help on fbackup

[Lisa Dingman]

This is the following cron job we do through SAM for daily backups.
10 2 * * 2-5 /usr/sam/lbin/br_backup DLT FULL Y /dev/rmt/0m /var/sam/graphOFAa11881 root Y 1 N > /var/sam/SAM_br_msgs 2>&1 #sambackup

These are the messages we get daily informing us of the status of our backups:
10 2 * * 2-5 /usr/sam/lbin/br_backup DLT FULL Y /dev/rmt/0m /var/sam/graphOFAa11881 root Y 1 N > /var/sam/SAM_br_msgs 2>&1 #sambackup

This is my question, after reading the post about incremental backups and the man page I think the '-d' option is for incremental backups, the file /var/adm/fbackupfiles/dates shows the following below which shows only two backups on Sat and Wed, but the /var/sam/log/br_log shows backups completed on Sat, Tues and Wed. Can someone please explain to me if this is really doing a full backup and if so why Tuesday backup not listed in the dates file. Maybe I am not understanding the '-d' option but the backups were set up before I came and I want to be sure to be doing full and not incremental backups. Thank you in advance am really green at this.

/var/sam/graphOFAa11881 0 1233130201 1233134884
STARTED: Wed Jan 28 02:10:01 2009 ENDED: Wed Jan 28 03:28:04 2009
/var/sam/graphSDAa14800 0 1232784602 1232790638
STARTED: Sat Jan 24 02:10:02 2009 ENDED: Sat Jan 24 03:50:38 2009

[Lisa Dingman]

I pasted the same info under daily status of backups is here:

Full backup started on hp2.alvincollege.edu : Sat Jan 24 02:10:00 CST 2009 (Scheduled Backup)
{ fbackup -0 -u -g /var/sam/graphSDAa14800 -I /var/sam/log/br_index.full -c /etc/sam/br/fbackup_config -d /var/adm/fbackupfiles/dates -f /dev/rmt/0m } 2>&1
Full backup completed with warnings on hp2.alvincollege.edu : Sat Jan 24 03:50:45 CST 2009 .
Exit code = 4

Full backup started on hp2.alvincollege.edu : Tue Jan 27 02:10:00 CST 2009 (Scheduled Backup)
{ fbackup -0 -u -g /var/sam/graphOFAa11881 -I /var/sam/log/br_index.full -c /etc/sam/br/fbackup_config -d /var/adm/fbackupfiles/dates -f /dev/rmt/0m } 2>&1
Full backup completed with warnings on hp2.alvincollege.edu : Tue Jan 27 03:28:22 CST 2009 .
Exit code = 4

Full backup started on hp2.alvincollege.edu : Wed Jan 28 02:10:00 CST 2009 (Scheduled Backup)
{ fbackup -0 -u -g /var/sam/graphOFAa11881 -I /var/sam/log/br_index.full -c /etc/sam/br/fbackup_config -d /var/adm/fbackupfiles/dates -f /dev/rmt/0m } 2>&1
Full backup completed with warnings on hp2.alvincollege.edu : Wed Jan 28 03:28:09 CST 2009 .
Exit code = 4

[sujit kumar singh · Accepted solution]

hi


This seems to invoke the fbackup with the -0 option that is for the full backup and the -d option for the date file to be used and -u option to update the date file.

yes the date file is very helpful in helping get the Incremental backup.

if the fbackup runs as in example with -1 (call this N) instead of 0, then fbackup shall consult the date file that is /var/adm/fbackupfiles/dates to look for the latest archive that is 0 =(N -1) and if finds that will take a backup incrementally for the files W.r.t. that N-1 backup file.


But as the command runs with the -0 ( 0 always means a full backup) Option the backups are full and the date file being used here is only getting updated for the same.


can have more a look at the /var/adm/fabackupfiles/dates in order if you can see any level 1 backup or incremental backup.

[Lisa Dingman]

Thank you your answer is very helpful, this the the dates file, which shows two backups on Wed and Sat which I am not sure I understand, is this saying on Wed and Saturday did an incremental backup?

/var/sam/graphOFAa11881 0 1233130201 1233134884
STARTED: Wed Jan 28 02:10:01 2009 ENDED: Wed Jan 28 03:28:04 2009
/var/sam/graphSDAa14800 0 1232784602 1232790638
STARTED: Sat Jan 24 02:10:02 2009 ENDED: Sat Jan 24 03:50:38 2009

[Lisa Dingman]

Hi - I should have explained myself better, I guess my basic question is, can I be sure that a full backup has been done, even when I see the two entries in the /var/adm/fbackupfiles/date which have 2 dates listed but the entries in the br_log file have all which says full backup completed.

Why would you use the '-d' option for a full backup? Since these are SAM generated, they may just add but for my own peace of mind want to be sure this will always do a full backup.

[sujit kumar singh]

Hi Lisa,


I would like to have the br_backup_log and the /var/adm/fbakupfiles/dates for 29th Jan also.


If possible the whole of the dates files.

Or you can also check that on the following lines.
This shall hint you that the dates file and the br backup log are both true.(also you can refer to the man pages for the command fbackup(1M)).

1)the default file for the fbackup record of keeping the dates file is /var/adm/fbackupfiles/dates but this is needed to be created the first time fabckup is run.
this will keep the records on the basis of (a)Backup level(0-9), and (b)Graph file used by fbackup if a graph file is specified (-d for specifying a non-default graph file)
-u option is used to make an entry to that graph file once fabckup is over with the two entries (a) and (b) and with the date entry.

2) if you can notice then it is found that for the three fbackups completed(24,27,28) the graph file used for the level 0 (mind option -0 of fbackup as the br log says): for 24 the Graph file is /var/sam/graphSDAa14800 and for 27 and 28 is /var/sam/graphOFAa11881

3) from the information in point 2, when fbackup after completion writes to the dates file, it writes the latest on Jan 24 entries:/var/sam/graphSDAa14800 level 0 for Jan 24

and /var/sam/graphOFAa11881, level 0 for Jan 28 on Jan 28.
Actually while fbackup completes on jan 28 it finds that alreaady the latest Entry for the Graph file /var/sam/graphOFAa11881, and level 0 was that of Jan 27 and overwrites that (hope i am correct).

This entry

/var/sam/graphOFAa11881 0 1233130201 1233134884
reads actually

So in tommorrows(29th) BR backup log just have a look at the br backup file and the dates files.

also you can see what are the contents of the graph files being used as they are different on 24 to that on 27 0r 28.

If taken using the graph file that is used on 27 or 28 you must find the entry of 28 Jan being replaced in the dates files as that will be a backup with the same graph file /var/sam/graphOFAa11881 , level 0 . so dates file shall be updated with the latest entry.


remember that an fbackup with -0 option is always the highest level of backup that is the full backup once specified.

Refer to the man pages of fbackup command
#man fbackup and have a look at the -u and -d options.

please post the br backup logs and dates file fully for jan29.

hope i am not too lengthy in the explanation.

Regards
Sujit

[Lisa Dingman]

Thank you Sujit, that is very helpfule, will monitor for next few days the files, appreciate your good explanation.