VDUMP / Single User Mode

[Philip Horan]

I would like to backup system before retiring.

Digital Unix V4.0F on Alpha Server 1200.

I aim to do the following:

1) Boot single user
2) Mount all partitions (mount –a)
3) Dump each to a tape.

vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /
vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /v1
vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /v2
vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /v3
vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /v4
vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /v5
vdump -0 -f /dev/nrmt0h /v6

Question:
1) How do I boot to a single user mode?
2) To mount partitions do I run: mount -a (no reference to the partition name)?

Many Thanks,
Phil.

[Steven Schweda]

> 1) How do I boot to a single user mode?

Doesn't Google work where you live? I tried
a search for:
tru64 boot single-user
and got several suggestions resembling:
boot -fl s
("a" being the usual default boot flags
value).

> 2) To mount partitions do I run: mount -a
> [...]

Sounds plausible. Trying it would probably
be faster than asking, of course.

[Victor Semaska_3]

This is how I do it:

>>> boot -fl s
# bcheckrc
# swapon -a

Then do the vdumps.

[Philip Horan]

Thanks for the response. Steven I did google prior to posting, just wanted to be sure as I am not from a Unix background. Regards giving it a try and seeing......I would rather be sure before trying :)

Once again many thanks for responding.
Phil.

[Venkatesh BL]

> 2) To mount partitions do I run: mount -a (no reference to the partition name)?

'mount -a' will mount the entries listed in the /etc/fstab file. So, no need to reference any partition.

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] just wanted to be sure [...]

Oh, ye of little confidence...

When you get desperate, there's always the
real stuff:

http://h30097.www3.hp.com/index.html
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/pub_page/doc_list.html
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/pub_page/V51B_DOCS/V51B_DOCLIST.HTM
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/base_doc/DOCUMENTATION/V51B_HTML/ARH9FETE/TITLE.HTM
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/base_doc/DOCUMENTATION/V51B_HTML/ARH9FETE/PDWNCHXX.HTM#understand-boot

[Philip Horan]

Thanks to everyone for posting. I have completed the task. On a couple of partitions on completion of the vdump the tape rewound and ejected but not all? I used to use tar to backup then run tar tvf to verify data backed up, not sure how to verify after vdump........so will google that :)
Once again, thanks.
Phil.

[Steven Schweda]

[...] so will google that :)

Or, see the man...

man vdump
man vrestore

[Philip Horan]

I will see the man then google :)
Thanks,
Phil.