Overview
The PACLOG for DB2 product is a DB2 log management batch utility that provides substantial storage media savings while preserving the integrity of all archived log data that might be needed for recovery.
The product assists the database administrator (DBA) in determining what data is retained in archive log data sets and in choosing the archive log storage media. It also provides statistics useful in the management of archive log data sets.
For first-time users
This section provides important information that you should be familiar with before using PACLOG for the first time.
The following table outlines the key topics and the topics in this space that provide more details.
Topic | See topic |
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Prerequisites for using PACLOG:
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Preferred settings and practices
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Using the various PACLOG options for normal processing and for simulated processing | |
Using PACLOG to accomplish the following tasks:
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Actions that you may need to take to allow log data sets that have been processed by PACLOG to be used in a recovery by some versions of the NGT Recover utility | |
Information you may need to control the Extended Compression Architecture (XCA) compression subsystems in certain situations |
Benefits of PACLOG functionality
The functionality provided by the PACLOG product offers substantial time and resource savings and performance benefits, as shown in the following table.
Functionality and benefits | More information |
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Time and resource savings | |
Reduction of up to 95 percent or more in the amount of media that is required to store archive log data Because you have control over which types of records to retain and compress, you can considerably reduce the media space that is required to store archive logs. | |
Potential reduction in the size and number of active logs with a corresponding reduction in the amount of DASD that is needed for them:
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Increase in the time period that is covered by a given amount of media that is used for log data More jobs access the logs concurrently when you perform a recovery using the BMC Next Generation Technology Recover for DB2 for z/OS product as the recover utility. | |
Reduction in the time that is required to perform a recovery when the logs are on DASD instead of tape | None |
Elimination of tape mounts for log access when the logs are on DASD instead of tape | None |
Reduction in the time that is needed to transmit log data over a communications network | None |
Notification when an archived log data set is no longer needed, thus releasing DASD and tape for other purposes | |
Assistance in disaster recovery You can make and catalog additional copies of processed archive log data sets specifically for recovery site use. You can also use PACLOG to restore these log data sets to disk at the recovery site. | |
Trial processing of archive logs before disposing of the original log You can perform simulation runs without performing any actions on the original log. | |
Performance benefits | |
Allows compression of processed archive log data sets:
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Allows for the removal of unwanted log records, which further reduces the amount of media required PACLOG provides the option to remove log data that is:
You can specify multiple filter options separately for each copy of a processed log data set. | |
Searches for original archive log data sets (optionally, according to user-specified limits) and meets users’ needs for scheduling flexibility PACLOG allows retrieval of original archive logs in different ways:
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PACLOG options allow any mix of up to two local site copies and up to two offsite copies. | |
PACLOG syntax lets you use wildcards with the FILTERTS option. | |
Allows different output device types for each copy of the processed archive log data set PACLOG provides flexibility and efficiency and optimizes media usage by:
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While processing an archived log data set, gathers and reports information useful for log management This feature facilitates administrative decision making by providing management reports that:
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Allows report output to be used by other tools This feature facilitates integration with other technology by allowing customization of the interface between PACLOG and your tool. | |
Allows reprocessing of previously processed log data sets This feature provides maximum media savings over a wide range of environments by allowing (for example) reprocessing to remove previously uncommitted transactions. | |
Allows simulated processing of original archive log data sets You can create processed log data sets without taking any action against original log data sets. This enables you to evaluate the PACLOG product without disrupting production work. You have flexibility in simulation because PACLOG allows several levels of process simulation. | |
Uses dynamic data set allocation for both original and processed log data sets Increase productivity by simplifying the generation of PACLOG JCL. | |
Compatible with both IBM and BMC Software recovery utilities You can use the processed logs in a recovery using either the IBM DB2 RECOVER or the NGT Recover utility. |
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