cannot recover files

[Lisa Dingman]

Please help. I was cleaning up files and deleted files under /usr/share/lib because of the date and then found this has caused problems. In trying to restore from SAM never restores. In trying to restore from terminal using:
cd /usr/share/lib/tmp
frecover -x -oF -i /usr/share/lib

I get a message saying something to the effect of unable to find /dev/rmt/0M
How can I restore these files

[Adam W.]

Lisa, first things first, DO NOT ever remove files from an lib directory unless you KNOW for a fact that they are irrelevent. That being said, there AREN'T files that are irrelevent in a lib directory, they MUST remain.

How do you backup? Tape backups? Local drives? What software? Type of server...etc....

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Lisa:

The message is telling you that the default device from which to recover your files is '/dev/rmt/0m'. You need to mount your tape there or specify the appropriate device. For instance:

# frecover -x -oF -i /usr/share/lib -f /dev/rmt/1m

Regards!

...JRF...

[Lisa Dingman]

I did use that exact statement, we backup using Sam to sam device /dev/rmt/0m

[Lisa Dingman]

woops didn't see the 1m - my mistake will try

[Lisa Dingman]

I tried:
frecover -x -oF -i /usr/share/lib -f /dev/rmt/1m

get message unable to find /dev/rmt/1m

Would being in /usr/share/lib/tmp have anythign to do with it? Users are on system so I hate to back up to /usr/share/lib right now - but '0m' or 1m' doesn't work

[Adam W.]

Lisa, can you print the output from ioscan -fnC tape?

[Lisa Dingman]

I have been doing at the terminal. So I tried in terminal mode in SAM - am getting blinking curser so far no 'unable ' message would that mean is restoring. When I do an auto restore using SAM interface, just gives me "restoring...." forever, am wondering if it is doing the same. I as you can see am rather green to sys admin, we are getting new server and my director wanted old files cleaned up, guess this was not a good idea.

[Lisa Dingman]

Yes, it is:
# ioscan -fnC tape
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
======================================================================
tape 0 0/10/0/0.2.0 stape CLAIMED DEVICE QUANTUM DLT8000
/dev/rmt/0m /dev/rmt/c4t2d0BEST
/dev/rmt/0mb /dev/rmt/c4t2d0BESTb
/dev/rmt/0mn /dev/rmt/c4t2d0BESTn
/dev/rmt/0mnb /dev/rmt/c4t2d0BESTnb
#

[Lisa Dingman]

more info
hp ux 11.11
11 iv1
rp 5470

[Lisa Dingman]

more info
hp ux 11.11
11 iv1
rp 5470
dlt tape drive

[Lisa Dingman]

It looks like nothing is still happening -

# cd /usr/share/lib/tmp
# frecover -x -oF -i /usr/share/lib -f /dev/rmt/0m

just a blinking curser for the past 15 minutes - yesterday let it run an hour and nothing - any other suggestions please?

[Adam W. · Accepted solution]

Lisa,
I would say give it some time to run. I ahve had a few backups take HOURS. I am not sure why, but they were successful.

[Lisa Dingman]

Thank you Adam, usually a complete backup takes 2 1/2 hours that was why I was wondering, I will let it run to see what happens, would you infer that it is recovering then?

[Lisa Dingman]

I am not sure how this relates exactly but since term and terminfo gone wasn't sure if the command to frecover from SAM terminal could get through. When I tried at the console would get the error message about not finding /dev/rmt...

[Pete Randall]

Lisa,

Take a look at your tape drive. Is the "tape in use" light blinking? If so, that's a pretty good indication that it is, indeed, doing something.


Pete

[Lisa Dingman]

Is there a way to see if files are copied by any chance while they are in process, if I look at directory copying to is empty, is this to be expected by any chance. In Windows you can see what files are copied, not sure if is relatable.

[Adam W.]

Hard to say whether or not it is recovering at this point. I would be patient for now and give it some time. For fuuture refence though, I wouldn't remove ANYTHING simply based upon the date of the files. Some system files NEVER change so they LOOK like they have never been used, but I can assure you they are being utilized. Best practice is basicall if you are not positive on what it is or what role the file plays on your system, leave it alone, ya know.

[Lisa Dingman]

Yes Pete, tape in use is blinking. I have to say learning by the seat of your pants isn't all that enjoyable.

[Duncan Edmonstone]

The *easiest* thing to do would be to go look at the tape drive - the light should be flashing away if its doing something...

HTH

Duncan

[Lisa Dingman]

I will definately not delete any files am unsure of again, thank you...patience isn't my strongest point, but will wait and keep you updated, thanks everyone.

[Adam W.]

Lisa,
You can cd into the directory and continually do an ll or ls -l, but like I said I think just give it some time. Activity lights are your friends, so if it is blinking away like you say it is, it is a fairly safe assumption the backup be being pushed.

[Duncan Edmonstone]

... sorry - should have read Pete's post - I missed it somehow...

[Adam W.]

Good Luck Lisa, hope everything works.

[Lisa Dingman]

Can anyone tell me why during a restore you cannot see files along the way, ie,if you do an ls - don't see any files restored, is this typical - can point me in direction to find?