overflowlogpath - Overflow log path configuration parameter

Configuration type

Database

Parameter type

Configurable online

Propagation class

Immediate

Default [range]

NULL [any valid path ]

This parameter can be used for several functions, depending on your logging requirements.

• Use the overflowlogpath parameter to specify a location for DB2 databases to find log files that are needed for a rollforward operation. It is similar to the OVERFLOW LOG PATH option on the ROLLFORWARD command. Instead of always specifying OVERFLOW LOG PATH on every ROLLFORWARD command, you can set this configuration parameter once. However, if both are used, the OVERFLOW LOG PATH option overwrites the overflowlogpath configuration parameter, for that particular rollforward operation.
• If logsecond is set to -1, you can specify a directory for DB2 to store active log files retrieved from the archive with the overflowlogpath parameter. Active log files have to be retrieved for rollback operations if they are no longer in the active log path. Without the overflowlogpath parameter set, DB2 databases retrieve the log files into the active log path. Use the overflowlogpath parameter to provide additional resource for DB2 databases to store the retrieved log files. The benefit includes spreading the I/O cost to different disks, and allowing more log files to be stored in the active log path.
• If you need to use the db2ReadLog API for replication, for example, use the overflowlogpath to specify a location for DB2 databases to search for log files that are needed for this API. Before DB2 Version 8, db2ReadLog was called sqlurlog. If the log file is not found (in either the active log path or the overflow log path) and the database is configured to archive logs by using the logarchmeth1 or logarchmeth2 parameters, DB2 retrieves the log file. Also use the overflowlogpath parameter to specify a directory for DB2 databases to store the log files retrieved. The benefit comes from reducing the I/O cost on the active log path and allowing more log files to be stored in the active log path.
• If you have configured a raw device for the active log path, the overflowlogpath parameter must be configured if you want to set the logsecond parameter to -1, or if you want to use the db2ReadLog API.
• You can specify a location for DB2 databases to retrieve log files that are required for a BACKUP DATABASE INCLUDE LOGS operation.

To set overflowlogpath, specify a string of up to 242 bytes. The string must point to a path name, and it must be a fully qualified path name, not a relative path name. The path name must be a directory, not a raw device. You cannot specify overflowlogpath as an empty string.