Restoring Tape Created with 'make_tape_recovery' to Original Server

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

On AIX, (my forte') we have a bootable image, created with mksysb, that we use to restore the server that's been repaired, and I'm very comfortable performing this.

Unfortunately, I've limited exposure to HP-UX, I've been told to use the 'make_tape_recovery' to create an image. I've done that, but am not sure what the procedures I'd need to use to restore the server once it's been fixed.

Is there any documentation that I can peruse to draw up an 'action plan' in the event a restore is required?

Thanks for your help.

[Florian Heigl (new acc)]

Short version:

/opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recover -A -a /dev/rmt0mn
takes the image

and to restore You'd insert the tape, and interrupt the system boot process while searching for devices.

then boot from the tapes hardware identifier, say 'n' when asked if You want to interact with ISL (initial system loader) and it'll run right into restoring the image.

upon completion there's only a reboot needed.

unfortunately I can't point You to actual documentation.

There's an "Ignite UX Administrators Guide" at http://docs.hp.com but it's been some time since I read it.

florian

[Pete Randall]

Administrator's Guide:

http://www.docs.hp.com/en/B2355-90941/index.html


Pete

[Jim Sobiesczyk]

Two more things:

1. So this tape would restore the server to it's original state of when the tape was created, including the system configuration, devices, and filesystems?

2. I read in the HP9000, Series 700 documentation about Making a Recovery System. Is this something else that is required and I need to do?

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

HI Jim:

A 'make_recovery_tape' will restore a server's vg00 to the same state as was represented by the tape's contents when the tape created.

That is, the essential system configuration, including all device files, will be reestablished.

Mirrored logical volumes may have to be re-mirrored and in some cases you may have to 'vgimport' non-vg00 volume groups.

I suggest you use something like:

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

This captures all of vg00. The "-v" means that you see details about the Ignite session as the recovery tape is being created.

The '-I' cauese the Ignite recovery session to be interactive when you boot from the recovery tape. This allows you to interact with Ignite, as for example to do an "advanced mode" installation where you can alter the sizes of your vg00 logical volumes. Without this option, you will have only 10-seconds to interrupt the automatic recovery to enter this mode.

Regards!

...JRF...