HP Archive Backup System for OpenVMS Guide to Operations

• Save Type - Copied from related save entry
• Status - Copied from related save entry
• Severity - Copied from related save entry
3.2.8 Improving Catalog Performance
3.2.8.1 Catalog File Sizes
Saving and Restoring Data
3.2 Catalogs
Catalog files are RMS index-sequential files and as such need regular maintenance to avoid
unnecessary file growth and performance penalties. ABS provides a catalog conversion command
procedure (“ABS$SYSTEM:ABS$CONVERT_CATALOG.COM”) that improves the target
catalog update performance by doing a file-to-file conversion. By converting the target
catalogs, you improve catalog update time.
The ABS catalog files will grow as you continue to execute save requests. The sizes depend on
the number of files saved and the retention period used. For as long as the retention period has
not expired more entries will be added to the catalog. Once the retention period is reached the
ABS_CLEAN_CATLG_ batch job will remove expired entries from the catalog.
So, the more the files you save and the longer you want to maintain the archived data, the larger
the catalog files size.
Be sure to consider this information when creating catalogs and assigning retention values to
your archives. It may be best to create separate catalogs for each archive, if the retention period
is different. For example, you may create an archive called MONTHLY_SAVE, with a retention
period of one month. Create a catalog called MONTHLY_SAVE to be used by that archive. The
catalog size will grow for one month and then maintains its size.
3.2.8.2 Catalog File Maintenance
Run the conversion command procedure for each individual catalog on a regular basis. Catalogs
with more frequent delete operations should be converted on a monthly basis. See the logfiles
ABS$SYSTEM:ABS$CATALOG_CLEANUP.LOG;* for information on catalog file activities.
As a rule of thumb, the catalog must be converted if more than 10% of its records have been
deleted.
Example 3–2 Converting Catalog Files
$ @ABS$SYSTEM:ABS$CONVERT_CATALOG MyCatalog
This example converts all files for catalog “MyCatalog” by creating new copies of the files in the
same directory.
For additional improvement you can also move the target catalogs to a different disk by defining
a system level search list logical for ABS$CATALOG in ABS$SYSTARTUP.COM. The command
procedure also allows you to move the converted files to a different disk or directory.
Example 3–3 Moving Catalog Files to New Location
$ @ABS$SYSTEM:ABS$CONVERT_CATALOG MyCatalog DKA100:[ABS_CATALOGS]
This example converts the files for catalog “MyCatalog” and places the new files in location
“DKA100:[ABS_CATALOGS”. Once the files have been copied over, you can add the new
location to the ABS$CATALOG search list. Rename the old catalog files to *.DAT_OLD and
verify that you can lookup information using the new files. Once the new catalog files are used
you can delete the old files.
Saving and Restoring Data 3–9