A virtual backup, sometimes called a NULL backup, backs up all of an IQ database except the IQ store table data. You must make a separate operating system-level copy of the corresponding IQ store. To restore from a virtual backup, you must first restore the corresponding system-level copy of the IQ store and then proceed with the IQ full restore of the virtual backup.
A virtual backup backs up:
All IQ catalog data
All IQ metadata
All metadata in the IQ store not specific to individual tables. (Includes the freelist, backup and checkpoint information.)
A virtual backup does not back up data or metadata from tables other than those mentioned above.
To make a virtual backup, specify either the VIRTUAL DECOUPLED or VIRTUAL ENCAPSULATED parameter in the BACKUP command when performing a full IQ Backup. The VIRTUAL parameters prevent IQ from copying table data and metadata in the IQ store to the backup file.
