OpenVMS documentation

The following sections describe how to restore the system disk. Note that restoring a system disk also serves to defragment the disk. In addition, it validates the backup, ensuring that the backed up system disk is usable.

F.5.1 Getting Started

Before you can restore the system disk, follow these steps:

Shut down the system.
Boot the operating system media. (For booting the OpenVMS Integrity servers OE DVD, see Section B.6. For booting the OpenVMS Alpha CD, see Section A.1.)

Choose the DCL option (8) on the menu. For example:

  You can install or upgrade the OpenVMS I64 operating system
  or you can install or upgrade layered products that are included
  on the OpenVMS I64 distribution (CD/DVD).

  You can also execute DCL commands and procedures to perform
  "standalone" tasks, such as backing up the system disk.

  Please choose one of the following:

    1)  Upgrade, install or reconfigure OpenVMS I64 Version 8.4
    2)  Display layered products that this procedure can install
    3)  Install or upgrade layered products
    4)  Show installed products
    5)  Reconfigure installed products
    6)  Remove installed products
    7)  Find, Install, or Undo patches; Show or Delete recovery data
    8)  Execute DCL commands and procedures
    9)  Shut down this system      
        
Enter CHOICE or ? for help: (1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/?) 8

At the triple dollar sign prompt ($$$), enter the SHOW DEVICES command.
Examine the list of devices to determine which device is the source drive (the drive holding the backed up files you want to restore) and which device is the target drive (the disk on which you want the files restored).

F.5.2 Mounting Devices

After you determine the source drive and target drive, mount those devices (and any other output devices you plan to use) before you perform any restore operations. Enter the MOUNT commands in the following format:

$$$ MOUNT/OVERRIDE=IDENTIFICATION  source-drive
$$$ MOUNT/FOREIGN target-drive

In these commands:

source-drive is the device holding the files you want to restore
(Note, however, that you must use the MOUNT/FOREIGN command if the source drive is a tape device.)
target-drive is the destination

F.5.3 Performing the System Disk Restore

Enter the BACKUP command in the following format to restore the system disk:

$$$ BACKUP/IMAGE/VERIFY source-drive: target-drive:

Example 1

In this example, a backup disk and a target disk are mounted so the BACKUP command can restore the system disk from the backup disk:

$$$ MOUNT/OVERRIDE=IDENTIFICATION DKA300
$$$ MOUNT/FOREIGN DKA200
$$$ BACKUP/IMAGE/VERIFY DKA300: DKA200:

Example 2

In this example, a backup tape and a target disk are mounted so the BACKUP command can restore the system disk from the backup tape:

$$$ MOUNT/FOREIGN MKA300
$$$ MOUNT/FOREIGN DKA200
$$$ BACKUP/IMAGE/VERIFY MKA300:SEP_08_BACKUP.BCK/SAVE_SET DKA200:

F.5.4 Logging Out, Shutting Down, and Rebooting

After you complete the restore operation, follow these steps:

Enter the LOGOUT command to exit the DCL environment and return to the menu.
Choose the shutdown option (9).
After the shutdown completes, boot from the system disk.