Informix Backups run slowly (4045881)

Date: Jun 2009
Product & Version: NVBU Any
OS Version: Observed on AIX
Module & Version: Informix APM (any)
Application version: Informix Any.


Symptoms:
Informix backups run slowly.
Drive statistics indicate that the bottleneck is at the APM.

1) use the drive statistics to work out where the bottleneck is.
2) if the bottleneck is in the network transfer, use a smart client to backup locally.
3) if the bottleneck is at the APM end, try running an Informix Storage Manager (ISM ) backup in place of Netvault.

If this runs slowly, then the problem lies with the speed in which onbar fetches data from the database, and you need to consult an Informix Database Specialist.

If the ISM backup runs quickly, try a Netvault Informix database backup again.


Explanation:
In two cases we have seen slow Informix backups being solved by running an ISM backup then re-running the Netvault backup. As yet we have not been able to discern a reason for this, though it seems likely that the ISM backup effects the configuration in some way.