fbackup to SAN disk

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Hello there,

Usually, I create an fbackup script ( SAM utility ) for taking an OS backup to tape.

In this case, two unix boxes are attached to a SAN.

The first unix has a tape for the OS backup ( fbackup script in SAM ) . No problem with that.

However, the 2nd server has NO tapedrive.

Question :
Can I use fbackup on the 2nd server with a redirection of the backup data to a volumegroup on the SAN ?

Thanks in advance for any input on this matter.

Regards,

Franky

[Patrick Wallek · Accepted solution]

As long as you can write to it, sure. Just specify a filename instead of a tape drive name in the fbackup command. Just make sure you exclude that particular directory from being backed up.

You don't want to backup the file you are creating with the fbackup.

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Ok Patrick,

Thanks for the quick feedback.

Franky

[Mahesh Kumar Malik]

Hi Franky

You may use tape drive of first server as a remote tape drive for second server to take the backup. This can be done through SAM while you are in second server

Regards
Mahesh

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Hi Mr. Kumar,

This sounds like a valuable solution for my problem. However, I'm not really familiar in this area. How do you specify the remote tape drive ? Something like : remoteHost:/dev/rmt/.. ?

Regards,
Franky

[Patrick Wallek]

That is exactly correct. Note, though, that the use of a remote devices requires r-command (remsh, etc) usage.

[Uday_S_Ankolekar]

Suppose if you have TAPE drive on connected to system A
# Log onto systemA as root.


# Backup systemA:

# /etc/fbackup -f /dev/rmt/0m -g graph

# Backup systemB:

# remsh systemB /etc/fbackup -f systemA:/dev/rmt/0m -g graph

# Backup systemC:

# remsh systemC /etc/fbackup -f systemA:/dev/rmt/0m -g graph

You should required to make "trust" each other ..by configuring .rhosts or hosts.equiv

-USA..

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Thanks for your further inputs.

I'll have, in the given case, an HP 5300 Tape Array (HP Ultrium 460 Array Module). I have not seen that device yet and, as a simple DBA, I don't know what it does and what it does not. I understood that multiple tapes could be loaded, but I'm not sure if multiple tape devices can be addressed. If that is the case, then my problem is solved nicely. Otherwise, with I'll have to switch tapes between the backup job of host A and the backup job of host B.

Regards,
Franky