Because backups are acquired in units of RDAREAs, both updated pages and unupdated pages are included in a backup. When you use the differential backup facility, only pages updated since the last time a backup was made are included in a new backup. When you make a backup of only the material that differs from the previous backup, the backup processing time is reduced. If the database is large but only a small amount of data has been updated, you should consider using the differential backup facility. Figure 6-1 provides an overview of the differential backup facility.
Figure 6-1 Overview of the differential backup facility
![[Figure]](figure/zu060010.gif)
- Explanation
- RDAREAs 1-3 are backed up on Sunday. All pages in RDAREAs 1-3 that are currently in use are backed up. This backup is called a full backup, and the RDAREAs in the group that is backed up are referred to as the differential backup group.
- Update processing is performed during the workday on Monday.
- RDAREAs 1-3 are backed up after the workday is over on Monday. At this time, only the updated pages in RDAREAs 1-3 are backed up. Such a backup is called a differential backup.
- Update processing is performed during the workday on Tuesday.
- RDAREAs 1-3 are backed up after the workday is over on Tuesday. At this time, only the updated pages in RDAREAs 1-3 are backed up.
- Recovering the database
- For details about recovering the database when you use the differential backup facility, see 19.4 Database recovery using the differential backup facility.
- Remarks
- You can also use the differential backup facility when operating without unloading the system log.
- Notes
- You store all backup files (full backup files, differential backup files, and accumulation-differential backup files) from the same differential backup group on the same server machine. For details about accumulation-differential backup files, see 6.5.4 Creating an accumulation-differential backup.
- A differential backup cannot be made of LOB RDAREAs. Rather, all pages that are in use must be backed up every time a backup is made.
- If the configuration of an RDAREA has changed, a full backup of the RDAREA must be made again. A backup made before an RDAREA's configuration was changed cannot be used to restore the RDAREA.
- You must use JP1/OmniBack II or the NetBackup linkage facility to back up RDAREAs onto a tape device. If you do not use JP1/OmniBack II or the NetBackup linkage facility, it will not be possible to back up RDAREAs onto a tape device.
- When you use JP1/OmniBack II to back up RDAREAs, do not update bar list files after the pdcopy command terminates. Also, do not do this without specifying protection for the bar list files.