FDRAPPL is a high-performance, automated and flexible backup system that can be used to backup data sets that belong to a single z/OS application, regardless of where those data sets reside.
The selected data sets are located through the MVS catalog, so the user does not need to know the location of each individual data set. A minimal number of SELECT statements are usually required to identify an entire application.
FDRAPPL provides a fast and effective means of securing an application, and is ideal for complementing your existing volume-based backup system (see FDRINC), or to provide additional, specialized backup and retention for individual applications.
Managed Backups
FDRAPPL is a “managed” backup system, which means that the details of all data sets that are backed up are recorded in a special, high-performance control file, which requires minimum DASD space – often only a few tracks. When a backup has completed, a copy of its control file can optionally be placed at the end of the backup tape, to ensure that it is available in a Disaster Recovery situation.
Key Features & Benefits
FDRAPPL reduces application downtime and improves availability by backing up only the required data sets for an application. The backups can be written to disk (e.g. for home site checkpoint restart/recovery) or to tape (for use in a disaster recovery).
All major data set types are supported, including CICS, DB2 and VSAM, and the backups can be run before and/or after the application is stopped or started, or can even be included as a step within the application workflow.
Variable retention and expiration allows you to keep your application backups for shorter (or longer) than your regular volume-based backups.
Performance & Efficiency
FDRAPPL consistently out-performs its competitors, often using considerably less CPU resources and requiring less elapsed time in order to complete the task in hand.
Automated Restore
Recovery of an application with FDRAPPL couldn't be simpler. Because the backups are fully “managed”, restores are very straight-forward. There’s no need to tell FDRAPPL which tape(s) or disk(s) were used to store the backup – it already knows.
Either the whole application or individual data sets can be restored, either from the most recent backup, or from an older one. Datasets can optionally be renamed during the restore process, allowing you to create a copy of an application if required.