Many thanks to all who replied. I'm going to need time to digest
some of the longer replies, but here is the quick version summary.
If I discover any gold hidden in the longer mail, I'll post another
summary in a few days.
The quick version is most of you use dump/restore or vdump/vrestore.
Individual info is excerpted below.
-Burch-
=====================================================================
we are using vdump and vrestore to backup our disks (system and data
Andreas Bungert bungert_at_rhrk.uni-kl.de
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to backup just a few files or directories then carry on
using tar. If you want to back up complete filesystems, dump is
probably more appropriate. I can recommend using -b 64 (blocking
factor) for significant performance improvement, but remember to specify
it when doing a restore too.
Some might recommend that you use vdump, the Advanced File System
version which can also handle UFS. However, my preference is still dump
for UFS since there are a few known problems with vdump, such as bugs
doing incrementals, and logging the date in /etc/vdumpdates at the start
instead of at successful completion.
Jon Buchanan, Zuerich, Switzerland
[ Jonathan.Buchanan_at_ska.com ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
we use GNU-Tar. It has a few advantages over the 'regular' tar that
comes with Dunix. You can write labels to the tapes, you have a few
more other options. The big advantage of GNU-Tar is its portability.
Die Deutsche Bibliothek Juergen Bock
Zeppelinallee 4-8 069-7566-735
60325 Frankfurt bock_at_dbf.ddb.de
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEC dump/restore to work very well. The interactive restore
feature is really great. It puts you into a "shell" like environment
that allows you to "ls" and "cd" to mark the files to be restored
Jon Eidson (J.Eidson_at_tcu.edu) Information Services
Senior Systems Programmer Texas Christian University
(817) 921-7695 ext 6835 Fort Worth, Texas 76129
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are using advance file systems, use "clonefset" to clone the fileset,
mount the clone and dump that using vdump. The matching utility is vrestore.
Internet: Richard.Mackerras_at_metz.une.edu.au or richard_at_metz.une.edu.au
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
<sent script, uses dump and restore>
From: kbell_at_brighton.jpl.nasa.gov
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should read the LISA-V conference document on torture testing
backup methods. It is pretty old now, but the best document there is.
Sometimes you have no real choice, such as when you hav AdvFS and must use
vdump.
But normally the document and I recommend dump.
<much more interesting and valuable info not included in summary for
space contraints>
From: Jim Belonis <belonis_at_dirac.phys.washington.edu>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
On my alpha (3000/600 DU 3.2b), I use vdump/vrestore.
From: "Larry Church" <lchurch_at_postman.ncube.com>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been Sys-admining OSF for just a year. I use cpio to do daily
backups. I start in my /usr/users directory and back up all files in all
directories. My daily backups are done while my system is up, and
recovery from a backup tape is easy. For my full system backups (done
once a week) I use dump. It too is easy to restore from -- I've had to
restore from both without any problems. Let me know, and I'll send you
the commands I use.
From: Mary Aplin <aplin_at_alpha.loyno.edu>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Boris sent scripts using dump and added...>
What should you do after you back up for the first time? Practice restoring.
<good idea!>
From: boris_at_gore.afep.cornell.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
We use dump (well, vdump since we use ADVfs); always have always will.
dump is the only one that will span tape volumes. The other plus that it
has over cpio is that it WILL restore device files. cpio won't. I don't
claim that it's the best but it's worked well for us. Restores can be
From: Don Newcomer <newcomer_at_dickinson.edu>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd pick networker. (DECnsr) It's on the application CDs. Nice, fast,
GUI, multiple tapes, jukebox support, PC, all unix & novell clients
etc. The SingleServer (i.e. running on you box and making a backup
to you local tape) doesn't require a licenses, but a full server
licenses is included in the NAS 150, 200 etc licenses that usually
com with your box. Then you can add other network clients one
by one (requires a network-client license, not included, these cost
less than $200 each).
From: Harald Lundberg <hl_at_tekla.fi>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Received on Thu Mar 14 1996 - 18:19:21 NZDT