Ignite as backup

[David Connolly]

Folks,

I have a small web server, and I would like to create a bootable ignite backup each night instead of an fbackup. The server only has a root volume group vg00.

No problem creating the ignite, or recovering the complete system from it. Both tested fine. However, when I run into difficulty when I attempt to retrieve a specific file or directory from the tape.

I rewind, then forward 1 EOF on the tape.
I can get a listing of the tar without problem, but when I try to retrieve a file, the tar command returns without error after some time.

e.g.
mt -f /dev/rmt/1m rewind
mt -t /dev/rmt/1mn fsf 1
tar xvf /dev/rmt/1mn /home/test

The command used to create the ignite is
make_tape_recovery -a /dev/rmt/1mn -I -A -x inc_entire=vg00

I suspect I'm missing something very obvious, but can't figure it out.

Any help would be appreciated.

[erics_1]

Try running the tar command with 1m instead of 1mn. Haven't specifically done this before but the manpage for mtr specifies a rewind device file.

HTH,
Eric

[Patrick Wallek · Accepted solution]

Your problem is the file name you are trying to retrieve.

make_tape_recovery archives files WITHOUT a leading '/'. So all files will look like 'etc/hosts'.

When you recover you need to do:

tar -xvf /dev/rmt/1mn home/test

You must specify the file name exactly as you see it when you do the 'tar -t' to get the list of files.

[Tim Nelson]

The file path to retrieve will be just like it is displayed with the tar vtf. Watch the leading slashed and such.

Also remember to rewind the tape and FSF again after the tar vt else you will be at the end of the tape and the tar xv will not find anything.

Used this a million times with success.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom David,

There is nothing inherently wrong with your approach. Taking note of the advice to simply back up the whole volume group will help.

There are some things to be aware of.

Generally, restoring and Ignite tape means booting and restoring the whole system. Yes, you can, and I've done it, read individual files off an Ignite backup. Its a little esoteric and most operators won't be able to do it.

It's probably a good idea to implement the tar idea, so you only have to recover one file from tape.

Another idea for you:
Do a cifsmount on a Windows server that gets backed up by tape. Tar all your web files to that mount point, and when you need the backup, you don't have to futz with a tape.

Keep doing the Ignite tape, in case you lose the whole system or boot disk.

SEP

[erics_1]

David,

Disregard my comment. Patrick is right on target.

Eric

[David Connolly]

Thanks Patrick - you were spot on, I had missed the lack of a leading /.

I'm still unsure of the approach overall, but I'll see what i can do with scripting. The need for restores is very rare on these systems, and the handiness of having an Ignite over and fbackup is tipping the balance in it's favour. The downside is the marginally greater tediousness of a partial restore.