Backing up the system

You can run scheduled or manual backups on the Cloud Pak System.

The backup process

The backup process transfers your system configuration to a specified backup storage server. The initial backup that is run is a baseline backup. Subsequent backups are delta backups. A delta backup is a copy of the system configuration that stores only the changes to the system configuration since the last baseline backup. The system automatically determines the type of backup to run by checking the backup storage server for the presence of a baseline backup. To create a new baseline backup go to the System Backup and Restore settings and change the path of the backup.

You can configure scheduled backups by going to System > Settings > System Backup and Restore > Step 5: Perform Backup to select a time and one or more days of the week from the menu to set the backup schedule. You can also run manual backups by clicking Backup now.
Note: IBM® Cloud Pak System 2.3.3.4 or earlier supports SHA-1 based key exchange methods, whereas IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.3.5 or later supports SHA-2. The key exchange methods that are supported for connection to back up remote hosts are: diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256 (SHA-2 based key exchange method), diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1, diffie-hellman-group14-sha1, and diffie-hellman-group1-sha1. The default key exchange algorithm that is supported from IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.3.5 or later is diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256.
The backup process consists of the following jobs:
Complete System Information Backup 1 of 3
This job initiates the backup process. This job remains in the Running state until the background process is initialized, then the second of the three jobs is queued to start.
Complete System Information Backup 2 of 3
This job prepares the data for backup. New tasks are blocked or placed in a pending state while this job runs to ensure a consistent copy of management databases and other artifacts. After all target data is defined, the third job starts.
Note: There is a delay between the completion of the second job and the start of the third job. This behavior is normal.
Complete System Information Backup 3 of 3
This job compresses, encrypts, and transfers the target data to the specified backup storage server.

The system configuration data on the Platform System Manager, and pattern data are included in the system backup. Optionally, the .ova files for default or custom images, and virtual appliances can be selected for backup. Backup images that are stored on an external backup storage server are encrypted to protect sensitive data, allowing only trusted parties to view the backup image. You can decrypt the backup image only by using the private key, and only on the Cloud Pak System hardware.

The restore process

Use CLI scripts to selectively restore system and workload data. Only an IBM service representative performs the full restore process, using the backup archives. The full restore procedure begins with the decryption of the backup image. The data is extracted from the backup storage server. The verification of the data integrity is done before the restore by using the metadata present in the backup image.

When data is restored, anything that was added or changed since the last delta backup image was taken is not included in the restored environment.