Sending Warning Messages

About 10 minutes before you plan to begin the backup, use the WARN command to send a message to all users asking them to log off the system.

Unlike the TELL command, the WARN command interrupts users working in QUIET mode so that you can be sure they know about the impending backup. Enter the command below, substituting the time you intend to begin the backup for hh:mm.

   :WARN @S; BACKUP WILL BEGIN AT hh:mm.  PLEASE LOG OFF

Now that everyone has been warned, find out who is still using the system. Enter:

   :SHOWJOB JOB=@S

The system responds by listing all sessions. Since you have already told users about the backup once, and warned them again, most users should have ended their sessions. Periodically use the SHOWJOB command to see who is still logged on to the system.

	NOTE: For an online backup, send these messages to users. However, you could change the text of the message to let users know that they can log on after a certain amount of time has passed. The amount of time users have to remain logged off the system depends on how much data is being stored. It can range anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes. For a 7x24 true-online backup, you can send a warning message to users notifying them that the true-online backup is about to begin. However, you do not have to tell them to log off.