How to Display Contents of Tape Created with "make_recovery" Command

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

Now that I created a backup tape for Disaster Recovery using "make_recovery -d /dev/rmt/1m -t -v ", what can I use to verify the contents ov the tape to ensure I REALLY do have a legit backup. NOTE: I'm new to HP admin, but have worked in IBM's unix-world for quite awhile.

Thanks, in advance, for any information.

[Patrick Wallek]

If you want to look at the BOOT LIF on the tape:

# mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn rew
# dd bs=8192k if=/dev/rmt/1mn of=/var/tmp/tape_boot_lif

Once that finishes you can run lifls, lifcp, etc. against the /var/tmp/tape_boot_lif file to see details. Check the man pages for those commands for more information.

To see the tar archive on the tape:

# mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn rew
# mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn fsf 1
# tar -tvf /dev/rmt/1mn

This will list all files in the pax/tar archive on the tape.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Jim:

The archive is a 'tar' (creaated with 'pax') archive and as such is extractable (or viewable) with 'tar' as documented in the 'make_tape_recovery' manpages, thusly:

# mt -t /dev/rmt/0mn fsf 1 # skip LIF
# tar -tvf /dev/rmt/0m # view contents

Of course, until you actually use a tape, you really can't guarantee that it's viable.

If the tape was created with the '-I' option of 'make_tape_recovery', you can also boot from it. The '-I' option will give you the ability to cancel the recovery that would otherwise result.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

Patrick:

After I did the 2nd step to look at the BOOT LIF, I received anI/O error, with 0 records in/out.

Not sure what happened...?

[Patrick Wallek]

What commands did you use? Did you rewind the tape first?

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

I used:

mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn rew
dd bs=8192k if=/dev/rmt/1mn of=/var/tmp/tape_boot_lif


Looks like it doesn't like the BlockSize...

BTW: I did do the tar archive and it listed my backed up files.

[Raj D.]

Jim,

check this one to check the backed up files /dir.


# mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn rew
# mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn fsf 1
# tar -tvf /dev/rmt/1mn

hth,
Raj.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom Jim,

If you use make_tape_recovery instead of make_recovery, you get the following benefits.

1) A log file including good info on the backup.
2) Support from HP
3) A warm fuzzy feeling knowing you are using the right tool for the job.

make_recovery is obsolete.

SEP

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

I liked everyone's input and I thank you for that...

Now Steven, you informed me to use 'make_tape_recovery' sice HP no longer supports the one I used.

After reading through the man pages for the new one, I'm not exactlysure what options I should use to capture a good base for DR.

Any ideas/thoughts?

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Jim:

I prefer:

# /opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery -x inc_entire=vg00 -I -v -a /dev/rmt/0mn

This create an Ignite image on tape for vg00. It adds an interactive prompt when the tape is booted, offering me the ability to customize the recovery to my needs. The '-v' (verbose) optino simply generates verbose output during tape creation.

I am a fanatic about keeping vg00 devoid of anything but the standard logical volumes for the operating system. Thus, I totally rely on backups of non-vg00 filesystems for the data restoration of them.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

Thanks Jim!

For all but the -l option, I had selected all the other options you mentioned.

Thanks again for your help, and thanks to all who responded.

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

James Ferguson provided me with the information I was looking for.