back up

[James_309]

Help with backing up computer I might have to replace HD I have recovery disk. Simple ifpossible

[Michael Tully]

Can you install the extra disk before removing the 1st one ?

if not,

If you have ignite installed (best method)
# /opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery -x inc_entire=vg00 -I -v -a /dev/rmt/?mn
Make sure you use the no-rewind device and do two backups.
Install new disk
Boot your system, interrupt the boot sequence and boot off the tape hardware address

If you haven't got ignite installed, get from here:
http://www.software.hp.com/products/IUX/download.html

If you have more than one sizeable volume group, then you could use 'fbackup' for your second backup or import the secondary volume groups using 'vgimport'. You will need to get a 'vgexport' mapfile first.

[Wim Rombauts]

Can you put both disks in the same system at the same time ? It doesn't have to be the system where your HD is currently installed in, any unix box will do.

If your system needs this disk as boot disk, frst find the raw device files of both disks, reboot the system to single user mode and then use "dd" to copy the disk. (See man page for correct usage)

If the disk you need to copy is a data disk, stop all applications that use this disk, unmount all filesystems on this disk, and just use the "dd" command. No need to reboot.

Take care to use the raw device files !