Tape archive recommendations sought

[Ralph Grothe]

Hi,

I was asked to do a full backup (archive) of one of our database servers for long term storage (viz. couple of years) on tape, because the machine is going to be "flattened" and returned to HP (as part of some compensation program).
This is just meant as a last resort, should the customer ever wish to retain a snapshot from now, and is totally separate from our regular automated backup (which is TSM or OpenView soon).
I just wonder which tools to use to this end.
Would you go for "lower level" tools such as cpio or tar that are (mostly) OS independant, and presumably could be restored on even another Unix flavour (other than HP-UX).
Or would it be better to use HP-UX dependant tools like fbackup/frestore?
What about the restoring possibilies in later HP-UX versions (say some HP-UX 15.0)?
Will it still be possible to be restored then when there is no more HP-UX 11.00 available?
(Well, who knows if there will be Unix alive then altogather ;-)
What about the storage media?
I have the choice between DDS and DLT tapes.
The amount of data is abt. 37 GB (which I think should fit on one DLT cartrige).
If not, is media change with HP-UX's versions of tar, dump, fbackup reliable?
(Is GNU-tar recommendable? It definately offers multi media archives)
Or would it be preferable to spread the data on several tapes on filesystem bounderies (viz. mounts)?

Regards
Ralph

[Emiel van Grinsven]

i guess i would use dd for all the static data (non OS related) and Ignite for the rest...
Since DDS will be upwards compatible using a dds3 drive/tape wont be much of a problem.

Maybe not the most beautiful solution but I think it will work.

[Pete Randall]

I think, for maximum portability, I'd try for something like dd. And I'd definitely go with the DLT drives so you can (hopefully) get it all on one tape.

Pete

[Michael Duthie]

Not a good idea to use ignite, as it checks the model string during install and bombs out if it does not recognise it. And the version of Ignite currently on the system will not know anything about future models.

Keep it simple, fbackup (or cpio if your moving platform) & a DLT.

Regards
Mike

[Stefan Farrelly]

I would got for gnu tar (gtar) as you can use it on any unix/linux flavour and try to keep to one tape (less chance of problems if restoring) but make 2 copies - so with 37Gb I think DLT is the best option.

[Ken Hubnik_2]

DLT for sure and if possible make 2 backups one with TSM and another using TAR.

[Vicente Sanchez_3]

Hi Ralph,

I'd use GNU-tar for portability to other platforms, and because it admit > 2Gb files. As I know Ignite and Fbackup are HP's only.

DLT of course by capacity, but perhaps DDS is more extended.

Why not 2 copies, DLT and DDS?.

Regards, Vicente.

[harry d brown jr]

Ralph,

For portability, I suggest the following:

(1) export all database and back it up to tape with GNU's tar (it handles files over 2GB).

(2) Do a GNU tar of your entire system.

(3) Do a make_tape_recovery, actually two of them and save them with the full backups (separate tapes).

DO NOT USE dump or fbackup, as they ARE NOT portable to OTHER OS's!

live free or die
harry

[Justo Exposito]

Hi Ralph,

What about CD-ROM and DVD media?

Regards,

Justo.

[T G Manikandan]

There are many things to look at

The DDS tapes are not so redundant.I would definitely go for DLT tapes with TSM.
I am sure that with options even a tape built with TSM can be restored with any other management software.
But regarding the storage device even if you are using DLT right now the technology is growing fast.
There might be a change in the storage device.
The latest storage devices go with LTO and does not support DLT.

YOu are right.I do not recommend using fbackup as it is a utility only on hpux systems.Avoid fbackup
A better way would be using tar which is portable on any flavour/version of unix.

What you have to think is that your backup is made on the latest technology right now so that in the next five years there is a backward compatibility support for that.
With the existing infrastructure,
TSM with DLT is the best option.

Thanks

[Stefan Farrelly]

I wouldnt use DVD or CD - their shelf life is only supposed to be 10 years or so (before data corruption/loss) - considerably less than DDS or DLT.