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SAP MaxDB is the database management system developed and supported by SAP SE.
SAP MaxDB is available on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Unix, and for the most
prominent hardware platforms.
How it works: Backup and DR volume-based backup with Linux CBT
Only changed blocks are tracked in the bitmap—no copy-on-writes or
I/O-intensive operations.
Data backup and recovery with volume-based backup images and CBT follows these steps:
The Backup and DR agent has CBT to track changed blocks in the database data
area.
The agent calls the database API to freeze or pause database for data backup.
Agent creates LVM snapshot of database data area and synthesizes a bitmap.
Agent call to database API to unfreeze database.
Agent copies changed blocks to backup/recovery appliance, which then deletes
the snapshot and catalogs the backup.
The appliance issues an internal snapshot and synthesizes a point-in-time
virtual full backup.
For data recovery, Backup and DR instantly mounts a rewritable staging disk
and brings the database online.
How it works: file-based backup
Data backup and recovery with file-based backup images follows these
steps:
Backup and DR agent is deployed in the database server.
Mount staging disk on the database server.
Invoke Full+Incremental backup using the dump backup command,
writing the backup image to the mounted disk.
Backup and DR takes an internal snapshot.
Log backups are done in a similar fashion directly from the file-system at
any schedule that you configure.
For data recovery, Backup and DR instantly mounts the staging disk to the
database server and initiates the database restore operation.
Logs can be played to any point in time after the database is restored.
For recovery, Backup and DR instantly mounts the staging disk to the database
server and initiates the database restore operation.
Logs can be played to any point in time after the database is restored.
SAP MaxDB APIs
Backup and DR uses the following SAP MaxDB backup APIs:
Linux CBT and LVM snapshot: MaxDB UTIL_EXECUTE SUSPEND LOGWRITER and
UTIL_EXECUTE RESUME LOGWRITER API with Linux CBT and LVM snapshot
This provides the full backup of the database in backup format. The
prerequisite for data backup is to define the backup template first.
Recovery API restore db recovers the database by physically overwriting the
data area.
MaxDB log backup: MaxDB autolog backup must be enabled on the
application side. Backup and DR copies the log backup files to staging disk
with cp command. As Autolog Backup is enabled we use os command to purge the
log backup.
This page is one in a series of pages specific to protecting and recovering
MaxDB databases with Backup and DR.
You can find additional information at the following pages:
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-25 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eSAP MaxDB, a database management system by SAP SE, is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Linux, Unix, and major hardware platforms.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBackup and DR utilizes Linux Changed Block Tracking (CBT) and Logical Volume Manager (LVM) snapshots for efficient volume-based backups of SAP MaxDB, minimizing I/O overhead by tracking only changed blocks.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFile-based backups in SAP MaxDB involve deploying a Backup and DR agent, mounting a staging disk, and using the \u003ccode\u003edump backup\u003c/code\u003e command to create backup images, followed by internal snapshots for point-in-time recovery.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eSAP MaxDB offers specific APIs for both volume-based (CBT/LVM snapshots) and file-based backups, including APIs for suspending/resuming log writers and initiating backup processes, along with log backups.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBackup and DR provides a full suite of tools and processes for protecting and recovering SAP MaxDB databases, ranging from preparing the database and defining policies to performing backups, mounts, and restores.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Backup and DR Service for SAP MaxDB\n\nSAP MaxDB is the database management system developed and supported by SAP SE.\nSAP MaxDB is available on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Unix, and for the most\nprominent hardware platforms.\n\nHow it works: Backup and DR volume-based backup with Linux CBT\n--------------------------------------------------------------\n\nOnly changed blocks are tracked in the bitmap---no copy-on-writes or\nI/O-intensive operations.\n\nData backup and recovery with volume-based backup images and CBT follows these steps:\n\n1. The Backup and DR agent has CBT to track changed blocks in the database data\n area.\n\n2. The agent calls the database API to freeze or pause database for data backup.\n\n3. Agent creates LVM snapshot of database data area and synthesizes a bitmap.\n\n4. Agent call to database API to unfreeze database.\n\n5. Agent copies changed blocks to backup/recovery appliance, which then deletes\n the snapshot and catalogs the backup.\n\n6. The appliance issues an internal snapshot and synthesizes a point-in-time\n virtual full backup.\n\n7. For data recovery, Backup and DR instantly mounts a rewritable staging disk\n and brings the database online.\n\nHow it works: file-based backup\n-------------------------------\n\nData backup and recovery with file-based backup images follows these\nsteps:\n\n1. Backup and DR agent is deployed in the database server.\n\n2. Mount staging disk on the database server.\n\n3. Invoke Full+Incremental backup using the dump backup command,\n writing the backup image to the mounted disk.\n\n4. Backup and DR takes an internal snapshot.\n Log backups are done in a similar fashion directly from the file-system at\n any schedule that you configure.\n\n5. For data recovery, Backup and DR instantly mounts the staging disk to the\n database server and initiates the database restore operation.\n Logs can be played to any point in time after the database is restored.\n\n6. For recovery, Backup and DR instantly mounts the staging disk to the database\n server and initiates the database restore operation.\n Logs can be played to any point in time after the database is restored.\n\nSAP MaxDB APIs\n--------------\n\nBackup and DR uses the following SAP MaxDB backup APIs:\n\n- **Linux CBT and LVM snapshot** : MaxDB `UTIL_EXECUTE SUSPEND LOGWRITER` and\n `UTIL_EXECUTE RESUME LOGWRITER` API with Linux CBT and LVM snapshot\n\n- **File-based backups** : MaxDB\n `dbmcli -d <dbsid> -u <dbm_username>,<dbm_password>backup_start`\n file-based backups API\n\n This provides the full backup of the database in backup format. The\n prerequisite for data backup is to define the backup template first.\n Recovery API restore db recovers the database by physically overwriting the\n data area.\n- **MaxDB log backup**: MaxDB autolog backup must be enabled on the\n application side. Backup and DR copies the log backup files to staging disk\n with cp command. As Autolog Backup is enabled we use os command to purge the\n log backup.\n\nWhat's next\n-----------\n\n[Prepare the database for Backup and DR](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/configuration/otherdb-prep-database)\n\nOther documentation for Backup and DR for MaxDB\n-----------------------------------------------\n\nThis page is one in a series of pages specific to protecting and recovering\nMaxDB databases with Backup and DR.\nYou can find additional information at the following pages:\n\n- [Backup and DR for SAP MaxDB](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/concepts/maxdb-intro)\n- [Prepare the database for Backup and DR](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/configuration/otherdb-prep-database)\n- [Add a MaxDB database host and discover databases](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/configuration/otherdb-add-host)\n- [Define policy templates and resource profiles](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/create-plan/create-template)\n- [Set application details and settings](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/backup/app-details-settings-otherdb)\n- [Check staging disk format and backup method](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/backup/backup-method-staging-disk-otherdb)\n- [Protect the MaxDB database and its logs](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/backup/otherdb-protect)\n- [Mount a MaxDB database](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/access-data/otherdb-mounts)\n- [Recover MaxDB Backups](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/restore-data/otherdb-restore)\n- [Create a MaxDB Backup and DR Workflow](/backup-disaster-recovery/docs/access-data/otherdb-workflow)"]]