TechDirectory   UNIX System Security and Performance Tuning

How to backup data on UNIX ?

Backups are one of the major tasks that a Systems Administrator do. Here are few hints for the beginners. You will have to replace the tape device name with the one you are using. See some scripts here.

If you are in hurry and want to use ufsdump and ufsrestore, see example below.

Using cpio

  Using cpio to create a file archive on a tape device:
   # find . -print |cpio -ocBv  /dev/rmt0

  Using cpio to list the entries in a file archive on a tape device:
   # cpio -itcvB < /dev/rmt0

  Using cpio to retrieve a file from a tape device:
   # cpio -icvdBum file.name < /dev/rmt0

  You can also use cpio to copy directory structure. For example copy
  Directory structure from current path to /export/home/tariq

   # find . -print|cpio -pmdv /export/home/tariq

  Using tar to create a file archive on a tape device:
   # tar -cvf /dev/rmt0 file.name
   or
   # tar -cvf /dev/rmt0 .
  
  or for multiple directory hierarchies
   # tar -crvf my.tar  `find /tmp/junk -type f` `find /var/tmp -type f`

  using tar to list the entries in a file archive on a tape device:
   # tar -tvf /dev/rmt0

  using tar to retrieve a file from a tape device:
   # tar -xvf /dev/rmt0 file.name

Copy files from current directory to directory /to/dst/dir/, keeping ownership and rights
  #tar cvf - . | (cd /to/dst/dir/; tar xvf -)

  There is more than one way to skin these cats, this being no comprehensive
  look at these utilities.

Using dump and restore (ufsdump, ufsrestore)

  dump ( in solaris and others called ufsdump )is said to be the most reliable
  way to backup the whole   filesystem. restore is the utility for restoring 
  data from a dump. We can use restore interactively to restore certain files
  or directories.

  To make a dump of root filesystem on tape device /dev/nrsa0. Note
  that this is a non-rewinding device. See example below.
   # /sbin/dump -0ua -f /dev/nrsa0 / 
  
   or for solaris
  
   # /usr/sbin/ufsdump 0f /dev/rmt/0cn /

   To interactively restore a backup

   # /sbin/restore -i -f /dev/nrsa0  

   or for solaris

   # /usr/sbin/ufsrestore -xvf /dev/rmt/0cn

   Every thing will be restored in current directory.

  mt (magnetic tape manipulating program) is a very useful command
  specialy if you are using dump and restore combination. 

  
  Following are some useful options of mt command.

  # mt status    Print status information about the tape unit.

  # mt rewind    Rewind the tape.

  # mt erase     Erase the tape.

  # mt retension Re-tension the tape (one full wind forth and back.

  # mt fsf 1     Forward space count by one file. One can be any number.

  -f option can be used with mt to specify the different device. For
  solaris /dev/rmt/0 is the default device.

  # mt -f /dev/rmt/1n fsf 3

Example

    If you are backing up three filesystems /, /var and /usr on a solaris
    Box to a tape device:
    
     # /usr/sbin/ufsdump 0uf /dev/rmt/0n / 
     # /usr/sbin/ufsdump 0uf /dev/rmt/0n /var 
     # /usr/sbin/ufsdump 0uf /dev/rmt/0n /usr 

    This will take three file spaces, one for each filesystem. Filesystem / will
    be on file count 0 of tape and /var will be on file count 1 and /usr will be
    on file space 2. Option 0 specify full backup,u will update the dump record in
    /etc/dumpdates file and f to specify file or device. You can use following 
    command sequence to restore /var filesystem.

    # mt status

    This will show you the current status of tape. After the backup
    on a non-rewinding device, tape will show file number 2
   
    # mt rewind
   
    This will rewind the tape to beginning.

    # mt status
    
    Tape will be on file count 0

    # mt fsf 1 

    Tape will move to file count number 1 where /var is dumped.

    # /usr/sbin/ufsrestore -xvf /dev/rmt/0n

    /var will be restored in current. This will over-write the current contents.
    Use /dev/rmt/0cn for compression, no rewind device.

Commands for remote tape backup

#!/bin/sh
tar -cvf my.tar $(for i in `cat list`
   do
       echo $i
   done)
exit

This script is backing up to tape using dump command. Logging date and all the messages 
to a log file. 

#!/bin/sh
#
echo "$DATE"backup.log
filenumber=`/usr/bin/mt stat|/usr/bin/grep "File Number"|/usr/bin/awk '{print $3}'`
echo "Backing up / to tape location: $filenumber"backup.log
/sbin/dump -0ua -f /dev/nrsa0 / &2backup.log
if [ $? -eq 0 ];then
   echo "/ backup successful"$HOME/log/backup.log
fi

Copy files ( even complete filesystem) from remote to local system

Note: You must be able to rlogin into the remote machine without a password. To do this add the name of your local machine with your user name in the .rhost file in your home directory on the remote machine.


#!/bin/sh                                                       
#                                                              
# Copies files from Remote System to the local current directory 
#       
name=`basename $0`                  
if [ $# -ne 2 ];then
echo "Usage: $name <remote-system> <dir-to-copy>"
exit                                                            
fi                                                               
system=$1                                                   
dir_to_cp=$2                                                 
rsh $system "cd $dir_to_cp; find . -print|cpio -ocB"|dd ibs=5k obs=5k|cpio -iducmvB

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