Recommendations for archiving files

From: Aldridge, Robert E. <REAldridge_at_mcdermott.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 15:09:13 -0500

Tru64 Managers:

On our Tru64 5.1 cluster, we want to archive about 50GB of files for the
users. What's the recommended format for this archive?

For daily backups, we use Legato Networker -- but I'm not sure I want to use
Networker for something I might have to go back to in 5 years.

Assuming I use the DLT40/80 tape drive on the system, what format would you
recommend? Dump? Tar? Cpio?
Specific command examples (and switches) would be appreciated.


I also have to assume that I might have another brand of Unix in 5 years --
so I don't want a vendor-specific format.

I searched the Tru64 mailing archive, and came up with a decent summary of
the same problem. I'm just looking for validation (that the information is
still relevant and accurate)...


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SUMMARY: Archiving Files to Tape
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To: tru64-unix-managers_at_xxxxxxxx 
Subject: SUMMARY: Archiving Files to Tape 
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 13:18:16 -0800 (PST) 
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...
What is the best method to archive specific files to
DLT tape?
 
The (Short) Answer is:
tar or cpio, since vdump doesn't archive specific
files (only filesets and subdirectories).
ALAN'S E-MAIL FOLLOWS:
The manual page from V4.0D suggests that vdump can do
subdirectories, but not individual files.  The other
significant limitation of vdump is that it uses an
on-media format that can only be read by vdump.  That
doesn't make it very portable.
Tar or cpio should be readable by a large number of
other instances of tar or cpio.  Which of those to
use may be as much a matter of personal taste as a
matter of capability.
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Thanks for your assistance.
Robert Aldridge
McDermott Technology

Received on Mon Mar 04 2002 - 20:09:38 NZDT