help me with ignite

[Andy Stout]

I am new to the HP-UX world... that should say ALOT!
anyway, I'm running 10.2 - we were using Orbit Uniback for backups - which in my opinion sux0rs big time. I then disabled that software and set my server to be backed up via Veritas BackupExec 10.0. I'm using a remote agent to back up the file system. The problem is - there are so many files open that get skipped that I don't think in the event of a system failure I'd be able to restore. Is ignite the way to go? I don't know much about it - but I do have an internal tape drive and if it backs up the file system I'd be more than happy to use it in addition to my Veritas backup. I have no clue how Ignite works, what it does, or how to use it.

Can any of you point me in the right direction? Manuals? how-tos?

Thanks,

ATS

[Andy Stout]

Quick update. I think I have ignite installed in /var/opt/ignite. I just have NO CLUE how to use it...

[Mel Burslan · Accepted solution]

Ignite is not a backup process in the conventional sense. It is a method to restore a system back to operation after a crash. This should tell you quite a bit, as you can guess, ignite's primary focus is the resotring OS related files and filesystems. Yes it can be used to backup the whole server but I don;t believe it is an option to servers running pre 11.x versions of HPUX and even under 11.X it is not a preferred or suggested method of backing up.

Here are the ignite administration manuals

In HTML format
http://docs.hp.com/en/B2355-90872/index.html

In PDF format
http://docs.hp.com/en/5187-4555/5187-4555.pdf

Hope this helps

[Pete Randall]

Andy,

Ignite is not recommended (and is not intended) as a backup package. It is a disaster recovery tool to rebuild your root volume group with so you can then use your regular backup package to restore your data. Ignite offers none of the features of backup packages like media control, incremental backups, etc, etc.


Pete

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

add on,

But if you have ignite installed I would create a ignite tape just to for your own protection.

# make_recovery -ACiv -d /dev/rmt/?m

replace the question mark with your device.

Best regards,
Robert-Jan

[Patrick Wallek]

Here is the Ignite site:
http://docs.hp.com/en/IUX/

However, since HP-UX 10.20 is WAY out of support, you will not find a version of Ignite for 10.20 there. The manuals will give you a good idea of how Ignite/UX works though.

If you have a set of application CDs for 10.20, you should be able to find Ignite/UX on them. I believe the latest version for 10.20 was A.3.7.95.

[Andy Stout]

Wow! You people are fast. I guess I didn't mean it to sound like I wanted to back up the entire system with it... I just want the DR part of the deal....

so if i type the above command in - does it immediately create a "backup"? Should it be automated?

[DCE]

Ignite will give you a good backup image of the OS (vg00). I would not use it for your data vg's.

It sounds like (many open files) that you are attempting to back up a database that is open. You will need to shutdown that database in order to get a good backup - no matter what tool you use.

There are databases that allow you to do a "hot" backup (database is up during the backup process). You will have to work with your DBA's to configure it, if it is an option.

Dave

[Andy Stout]

My databases are being backed up to an NFS share. I use a Progress DB - the utility is probackup online. I don't have an issue with that at all. I just want to make sure I can boot my server up in case of a failure of some kind.

[Mel Burslan]

Then ignite is what your are looking for and the command given above will create a you a bootable backup tape (BBT) as it was called in early days of hpux.

A suggestion: as you are religiously backing up your databases and worried about backing up and such, I am assuming this is a critical application for your organization. Running a critical app on an unsupported OS like hpux 10.20 is not wise at the least. Should something happen to the OS, you will not be able to get support from HP. I strongly suggest upgrading to at least v11.11 (a.k.a. 11i V1) or better v11.23. You may not have the hardware for it, but again, people are scoring N4000 systems for under $10K on ebay and second hand server retailers. Something you need to be proactively seeking in my opinion.

Good luck in your endavors.

[Andy Stout]

I've actually got the media for version 11 - I'm just afraid with my poor UX skills that I'll mess something up trying to upgrade it....

[Patrick Wallek]

An upgrade of the HP-UX operating is not something to be undertaken lightly. You really need to PLAN it and make sure you have plenty of time available.

If you are not experienced in HP-UX, it may pay to consult with someone that has done it previously.

I would also recommend NOT upgrading from 10.20 to 11.whatever, but rather doing a clean install of 11.whatever and then importing your progress DB data.

[Andy Stout]

Thank you all for your quick responses and help! I REALLY appreciate it. I'll try the ignite utility out and see how it does. One more quick question. Do I simply have to have ANY writeable tape in the drive? Will it auto-format? overwrite? append?

[Pete Randall]

Any tape will do - it will overwrite what's there. It won't append, by the way, because you have to use the no rewind device file.


Pete

[Andy Stout]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to attempt to use ignite tomorrow.