Adabas Delta Save

The architecture of Adabas Delta Save centers around the Delta Save utility, the ADABAS nucleus, and the ADABAS journal files. The Delta Save utility is the primary component responsible for managing the backup and restore processes. It interacts with the ADABAS nucleus to coordinate the backup of changed data.

The ADABAS journal files are essential, as they track all changes made to the database. The system uses JCL (Job Control Language) for all administrative tasks. The START DELTA command initiates the delta save process, which prepares the system for subsequent backups.

The BACKUP command performs the actual delta backup, copying only the changed data since the last backup. The RESTORE command is used to restore the database from a delta backup. The ADAPRM file is the central configuration file, specifying parameters such as the location of the journal files, backup destinations, and other operational settings.

There are no exposed APIs. Communication between components occurs through the ADABAS nucleus. Security relies on the underlying operating system's access controls.

Monitoring is achieved through the STATUS command and ADABAS logs. The system operates on z/OS, z/VM, and zVSE/VSEn platforms. The key technical difference from full backups is the delta approach, which significantly reduces backup and restore times.