The tambkup command backs up a TAM file.

A TAM file can be backed up in the online or offline mode. This is referred to as online backup.

The offline mode backup procedure is as follows:

1. Execute the tamhold command to logically shut down a TAM table.
2. Execute the tamrm command to remove the logically shutdown TAM table from the online system.
3. Execute the tambkup command with its -o option not specified to back up the TAM file.

Execute the tambkup command with the -o option to perform online backup. Online backup does not require a TAM file to be shut down logically (by the tamhold command) or removed from the online system (by the tamrm command).

Recovering the TAM file by using an online backed-up file reduces the number of unload journal files that are used at recovery. This means a shorter time required for recovery of the TAM file than recovery by using a file backed up with the -o option not specified.

A TAM file must always be backed up before an application is started.

A file or standard output can be specified for the output destination of backup. To output to the file, specify the file name in the tambkup command. To output to the standard output, specify the -s option in the tambkup command.

To restore a backup file, the tamrstr command is used.

A file or standard input can be specified for the restoration input source. To input backup data from the file, specify the file name in the tamrstr command. To input backup data from the standard input, specify the -s option in the tamrstr command.