DB2 backups with EMC NetWorker

Working with third party backup solutions in DB2 can be a bit of a challenge at times. About a year ago I setup an EMC NetWorker backup environment for DB2 9.5 running under AIX.

For this example we will call the database 'db2demo'.

We firstly, need to get access to the EMC NetWorker backup environment and to create the xbsa_config file. In our case the xbsa_config file was created in the top level of the DB2 instance owner directory, but it could be anywhere.

The parts of the xbsa_config file the dba supplies are as follows.

DB2_VENDOR_LIB_PATH=/usr/lib/libnsrdb2.so
DB2_USR=db2demo
DB2_NODE_NAME=schlumpf
DB2_ALIAS=db2demo
DB2INSTANCE=db2demo
INSTHOME=/data/db2demo
DB2_APPLY_NW_LEVELS=TRUE
DB2_OPTIONS=DB2BACKUP_ONLINE,DB2BACKUP_DB
DB2_NUM_BUFFERS=4
DB2_SESSIONS=2
DB2_PARALLELISM=2
DB2_PSWD=********

Note: The DB2_PSWD is actually displayed as an encrypted value I have used *** to obfusicate.

The DB2_PASSWD is generated with the nsrdb2sv command. For example:

nsrdb2sv -p <password> -f <filename>

You only need the password if you are having the backup environment start the backups for you. If you initiate your backups from the DB2 side this value is not used.

At this point you should validate that you can in fact backup to NetWorker. It makes sense to test that now before turning on log backups, even though you will need to do another backup again after you turn on log backups. There is nothing worse than being in a backup pending situation if your networker config isn't working.

> db2 backup db db2demo load /usr/lib/libnsrdb2.so db2demo @/data/db2demo/xbsa_config compress"

Assuming that worked then we turn on log file archiving as follows

> db2 update db cfg for db2demo using LOGARCHMETH1 'VENDOR:/usr/lib/libnsrdb2.so'
> db2 update db cfg for db2demo using LOGARCHOPT1 @/data/db2demo/xbsa_config

Now rerun a offline backup again.

> db2 backup db db2demo load /usr/lib/libnsrdb2.so options @/data/db2demo/xbsa_config compress

If that works generate some traffic so log files get backed up. Validate that this is successful. Then test the restore and roll forward.

> db2 restore db db2demo load /usr/lib/libnsrdb2.so options @/data/db2demo/xbsa_config_sam taken at <timestamp> without prompting
> db2 rollforward database quote to <timestamp> using local time and stop;

If all went well then you are now using EMC NetWorker.

If it didn't and you get errors like SQL2025, SQL2062, SQL2071, SQL2079 etc you will need to consult the EMC NetWorker Module for DB2 Administration Guide which has some explination.

These are errors from the backup software passed through the database. Additionally changing the DEBUG level of various variables in the xbsa_config file will give you additional info but be warned 9 is the highest and can generate an enormous amount of data. For example:

NSR_DEBUG_LEVEL=5
NSR_DEBUG_FILE=/nsr/applogs/db2.log
NSR_DB2SV_DEBUG_LEVEL=5
NSR_DB2SV_DEBUG_FILE=/nsr/applogs/db2sv.log
NSR_LIBNSRDB2_DEBUG_LEVEL=5
NSR_LIBNSRDB2_DEBUG_FILE=/nsr/applogs/db2sql.log
NSR_DB2UEXT2_DEBUG_LEVEL=5
NSR_DB2UEXT2_DEBUG_FILE=/nsr/applogs/db2uext2.log

If you still cannot backup using NetWorker you will likely need to engage support from the EMC side and/or the IBM DB2 side.

Useful DB2 command

To see the current values for those administration configuration parameters relevant to the DAS(DB2 Administration Server):

> db2 get admin cfg

To discovery of administration Servers, instances, and databases:

> db2 get dbm cfg
> db2 get db cfg for <dbname>

Show DB2 service level command:

> db2level

Showing All Current Profile Registry Settings:

> db2set -all

To list database directory & instance:

> db2 list db directory
> db2 get instance

Troubleshooting

Set debug level 9 in the backup command. For example:

> nsrdasv -D 9 -z e:\tmp\nmdb2_demo2.cfg

Set debug files in DB2_CFG file

NSR_DEBUG_LEVEL=9
NSR_DIAGNOSTIC_DEST=/nsr/apps/logs

Note: By default, error messages are written to /nsr/apps/logs/

  • nsrdasv_DB2_<timestamp>.<process-id>.log
  • Libnsrdb2_default.log
  • nmda_db2.messages.raw
  • nsrdb2ra.log
  • xbsa.messages
  • db2diag.log (in DB2 SQLLIB/DB2 install directory)