FREEZE redirects updates to the database. Use FREEZE to coordinate database activity with the invocation of an operating system utility that accesses the database file.

	Caution
	MUPIP FREEZE /ON prevents updates to one or more database files. Processes that are attempting updates "hang" until the FREEZE is removed by the MUPIP FREEZE /OFF command or DSE. Make sure that procedures for using MUPIP FREEZE, whether manual or automated, include provisions for removing the FREEZE in all appropriate cases, including when errors disrupt the normal flow.

To ensure that a copy or reorganized version of a database file contains a consistent set of records, concurrent MUPIP utilities, such as BACKUP (without the ONLINE qualifier) and EXTRACT, include mechanisms to ensure that the database does not change while the MUPIP utility is performing an action. Fidelity recommends the use of the /ONLINE qualifier with BACKUP, followed by an extract from the backup.

If you want to use a non-GT.M utility to perform a backup or reorganization, you may give that utility stand-alone access to the file.

Common uses of the FREEZE command are:

The format of the FREEZE command is:

       
            F[REEZE] /ON[/RECORD] | /OFF[/OVERRIDE] region-list
       
       
         

The region-list identifies the target of the FREEZE. Region-lists may include the DCL wildcards % and *.

FREEZE must include one of the qualifiers:

The optional qualifiers are:

/OF[F]

Stops a current FREEZE, unless used with /OVERRIDE. /OFF must be issued by the process that initiated the FREEZE. The /OFF qualifier is incompatible with the /ON and /RECORD qualifiers.

/ON

Specifies the start of a FREEZE. The /ON qualifier is incompatible with the /OFF and /OVERRIDE qualifiers.

/OV[ERRIDE]

Enables another process to end a freeze. /OVERRIDE should not be necessary (and may even be dangerous) in most schemes. /OVERRIDE is provided to allow error recovery in case a procedure with a freeze fails to release. The /OVERRIDE qualifier is incompatible with the /ON and /RECORD qualifiers.

/R[ECORD]

Specifies that the FREEZE utility should record an event as a reference point for subsequent backups. When a FREEZE specifies /RECORD, the current transaction identifier replaces the previously RECORDed transaction identifier for the database file. /RECORD is useful for integrating MUPIP BACKUP /BYTESTREAM with an external backup mechanism. The /RECORD qualifier is incompatible with the /OFF and /OVERRIDE qualifiers.