DB2 Server for VSE & VM: Data Restore Guide

FORMAT

>>-FORMAT----DDSK=integer--------------------------------------><

Purpose

Use the FORMAT command to format a VSE/VSAM defined file in the DB2 Server for VSE required format.

In VSE, when a dbextent is damaged or has to be moved to a different volume, the extent has to be defined using the IDCAMS DEFINE CLUSTER command. Before restoring the storage pool or the database using the Data Restore RESTORE command, you must prepare the defined cluster for DB2. This process only applies for data extents.

It does not apply for:

• the directory disk (BDISK). The Data Restore feature formats the BDISK while restoring the database.
• the log disk (LOGDSK1). To format the log disk, the COLDLOG procedure with the parameters SYSMODE=S and STARTUP=L should be used.

If in VSE DB2 facilities are used to restore a database, you have two choices:

• The Data Restore FORMAT is not needed, as the DB2 restore procedure with STARTUP=R first formats all dbextents and then restores the database.
• You can use Data Restore FORMAT to format just one extent, for example after replacing, and then you can apply the DB2 restore procedure with STARTUP=F, so that it omits formatting. This can be much quicker, depending on the number of extents used.

In VM, the CMS commands FORMAT and RESERVE can be used to perform the equivalent function for both follow-on processes, Data Restore RESTORE and DB2 restore.