Recovery using backupConfig and restoreConfig

The backupConfig and restoreConfig command line utilities are part of WAS with the purpose of providing an easy way of backup and recovery of the configuration repository in case of a node outage.

The advantage of using these tools is that only one backup is needed for the entire cell. When the master configuration data on the Deployment Manager (DM) node is saved with backupConfig, a failed Deployment Manager node can easily be restored from that backup. Any failures of the base nodes in that cell can be recovered by using WAS's configuration synchronization mechanism. One drawback of his method is that all previously installed e-fixes and fixpacks have to be reinstalled manually (in contrary to a filesystem restore), but this task that can be sped up by using semi-automated, silent installations using response files.

Another disadvantage is that not all necessary files are backed up and restored by the command-line tools supplied with WebSphere: SSL keyring files (default location <WAS_HOME>/etc) and the <WAS_HOME>/property directory, where, for example, additional security related information is stored, are not saved! Therefore only use this method if a filesystem based recovery approach is not practicable, or if you are able to use the default, initially installed versions of the above mentioned files. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach are listed in Table A-2.

For detailed instructions on how to use backupConfig and restoreConfig, refer to appendix A.14 and A.15 in IBM WAS V5.0 System Management and Configuration: WebSphere Handbook Series, SG24-6195 or to the WebSphere V5.1 InfoCenter.

Table A-2 (Dis-)advantages of using backupConfig and restoreConfig for recovery

Advantages	Disadvantages
	Only one backup per cell is needed

Takes full advantage of distributed repository synchronization e-fixes and fixpacks have to be installed manually Several additional files have to be copied/restored manually

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