Backing up raw device with fbackup

[TanmayB]

We have a requirment to tahe backup of oracle database (raw devices) with fbackup. The size of DB is 500GB and we have 72GB DDS. It is possible to take raw device backup using fbackup? If yes will it prompt for next tape volume? Please help me to know the backup and restore command using fbackup.

Thx
Ran

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

The only UNIX tool out-of-the-box that you can use for raw devices is dd --- and that is not a serious choice for critical backups. Serious backup needs are not an afterthought and require a serious solution. You should really look at a commercial backup solution like Data Protector; at the very least you should use RMAN.

[perumal_2]

Hi Ran
No way you can use fbackup for backing up raw volumes. Either you may need to use dd (disk image copying) or third party backup tools. HP Data Protector has a method for disk image copying, if you use these kind of third party tools you can create a tape pool and allocate them for your complete backup. Or you can use Oracle RMAN for database on raw file system backup.
The basic point is when you use dd the input and output device should be of equal size or destination should be higher in capacity than the source. If the 500 GB is a single volume I think it would be tough time. Or if the 500 GB is the total db size it is in multiple volumes you can have them in split (if it is less than or equal to 72GB) and back them up using dd.

TQ
Perumal

[Hein van den Heuvel]

>> We have a requirment to tahe backup of oracle database (raw devices) with fbackup.

So where does that requirement come from?
Does it have any authority, any intelligence, any base in the reality of things?

As suggested, you should use RMAN or an other tool which is aware of (Oracle) database files and raw device or you'll just be gatherin clumps of bits which may or might not be restored to an operational database.

>> The size of DB is 500GB and we have 72GB DDS.

So what is the backup plan to date? Is it not satisfactory? Can you address its shortcoming?

>> It is possible to take raw device backup using fbackup?

Not directly, but indirectly.
You can take the DB (files) offline and pipe dd into a zip into files. You can then fbackup those filesystem based files.

>> If yes will it prompt for next tape volume? Please help me to know the backup and restore command using fbackup

Read the man pages and try?!

hth,
Hein.

[TanmayB]

The requirement is to send this to our customer for something (which for valid reason i m nor discussing). We have to use some hp unix backup command as the backup setup is different between us. This decision is between both management. However I was able to put the mater in front of my management any we are moving to the direction of taking dumps and gzip farther (multiple device). Thanks guys for help. The dumps are more than 2Gb. I might have to use fbackup again. What is the command for fbackup which will ask for 2nd or 3rd tape to continue the backup and the restore command?

Thx

[Victor Fridyev]

Hi,

I'm afraid, this is misunderstanding:
1. It's impossible to back up raw devices with fbackup or another file system based tool.
2. You can back up a DB either cold (DB is down) or warm ( DB is up and running).
3. It's not a vary good idea to back up 500 GB raw in cold status: the downtime is too long
4. In order to backup Oracle DB, you have to use either Oracle or storage tools.

HTH