Backup considerations with logical partitions
The process of backing up a logical partition is fundamentally the same as backing up a system without logical partitions. Each logical partition requires its own save strategy.
Here are a few items that should affect how you plan your backup strategy:
- It is important to remember that each logical partition functions independently of any others. Therefore you cannot perform a single, entire system backup. Instead, you need to back up each logical partition separately.
- As part of your backup strategy, remember that a processor failure, main storage failure, failure in the primary partition, or disaster shuts down the entire system. This may require you to recover all or some of your logical partitions. Therefore, plan carefully how you use your logical partitions and how often you need to perform a backup of each logical partition.
- You can generally perform these backups at the same time since each logical partition functions like an independent system. This can reduce the time that is required for performing backups.
- If any secondary partitions switch a removable media device between themselves, back up each of these logical partitions sequentially. You must manually remove and add the removable media device between the logical partitions after each save. Use iSeries™ Navigator to change resources for logical partitions.
- The system automatically maintains the configuration data for your logical partitions. This data is not saved to or restored from removable media.
- You should print your system configuration when you make changes to your logical partition configuration.
- Any function that requires you to power off or restart the system (like applying program temporary fixes [PTFs]) requires special care. If you need to power off or restart only a secondary partition, then you may safely do it. However, if you need to power off or restart the primary partition, then you need to power off all the secondary partitions before you perform that function.
Parent topic:
Saving logical partitionsRelated concepts
Backing up a logical partition