selecting filesystems for fbackup thru -g backupfile

[mark yeo]

fbackup -f /dev/rmt/mydevice -g backupfile

my backupfile is as follows
i /
i /stand
i /var
i /usr
e /usr/sap/trans
e /usr/sap/put
e /usr/sap/sid
e /tmp_trans
e /tmp
i /sapmnt/sid
i /sap_interface
i /oracle/stage/817_64
i /oracle/stage/816_64
i /oracle/sid
i /oracle/sid/sapreorg
i /oracle/sid/sapdata6
i /oracle/sid/sapdata5
i /oracle/sid/sapdata4
i /oracle/sid/sapdata3
i /oracle/sid/sapdata2
i /oracle/sid/sapdata1
i /oracle/sid/saparch
i /oracle/sid/origlogB
i /oracle/sid/origlogA
i /oracle/sid/mirrlogB
i /oracle/sid/mirrlogA
i /oracle/805_64
i /opt
e /old_kernel
e /home

1) must the name of the -g filename be "graphfile"? cos here, i
changed to "backupfile"
2) also, how about the owner/ermission of this file?
3) i got the entries of "backupfile" from bdf command. any concerns?
4) any idea how to check whether the entries in "backupfile" space is
enough for the tape device?

[Michael Tully]

1) The name of graph file can be anything.
2) The permission must have read permissions by the user.
3) no
4) Unless we know the sizes of the intended backups, the media being used and the tape drive it is a little hard to tell.

[mark yeo]

just to confirm that the below is totally fine? thanks guys

fbackup -f /dev/rmt/mydevice -g backupfile

my backupfile is as follows
i /
i /stand
i /var
i /usr
e /usr/sap/trans
e /usr/sap/put
e /usr/sap/sid
e /tmp_trans
e /tmp
i /sapmnt/sid
i /sap_interface
i /oracle/stage/817_64
i /oracle/stage/816_64
i /oracle/sid
i /oracle/sid/sapreorg
i /oracle/sid/sapdata6
i /oracle/sid/sapdata5
i /oracle/sid/sapdata4
i /oracle/sid/sapdata3
i /oracle/sid/sapdata2
i /oracle/sid/sapdata1
i /oracle/sid/saparch
i /oracle/sid/origlogB
i /oracle/sid/origlogA
i /oracle/sid/mirrlogB
i /oracle/sid/mirrlogA
i /oracle/805_64
i /opt
e /old_kernel
e /home

[Darren Prior]

Hi,

Please note the graph file statements are recursive - ie i / will include / and everything below it (including /usr, /stand, /var...) With this in mind you can simplify your graph file.

regards,

Darren.

PS: Please remember to assign points to those that have taken the time to assist you. It helps others find good solutions, and is a tiny (but free!) way to reward those that have helped.

[mark yeo]

so i should put e / but then, how do i backup my root file system then?

[Darren Prior]

Hi,

Without knowing your full directory structure, it's tricky to say! A couple of points I would make:

1) for restoring the OS it would be best to use Ignite's make_tape_recovery. You can then concentrate on backing up the application data with fbackup. It's worth searching through the forums for other posts on this subject as it has been well discussed.

2) check through the forum for other people's experiences backing up Oracle files. eg, should the database be stopped, or can accurate backups be taken whilst it is running.

My comments about simplifying also count for the oracle dirs you have listed. It may be easier to use i for the Oracle dir, then e for any dirs not required.

regards,

Darren.

[R. Allan Hicks]

BTW I hope that you are doing a cold backup of Oracle (that is without Oracle running).

The oracle directories can be constantly changing while oracle is running. If you copy the files while it is in that state, the files will not be consistant, and you may not be able to do a full recovery after a crash.

There are ways to do a hot backup with Oracle, but you have to either do it with a media management package like legato that comes free with Oracle 8i, or backup the tablespaces to disk and then use fbackup to copy the backup files to tape.

--Good Luck

[mark yeo]

hi, thanks for the advise. yes, i did shutdown my oracle before fbackup

cheers