Hi Anita,
Depending on what one tries to accomplish (backup, system copy, installation, etc) there are different procedures. For each task, the whole procedure is described in special guides provided by SAP. Don't be shy reading them; there are quite straight forward.
Usually a system export step is part of a system copy or migration procedure. I am not aware of it being part of an offline backup procedure.
If you follow, for example, the system copy procedure you will effectively have made a copy of your system that you can keep as a "backup". But, this procedure is meant to create a clone of the system or to move it to other hardware and is usually more involved. Sticking with the backup procedure, is more efficient. It provides a fast, concrete, reliable and supported procedure for backup/restores; I suggest you follow it.
A SAP Java system comprises of a database and static files. That is why for a consistent backup you need to have both. The overview help page I have provided explains this concept. There are an on-line and an off-line method. The installation guide (for example
Installation Guide SAP Systems Based on the Application Server Java of SAP NetWeaver on Linux: Oracle Using Software Provisioning Manager 1.0) found in http://service.sap.com/installnw73 has this special section that explains things in some more detail:
6.12 Performing a Full Installation Backup
You must perform a full offline backup after the configuration of your SAP system. If required, you
can also perform a full offline backup after the installation (recommended). In addition, we recommend you to regularly back up your database.
CAUTION
Make sure that you fully back up your database so that you can recover it later if necessary.
You need to back up the following directories and files:
■ All SAP-specific directories:
● /usr/sap/<SAPSID>
● /usr/sap/trans
● <sapmnt>/<SAPSID>
● Home directory of the user <sapsid>adm
■ All database-specific directories
■ The root file system
This saves the structure of the system and all configuration files, such as file system size, logical
volume manager configuration, and database configuration data.
NOTE
This list is only valid for a standard installation.
Prerequisites
You have logged on [page 90] as user <sapsid>adm and stopped the SAP system and database [page 110].
Procedure
This procedure works on all hardware platforms. For more information about operating system-specific backup procedures, see your operating system documentation.
Backing Up the Installation
1. Log on as user root .
2. Manually create a compressed tar archive that contains all installed files:
■ Saving to tape:
tar —cf — <file_system> | compress —c > <tape_device>
■ Saving to the file system:
tar —cf — <file_system> | compress —c > ARCHIVENAME.tar.Z
NOTE
You can also execute the following command to manually create a compressed GNU tar
archive that contains all installed files and save it to the file system:
tar —czf <ARCHIVENAME>.tgz <file_system>
Restoring Your Backup
If required, you can restore the data that you previously backed up.
CAUTION
Check for modifications in the existing parameter files before you overwrite them when restoring
the backup.
1. Log on as user root .
2. Go to the location in your file system where you want to restore the backup image.
3. Restore the data with the following commands:
■ From tape: cat <tape_device> | compress —cd | tar —xf —
■ From the file system: cat ARCHIVENAME.tar.Z | compress —cd | tar —xf —
NOTE
If you want to restore the data from a GNU tar archive, you have to execute the following
command: tar —xzf <ARCHIVENAME>.tgz
Performing a Full Database Backup
1. Configure your third-party backup tool, if used.
2. Perform a full database backup (preferably offline).
If you use BR*TOOLS for the backup, refer to BR*Tools for Oracle DBA in the documentation SAP
Database Guide: Oracle (BC-DB-ORA-DBA), available in the SAP Library [page 11] at:
■ SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.1 / 7.1 including Enhancement Package 1 / 7.2:
Administrator’s Guide Administration of SAP NetWeaver CE General System Administration
Administration of Databases
■ SAP NetWeaver 7.3 and higher:
Database Administration Database Administration for Oracle .
I hope this makes more sense to you.
Best regards,
Menelaos