The process of backing up a logical partition is fundamentally the same
as backing up a server 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
server 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 server. 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 server. This can reduce the time that
is required for performing backups.
- If any secondary partitions switch a removable media device between themselves,
you must 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 server 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 server (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.