The DB2 backup command allows you to take a
snapshot copy of your database at the time the command is executed. The simplest syntax that you can use to run this
commands:
BACKUP DATABASE <dbname> [ TO <path> ]
Most commands and utilities can be performed
online or offline. Online implies that other
users may be connected and performing operations on the database while you
execute
your command. Offline means that no other users are connected to the database
while you
perform your operation. To allow for an online operation, add the key word
ONLINE to thecommand syntax, otherwise, by default the command will be assuming
you are executing it offline.
For example, if you want to back up the database SAMPLE to the path
C:\BACKUPS you
can issue this command from the DB2 Command Window or Linux shell:
db2 BACKUP DB sample TO C:\BACKUPS
db2 BACKUP DB sample TO
C:\BACKUPS
C:\BACKUPS directory must exist prior to
executing the command. Also
e n sure there are no connections to the database when you execute the above
command,
otherwise you will receive an error message since an offline backup cannot be
performed
when there are connections.
To find out if there are connections to databases in an instance, issue this
command from
the DB2 command window or Linux shell:
db2 list applications
To force all the connections from all databases
in an instance, issue this command from
the DB2 command window or Linux shell:
db2 force applications all
You may not want to run this last command in a
production environment with many users;
otherwise you would receive many calls from an - workers! Note as well
that the last command runs asynchronously. This means than when you try to run the backup command right after, it may still not work. Wait a few seconds, and repeat the
backup command if you received an error the first time.