ABACKUP command: Backing up aggregated data sets

The DFSMShsm ABACKUP command creates a copy of a specified, user-defined aggregate group of data sets. Aggregated data sets can be any combination of data sets treated as an entity, for example, an application. The aggregated data sets must be cataloged. A BCDS must be defined at the backup site prior to issuing an ABACKUP command; otherwise, the command fails.

Note: In some topics, you will find the term Application Backup and Recovery used rather than Aggregate Backup and Recovery. The two terms are interchangeable.

To create a copy of aggregate data sets with the ABACKUP command, you must:

Specify the name of the predefined aggregate group that identifies the user-defined aggregated data sets.
Specify the EXECUTE parameter of the ABACKUP command.
Note: To determine if any changes are required to either the existing SMS constructs or SMS environment prior to actual data movement, run the ABACKUP command with the VERIFY parameter prior to running the ABACKUP command with the EXECUTE parameter. The VERIFY parameter detects whether any errors exist in the aggregate backup configuration and lists all input tape volumes that are required at the aggregate backup site when a subsequent EXECUTE is submitted.

The ABARS backup error installation exit (ARCBEEXT) allows you to skip a data set when DFSMSdss errors occur while DFSMSdss is dumping level 0 DASD data sets in the INCLUDE list. Specifying the SETSYS EXITON(BE) command is only required if you wish to skip data sets in error and it must be specified prior to issuing the ABACKUP command.

If you have volumes protected by peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) or extended remote copy (XRC), you can direct ABACKUP processing to skip backing up data sets from those volumes.

Upon successful completion of ABACKUP processing, an aggregate backup and recovery support (ABARS) activity record (ABR record) is created and written to the DFSMShsm backup control data set (BCDS) at the backup site. When multiple ABACKUP copies are created, there is one ABR record created for each copy of the output files. See Aggregate backup and recovery support (ABARS) for a description of the information contained in the ABR record.

You can use the ARECOVER command to recover the data sets previously backed up with the ABACKUP command.

Note: Issuing the ABACKUP and ARECOVER commands while SETSYS DEBUG is in effect causes the commands to be processed as if the VERIFY parameter were in effect. For additional information on SETSYS DEBUG, see Using DEBUG to determine the results of DFSMShsm processing without moving data sets.

For information on defining aggregate groups using ISMF panels, see z/OS DFSMSdfp Storage Administration.