Michael Caplin wrote:
> Does anyone know of any problems with the ONLINE STORE option.
> We kick users off of our N class box to do backups but would like to take 
> advantage of the ONLINE capability of the STORE command (we own the rights 
> to use it) in order to minimize downtime.
HP's STORE/TURBOSTORE has had a long history of 'issues'. One only has 
to do a quick google:
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=store+problems&as_ugroup=comp.sys.hp.mpe

It would be nice if we could get the latest version of STORXL52.PUB.SYS 
posted on Jazz.
This is the  file that changes STORE into the 7x24 online version. This 
along with a script
that checks for the problem patches and required patches would be good 
CYA for vCSY.

The bottom line is that the backup must be verified. The only 100% 
method for doing this is to do a
full reinstall/restore to a scratch system. As we have recently seen 
used HP3000 systems aren't very
expensive. <plug> Beechglen provides backup validation as part of our 
software support service. </plug>

In my experience the 'online 7x24' is very misleading as you do not have 
a 7x24 'backup'.
What you may have is a backup as of a given point in time. True 7x24x364 
data protection
on MPE is only available for IMAGE databases via the transaction logging 
facility.

Now many would think that because they have fancy hardware or software 
mirroring, that tape
backups and IMAGE logging aren't all that important. They will 
eventually learn the hard way that:
-Disc drives that are >10 years old tend to die in groups
-PURGEGROUP DATA while signed on to the PROD account is also mirrored
-Hardware tecs can delete what they think are 'inactive' LUNS on the 
disc array
-Hurricanes can cause flooding far inland
and so forth. All of these types of 'unfortunate events' will turn the 
'backup' into the production copy:(

IMHO, the final part of the process is to clone the IMAGE logfiles to an 
off site location. This
can be done periodically with FTP or a utility that copies the 
transactions in near real time.
<plug>Beechglen provides CLONELOG to another HP3000 or to Windows as 
part of our
software support service.</plug>

I know this was a longish answer. However, we are getting a increasing 
number of calls from
previously unknown  HP3000 owners  who by human error, failed discs, or 
by act of God
have a production critical system that exists only on tape.

To paraphrase from Harry Calahan:
I know what you're thinking -- did I have  five or six discs? In all 
this commotion, I really can't remember.
So you have to ask yourself, do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

TGIF
Mike Hornsby
CTO
Beechglen Development, Inc.
513-922-0509x31
www.beechgen.com

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