Question

Backup IFS Home (Pre Patch Update)

MikeArbon
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Hi All

I would love to know how you backup your IFS_HOME on the Application Server before applying an IFS Patch or IFS Patch Update?

For clarity, I am running IFS version 9 on a Windows Server environment.

Now I have never needed to restore the IFS home after a failed update in our current version of IFS (did I just say that!?), so this has led me to wonder if my post patch safety net will save me in my time of need?

I have in the past intended to back up the IFS home, using 7-zip (due to crazy path and file name lengths that windows cant handle). When I get to do this, during our tight window of opportunity, it just takes way too long. FYI: It is 23Gb in size. So I don’t bother and decide to rely upon the seemingly effortless Virtual server snapshot taken by our super network boys…… Now is this going to cut the mustard when/if my patch fails? We have successfully completed a DR exercise using these backups/snapshots, so it should work?

Even if I did wait for the zip backup of the IFS Home, would the recovery work? or would it still complain about file paths being too long?? I also assume all Managed servers and related Windows services would need to be stopped before such a backup?

I am going to test this (in our test environment of course). FYI Oracle is covered by RMAN, so I am quite happy with the database side of things.

Please do let me know what precautions you take, or indeed what you think of this.

Thanks

Mike

You are only as good as your last backup...

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikearbon

9 replies

Tharindu
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You can use the “perform_backup.cmd” inside <ifs_home>/instance/<instance>/bin folder for this. Just search “perform_backup” in your technical documentation and  you will get all the details on how to do this.

 

MikeArbon
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You can use the “perform_backup.cmd” inside <ifs_home>/instance/<instance>/bin folder for this. Just search “perform_backup” in your technical documentation and  you will get all the details on how to do this.

 

How on earth has this passed me by!? I am shocked and very happy with this! Perhaps it should be mentioned in the IFS Patch Application document. Thanks Tharindu! I will give it a try (In Test of course).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikearbon
Srikanth
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Hi Mike,

Good details.

I think VM snapshot/backup of the Application Server prior to applying a delivery is the most reliable option along with a Oracle database level backup. You don’t need to stop IFS MWS Services for the backup as you can restart IFS Services once the VM is restored. 

In Apps 9 there are few long and funny folder and file names under IFS_HOME, mostly likely because they have been developed in a different environment and a direct folder backup and restore may not work.

There is a IFS_HOME backup batch file under C:\ifs\<instance_name>\instance\<instance_name>\bin but this option can take some time to perform the backup and restore.

 

Cheers, Srikanth
MikeArbon
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Hi Mike,

Good details.

I think VM snapshot/backup of the Application Server prior to applying a delivery is the most reliable option along with a Oracle database level backup. You don’t need to stop IFS MWS Services for the backup as you can restart IFS Services once the VM is restored. 

In Apps 9 there are few long and funny folder and file names under IFS_HOME, mostly likely because they have been developed in a different environment and a direct folder backup and restore may not work.

There is a IFS_HOME backup batch file under C:\ifs\<instance_name>\instance\<instance_name>\bin but this option can take some time to perform the backup and restore.

 

Thanks for your views on this Srikanth. :)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikearbon
R
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@MikeArbon Mike I used this only 2 weeks ago as was unaware l.  Like you I used to create zip file backups.  I have also used the clone option to for another purpose.  Works really well and saves time. 

S
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Hi All,

We are using Apps 8 and within the Technical Documentation I am unable to find details about the backup and clone options of the MW environment. Tried searching perform_backup but no results returned.

Could someone copy the document and detail for completing this into a word document to attach to this thread please?

Thanks

Shaun

R
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I didn't think the backup clone option was available for Apps 8.0.

 

I too found it about 3 to 4 weeks ago and it works great.  Pre that it was the zip file backup. 

S
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The perform_backup.cmd file exists in the bin directory as described above, but without guidance i am not 100% how to run it or any pre reqs to the process. 

Is someone able to confirm if this functionality works in Apps 8 and if so, provide a guidance document please? 

Tharindu
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As I remember, this script was developed in SP2 or later so that’s why you probably not getting the documentation as the documentation normally release with the next SP.

 

I have attached the details that you need with this script and hope that will help.

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