Help on full system backup

[Ahmad Munawwar]

Hello,

I had 4 unit of servers (SUN) with new installation. I would like to perform full system and database backup to ensure if the system crash, then restoration can be made easily. Unfortunately none of these server have a local tape drive. I planned to get one unit of StorEdge L9 with DLT 8000 HVD SCSI Tape Drive (support only 40GB/80GB)which will hooked up to one of the server. With the following information in my system now:

Below is the system file size for the entire / (root directory) :
[root@Server A] />> du -ks
4,032,188

[root@Server B] />> du -ks
99,943,118 .

[root@Server C] />> du -ks
84,576,078 .

[root@Server D] />> du -ks
15,695,827

Note they are in GB. If you have a disk crash, then this will fully restore the system files together with the database.

If I need only to restore the database, currently the sizes are :
[root@Server B] /opt>> du -ks oradata00
5836013 oradata00

[root@Server C] /opt>> du -ks oradata
7503163 oradata

[root@Server D] /opt>> du -ks oradata
1266424 oradata

1. How many tapes do I required for each server?
2. I also want to only backup oracle data incase the oracle crash for server B,C & D.

How could be the best way to do this?

Regards,
Munawwar

[Julio Yamawaki]

Hi,

first, buy LTO or SDLT, DLT is obsoleted.
Comparing the servers:
A. Total: 4 GB, DB: 0
B. Total: 100 GB, DB: 6 GB
C. Total: 85 GB, DB: 8 GB
D. Total: 16 GB, DB: 1 GB
In this point of view:
. Server A and D, DAT DDS-3 is enough
. Server B and C, LTO is enough.
Besides, you can use a software to manage this backup in a centralized mode, like Data Protector. You can also buy a centralized storage and make a network backup (in this case, you need a good networking connection). In case of a centralized backup, a LTO unit with capacity of 200 GB is enough for you, also, this units has a minimum throughput of 50 GB/hour, if you have problem of backup time.

[Ahmad Munawwar]

Hi,

I have DDS tape drive with capacity DDS4.
As i know DDS 4 tape media have a capacity of 20GB.

My enquery is:
To backup data which more than 20 GB so basically I required more than one tape right? example Server B, here I required about adleast 6 tapes of DDS 4 drive.is it correct?
But then if i do df -k:
[root@MS-00] />> df -k
Filesystem kbytes used avail capacity Mounted on
/dev/md/dsk/d400 1523455 56094 1406423 4% /
/dev/md/dsk/d405 5161437 552703 4557120 11% /usr
/proc 0 0 0 0% /proc
fd 0 0 0 0% /dev/fd
mnttab 0 0 0 0% /etc/mnttab
/dev/md/dsk/d404 2053605 50857 1941140 3% /var
swap 4488248 8 4488240 1% /var/run
swap 4633232 144992 4488240 4% /tmp
/dev/md/dsk/d407 22099030 2873246 19004794 14% /opt
/dev/md/dsk/d0 35003383 7503163 27150187 22% /opt/oradata

From example above for full system backup I only backup the usage data or the whole junk of filesytem disk?

br,
Munawwar

[Naveej.K.A]

Hi Munawwar,
DDS4 drives are 20/40GB Dat drives. ie. 20 GB in non-compresed and 40GB in compressed mode. This drive is a very slow device which has only a data transfer rate itself to a maximu of 40MB/sec and the read/write speed is still slower. It could take up more than half of the day to backup/restore your 80GB of data.

I think your plan for a DLT 8000 would be better in this case.

With best wishes
Naveej

[Ahmad Munawwar]

Hi Naveej,

for the time being I only have that option.
For 100GB data so basically I need 2 tape drive right?

br,
Munawwar

[Naveej.K.A]

Hi,
For 100GB data, you will require more than two tape catridges. Plan your backup in a manner matching the size of the FS with the catridge size (40GB)

With best wishes
Naveej

[KapilRaj]

Ahmad,

My approach would be diffrent in your seat

Classify your system's storage in to small groups i.e.

Databases , Applications , System , User data

Have one backup for each of these categories , also if possible make sub-classes i.e. you may have number of databases / applications running on your server have seperate backups on same tape using the non-rewind option or have them on seperate tapes !

It will make your life as a sysadmin better .. If you want to restore a single file from a 40 GB tape full of data it would a REAL PAIN !

Do not take my words as it is , but design your own backup strategy depending on your environment ! Copying 1 systems data onto one single tape is NEVER a good idea ! Please remember it is not only whether we have a backup or no that matters !, but how fast you can restore does also matter ! My BOSS never ask me how do you backup / where do u backup ! he will catch my neck if i can not restore my data in an acceptable time ! I am dead if did not have one though !

Regds,

Kap