Backup of HP-UX servers with SANBOX VA7110 through Make Tape Recovery

[Ankit Kr Gupta]

Dear all,
I have 4 itanium based servers. All of them having data in their internal hdd as well as on SAN VA7110. Like vg00 in internal hdd in mirroring & SAP data on SAN in raid. Now, my query is that i want to take backup of this compltee system as relaible that there should be no risk. I am being suggested that i have to take backup of vg00 as ignite backup by command....
make_tape_recovery -I -x inc_entire=vg00 -a /dev/rmt/0mn
& for complete system backup ( for all volume group in one server) by command .....
make_tape_recovery -I -x inc_entire=vg00 -x inc_entire=vg01 -a /dev/rmt/0mn ( in which i have two volume groups vg00 & vg01 ).

Plz suggest accordingly.

Ankit

[Patrick Wallek]

The recommendation to backup VG00 ONLY via the make_tape_recovery command is correct.

However, the recommendation to backup VG00 and VG01 with make_tape_recovery is INCORRECT. You should NOT do this.

You should back up your SAP data via fbackup or some other backup utility so that restores will be easier and faster. Restoring a single file from a make_tape_recovery backup is possible, but if it is at the end of the tape, then it could also be very time consuming.

If you can't afford a commercial backup package like HP's Data Protector, then use fbackup.

For more information on fbackup search through the forums as there are MANY MANY threads on the subject.

[Ankit Kr Gupta]

Thanks Patrick ,

i am new to HP-UX. I want to know that if i take full system backup with make_tape_recovery than is it possible to take complete system restore or not? also there is some warnings in my vg00 ignite backup. I am attaching the recovery log. Plz tell me that it is OK or not and how much it is relaible?
I am also sending the bdf of my one server. in which vg00 is on server internal hdd & vg01 on SANBOX VA7110. Plz let me know that what will be my fbackup command for taking backup as you suggest. previously i am using this command..
vi graph
i /
e /tmp
e / cdrom

# fbackup -f /dev/rmt/0mn -u0g graph -I index.full.

Is it ok or not? & tell me the graph file contents as i want to take backup only for system daat as i already take ignite.

Regards,
Ankit

[Emil Velez]

You have some major issues with the way the system was setup.

it looks like /oracle is on vg01 and a mountpoint under /oracle is in vg00. This should not have been done that is why the ignite utility is saying it needs to include some of vg01.

Vg00 should only be standard filesystems. Your application filesystems should be in other volume groups or everything in vg00. You should not split things like you did.

when you create your ignite image you should shutdown all applications like databases so the files are consistent.

Since you have multiple systems why not use make_net_recovery to create restorable images of systems onto a single ignite server which could be a older system.

[Ankit Kr Gupta]

Hi..
If i take the complte system backup by make_tape_recovery ie.

make_tape_recovery -I -x inc_entire=vg00 -x inc_entire=vg01 -a /dev/rmt/0mn

when i have to restore this, will this can create the complete system, all mount point & other files ( oracle, usr, sap files ) as it is.

regards,

Ankit

[Dennis Handly]

>I want to know that if i take full system backup with make_tape_recovery than is it possible to take complete system restore or not? also there is some warnings in my vg00 ignite backup

The warnings say you can't take a "full" backup because of pax(1) limitations on the length of a path element. So if those 3 SAP files were important, you'll have problems. That's Patrick mentioned Data Protector and fbackup.

(You could hardlink each file, create a script and then after the restore, use the script to mv(1) them back to their longer name.)

[Ankit Kr Gupta]

hi..
can u plz let me know the graph file content in fbackup according to my bdf so that i can take backup & if any problem occurs, then can restore. As i already take the ignite (vg00) backup by make_tape_recovery.

Also, how much this data protector costs ?
Plz do reply fast as i am under process of taking backup.

regards,
Ankit

[skt_skt]

ignite image is meant for vg00 only(OS FS)/
as you are in the process of backing up the app data ASAP go ahead with the fackup and finish it.

DP or othe backup s/w is not an immediate solution for you. But you may get an evaluation version and do the licensing/purchasing b4 the expiry date of evaluation copy.

[Ankit Kr Gupta]

thanks to all of you