Configuring Remote Journaling on the Db2 for i Source

Remote journaling, a core component of the IBM i operating system, efficiently replicates the contents of a journal receiver to a remote system. SQDR Plus can be configured to obtain updates from the remote journal to reduce the impact on the primary system or to reduce network traffic.

After configuring and activating remote journaling on the Db2 for i source system as described below, see the topic Using Remote Journals for details on configuring SQDR Plus to use remote journals.

Definitions

source machine - location of source tables
target machine - location of remote journals

Preparation

Decide whether to use:

The IBM RedTip Remote Journal on i5/OS – Are You Selecting the Right Type? explains the advantages & disadvantages of type 1 and type 2 journal receivers. SQDR Plus can use either, but we recommend using type 2 for flexibility.

Type 1 - typically used for high availability backup system
Can't change library redirection later
The remote journal name for a Type1 remote (target) journal must be the same as the local (source) journal name

Type 2 - typically used for disaster recovery site
Can change library redirection
More object name versatility

Configuration and Activation using CL

The directions below are recommendations for an easy setup; for example, using the same user name (owner of the table) on both systems is a suggestion and not required.

On the target machine:

  1. Determine the RDB (relational database) name  of the target machine using WRKRDBDIRE. If a name has not been defined for the *LOCAL database, create one with ADDRDBDIRE.

  2. Create the user (owner of the table). Make sure you know the password (you will use it when invoking the ADDSVRAUTE command on the source system)

  3. Create a library to hold the journal. The name of this library cannot begin with a Q. The user created above should have full authority to the library. For a type 1 remote journal, this name should be the same as the journal library of the source.

  4. If necessary (if receivers are located in a different library than the journals), create a library to hold the receivers.

On the source machine:

As a user with SECOFR authority:

  1. Use ADDRDBDIRE to create an RDB entry for the target machine:

Relational database MYRMTSVR
type *IP
other parameters default
  Port number or service name  . :   *DRDA
  Remote authentication method:
    Preferred method . . . . . . :   *USRENCPW
    Allow lower authentication . :   *ALWLOWER
  Secure connection  . . . . . . :   *NONE
  Encryption algorithm . . . . . :   *DES

As the owner of the tables:

  1. Add security information for authorizing communication from the source system to the target system.

ADDSVRAUTE USRPRF(*CURRENT) SERVER(MYRMTSVR) PASSWORD(mypass)  

Related commands: CHGSVRAUTE, RMVSVRAUTE, DSPSVRAUTE, GO CMDAUTE

  1. Create the remote journal. You should see a journal created in the journal library on the remote system.

ADDRMTJRN RDB(MYRMTSVR) SRCJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) TGTJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) RMTJRNTYPE(*TYPE2) DLTRCV(*YES)

  1. Activate the remote journal. You should see a journal receiver created in the receiver library on the remote system.

CHGRMTJRN RDB(MYRMTSVR) SRCJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) TGTJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) JRNSTATE(*ACTIVE)  

 

To inactivate and remove the remote journal:

CHGRMTJRN RDB(MYRMTSVR) SRCJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) TGTJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) JRNSTATE(*INACTIVE)

RMVRMTJRN RDB(MYRMTSVR) SRCJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN) TGTJRN(MYLIB/MYJRN)

 

To determine whether a local journal is attached to a remote journal, and activate/inactivate the remote journal through panels, use the command:

WRKJRNA MYLIB/MYJRN
then select:
F16=Work with remote journal information
F6=Work with remote journal list

You also have the ability to activate/inactivate the remote journal through this menu. Option 5 (Display remote journal details) shows statistics such as Maximum entries behind, Maximum seconds behind, etc.

Configuration and Activation using System i Navigator (Windows application):

  1. Use command line to execute ADDSVRAUTE and ADDRDBDIRE commands as needed.

  2.  In the iSeries™ Navigator window, expand the source system.

  3.  Expand Databases.

  4.  Expand the database you want to use.

  5.  Expand Schemas.

  6.  Click the schema that contains the journal that you want to add a remote journal to.

  7.  Right-click the journal you want to add a remote journal to and select Properties.

  8.  On the Journal Properties dialog, click Remote Journals.

  9.  To add (associate) a remote journal to this journal, click Add.

Configuration and Activation using Navigator for i (web-based):

See the IBM Systems Magazine article Remote Journal Management on IBM Navigator for i.

Reference:

Product Documentation

Redbooks & RedTips