rolled back during operation of the database. The rollback record may be stored in a periodic save record (PSR), separate from or stored in an audit trail containing the step records. By processing the rollback records in the periodic save record during a recovery, a database may identify a time on an audit trail for initiating a recovery prior to the last resume point for a step without going back in the audit trail to a time before the initial start of the step.

Abstract: Database backup performance may be improved by copying only used portions of a database file. When the database file includes allocated but un-used pages, the unused pages are not replicated during a database backup. By replicating only the allocated and used pages in the database, the backup time may be decreased and the amount of storage required in the second file may be decreased.

Abstract: Idle points for a database, such as a database management system or a relational database management system (RDMS), may be marked in an audit log of a backup device coupled to the database. The backup device may receive an indication that the database has reached an idle point and verify the idle point through a data control system coupled to the database and the backup device. Once the idle point is verified, the idle point is logged in the audit log along with the date and time of the idle point. The idle point information may be used during recovery of the database from the backup device.

Abstract: A backup system override may be specified to allow a backup system to access a backup created on an old storage device. For example, an archival backup may be accessed long after the storage device that created the backup has been decommissioned. The file history information in the backup may specify a storage device no longer accessible by the backup system. An override in the backup system allows the backup system to access the backup with the file history information through a different storage device than the storage device that created the backup. The different storage device may have a different name and/or be of a different type than the original storage device that created the backup. The override may also allow access to command scripts and links in the backup.

Abstract: Files may be assigned to groups for processing in an efficient manner. For example, a group may include a list of file names for processing together. The file names are assigned to the group by a user. When a command is executed on the system for modifying a file, the group name is provided along with the command rather than the file name or list of individual file names. The command automatically executes repeatedly for each file name associated with the group name.

Abstract: Audit Trail recovery is enhanced by including addresses of immediately prior periodic saves of all active or open Steps or transactions in each new period save area. Reduced cost in main memory usage and on-the-fly processing to accomplish audit trail format that enhances recovery time results from ability to immediately address next prior period save data once a last periodic save is found in reading back the audit trail. Reading back the audit trail to find the last periodic save can be avoided too by directly addressing the last periodic save in preferred embodiments since the computer system will in all events temporarily maintain a record of the address of the last periodic save to record the next time a periodic save is to be made, so this temporarily maintained record can be accessed and used to jump directly to the last periodic save address on the audit trail.