make_net_recovery

[Joe Profaizer]

My DDS3 just failed and I can't take the system down to replace it before my next make_recovery. I now have to do a make_net_recovery. Are there any tips/techniques/gotchas I should be aware of with make_net_recovery?

Are there any used/proven procedures for this. From what I've read, I have to create an NFS share large enough to hold all of my VG00.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

..Joe

[Patrick Wallek · Accepted solution]

The easiest way I've found to do this is to use the Ignite GUI.

# ignite

You do need an exported filesystem that will hold the vg00 that you are backing up. Keep in mind though that the backup will be gzip'ed.

If there are any errors with your setup, the GUI will do a pretty good job of telling you what needs to be checked to fix the problem.

If you have a large vg00, make sure that the filesystem / LV that you export has the largefiles option enabled so that the archive can go over 2GB.

I would also go ahead and upgrade the version of gzip that is on your server so that it can handle files larger than 2GB. The version that comes with HP-UX, in /usr/contrib/bin/gzip, does not handle > 2GB files. Once the new version of gzip is installed, go ahead and make a symbolic link from /usr/contrib/bin/gzip to /opt/gzip/bin/gzip so that the new version gets used by default.

You might also upgrade gzip on the machine you are backing up just in case it is used there as well.

[Joe Profaizer]

Thanks. Where do I download the latest gzip version?

..Joe

[Patrick Wallek]

GZIP ver. 1.3.1
http://hpux.cs.utah.edu/hppd/hpux/Gnu/gzip-1.3.1/

GZIP ver. 1.2.4a
http://hpux.cs.utah.edu/hppd/hpux/Gnu/gzip-1.2.4a/

I know 1.2.4a works, that what I've got. I haven't tried the 1.3.1, but I would think that it should work as well.

[Joe Profaizer]

OK. Last question. (just want to make sure I do this right). What I need is the correct symbolic link syntax.

Thanks again!!!!

[Patrick Wallek]

Here's what I would do after installing the new version of gzip.

# cd /usr/contrib/bin
# mv gzip gzip.orig
# ln -s /opt/gzip/bin/gzip gzip

Now you should be all set.

[Joe Profaizer]

Thanks. Shall I do the same with gunzip, etc........?

[Patrick Wallek]

Probably wouldn't hurt. I just looked at my system and I linked all the gzip type commands (gzip, gunzip, gzcat, gzexe) to their counterpart in /opt/gzip/bin. Probably safer that way. At least you'll be using the same version of everything.

[Sanjay_6]

Hi Joe,

Take a look at this thread about creating a make_net_recovery archive,

http://us-support2.external.hp.com/cki/bin/doc.pl/sid=f72c6ecc11e6be24f3/screen=ckiDisplayDocument?docId=200000043976541

Hope this helps.

Regds

[Joe Profaizer]

I tested it and I think it worked. I had about 15GB on vg00 and the recovery file (2002-02-12,09:31) was only 240MB. Does this seem normal? I realize you told me it was gzipped.

Thanks in advance.

[Patrick Wallek]

Hmmmm...... I don't know that I'd trust this backup. A 240 MB backup file for a 15GB vg00 seems awfully small.

To look at what is in the recovery file do a:

# gzcat filename | tar -tvf - > /tmp/file_contents

When you did the make_net_recovery did you go through the GUI? If so, when it selected the vg00 for the system, did it do an inc_entire or an inc_partial? My bet is that it did a partial include and only included the core OS stuff.

[Joe Profaizer]

I believe you're right. The log file now estimates that the archive will be about 3.4GB. Does that sound better?

Thanks again, you've been a great help

[Patrick Wallek]

Yeah, that 3.4GB number does sound much better for a 15GB VG00.