Q: How much DASD do I need in the system auxiliary storage pool (ASP) to perform save and restore procedures for network server storage spaces?

A: A save operation for an entire network server storage space is done by using the SAV command and specifying the OBJ parameter as '/qfpnwsstg/stg_name'. For example, to save the storage space named NETSRV to tape, you could use this command:

 SAV DEV('/qsys.lib/tap01.devd') + OBJ(('/qfpnwsstg/netsrv')) 

The save operation does not require additional space in the system ASP (unless you are saving to a save file, in which case you need at most the size of the network server storage space, but generally less because of the compression algorithms). However, the restore operation (using the RST command) always requires free space equal to the size of the network server storage space being restored (and this is true whether or not the storage space already exists).

For example, if NETSRV is a 500MB network server storage space being restored, at least 500MB of free disk space must be in the system ASP. If a network server storage space named NETSRV already exists on the system, data will be restored into NETSRV through a temporary object. The space taken by this temporary object will be freed when the restore completes.

On the other hand, if a network server storage space named NETSRV does not exist, the data will be restored to a temporary object that will be named NETSRV upon completion of the restore. In other words, when the network server storage space does not exist, it will be created by the restore command.

As you would suspect, the RST command is very similar to the SAV command. For example, to restore NETSRV from tape, you can use this command:

 RST DEV('/qsys.lib/tap01.devd') + OBJ(('/qfpnwsstg/netsrv')) 

Or, to restore this network server storage space to one named NETSRV2, you would use this command:

 RST DEV('/qsys.lib/tap01.devd') + OBJ(('/qfpnwsstg/netsrv' + *INCLUDE '/qfpnwsstg/netsrv2')) 

When restoring a network server storage space that does not exist on the AS/400 system, do not create it first-the restore command will create it for you.

- Russ Bruhnke