/UNTIL=time
Specifies the ending date and time for an after-image or before-
image recovery operation. Specify the date and time using either
absolute time or delta time. See the OpenVMS Glossary for more
information about specifying absolute or delta time. The /UNTIL
qualifier functions as follows:
o For after-image recovery, the /UNTIL qualifier specifies the
date and time up to which the backup copy of the data file is
to be restored. If you do not use the /UNTIL qualifier with
after-image recovery, then all updates through the most recent
update recorded in the after-image journal are restored.
o For before-image recovery, the /UNTIL qualifier specifies the
date and time to which the data file is rolled back. That is,
all modifications to the data file from the present time to
the time specified with the /UNTIL qualifier are removed. In
most cases, you should use the /UNTIL qualifier with before-
image recovery; if you do not, then all modifications recorded
in the before-image journal are removed.
If you are recovering a file that is also marked for recovery
unit journaling, the following rules apply:
o For applications using only one file, if the time specified
with the /UNTIL qualifier (or the most recent modification in
an after-image recovery if /UNTIL is not used) is a point at
which there are no active transactions for the file, then
the file is restored to the time specified by the /UNTIL
qualifier.
o If one or more transactions were active at the time specified
by /UNTIL, only those modifications made within transactions
that were completed (committed) on or before that time are
applied to the file. For example, suppose you issue the
command RECOVER/FORWARD/UNTIL=10:30 for the backup copy of a
file marked for both after-image and recovery unit journaling.
Then, the restored file will include all modifications that
were made within those transactions that completed on or
before 10:30. (The same rule applies to before-image recovery:
only those modifications made within transactions that were
completed before the /UNTIL time are included in the restored
file.)
o For applications using after-image recovery in which more than
one file is associated with record streams connected to the
same transaction, you should exercise care in choosing whether
or not to use the /UNTIL qualifier. If you do not use the
/UNTIL qualifier with the first backup copy that you restore
with after-image journaling, you need only restore those files
in the application that are corrupted or lost. In this case,
do not use the /UNTIL qualifier with any of the files that
you restore. However, if you do use the /UNTIL qualifier with
the first file that you restore, then you must restore each
file in the application, using the /UNTIL qualifier with the
same time value for each file. If you do not use the same time
value for the /UNTIL qualifier, then the modifications for one
or more transactions may be restored to some of your files,
but not to others.
o For applications using before-image recovery in which more
than one file is associated with record streams connected
to the same transaction, use the /UNTIL qualifier with the
command RECOVER/BACKWARD in order to specify a time to which
the file is rolled back. Then restore each of the files in
the application to the same time specified for the first file,
in order to ensure that the modifications for one or more
transactions are not restored to some of your files, but not
to others.
o If you attempt to recover a file used in a multifile
application that uses more than one after-image or before-
image journal, the journals must be recovered in their
entirety to assure transaction consistency. If you use
the /UNTIL qualifier, the recovered files may still be
inconsistent.
NOTE
The /UNTIL qualifier is a positional qualifier. For
example, if you enter the following command, the file
FILE-1 will be recovered up to the present, and file
FILE-2 will be recovered until "yesterday."
$ RECOVER/FORWARD FILE-1,FILE-2/UNTIL=YESTERDAY