Check files backup on tape 1

[babeo]

Is there anyway to check the files backup on tapes are good (or are they there?) so that I can make a decision of re-backup or delete the backed up files on harddrive to make more room for my system?<br>Thanks.

 

[AndyBo]

All depends how the backup was taken.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the simplest level, if you create a backup with tar, for example, using the command:<br><FONT FACE=monospace><br>cd /<br>tar cvfb /dev/rmt/0 20 *<br></font><br>You can read the tape back using:<br><FONT FACE=monospace><br>tar tvf /dev/rmt/0<br></font><br>This only verifies that you can read the file headers back, though.&nbsp;&nbsp;To completely verify a backup created using tar (or cpio), the only way to do this is to actually restore the backup.<br><br>Unfortunately, this usually isn't very practical on a production system...&nbsp;&nbsp;Some commercial backup offerings off backup validation where a block of data is written to tape, then read back, then compared with the original RAM based copy.<br><br>What we usually do in house is to make sure we have two (or three copies of the same backup before we do anything critical to the system.&nbsp;&nbsp;ie, run the same backup multiple times.&nbsp;&nbsp;It adds a large time overhead (got to run the same backup multiple times) but it's worth it, we think <br><br>HTH

 

[babeo]

Thank AndyBo<br><br>It's help, and it is very true about performing on production system, and I still look for a better way to check the backup on tape ;-((<br><br>Anyway, do you have any idea about long files name when backing up on CD (because it takes too much times to check and restore from tapes, so I am thinking about backup on CD - cheaper and faster to restore and I can check the data right away).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I have problem with long file names:&nbsp;&nbsp;After copy them on CD, those files show up ok on CD on window 95, but when I read from UNIX box, they won't show up !!

 

[AndyBo]

Where are you creating the CD?&nbsp;&nbsp;Under Windows or Unix?&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, when you mount the CD under Unix, what filesystem format are you specifying?<br><br>IIRC, there are about 4 major CD filesystem formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;It could be that you're mounting the CD using a format that doesn't recognise long file names.

 

[babeo]

Oh oh!<br><br>I am still very new to UNIX, so I don't know how to check for filesystem format on Solaris (in fact, I don't know what you mean either !!!!!!!!!).&nbsp;&nbsp;I just a user takes over whatever is already set up here.&nbsp;&nbsp;Could you show me how.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thanks.<br>by the way, we have a dedicate machine (Win 95) to do the CD copying.&nbsp;&nbsp;So I ftp(using Binary, not ASCII) the files from Solaris box on to this PC machine, then from there I cut the CD, however, I check and are able to see all files in that CD on that PC machine, but when I try to restore files from that CD on UNIX box, I can not see any file with long name!!!<br>

 

[AndyBo]

We've wandered a little bit off topic here, but I'll try to answer your CD query &nbsp;&nbsp;How do you mount the CD on the Solaris box?&nbsp;&nbsp;Please give the full command with all the options that you use.<br><br>I'm able to access CDs that contain long filenames OK on te Solaris servers we have here (Solaris 2.6, 7, and 8).&nbsp;&nbsp;I suspect it's the settings in your Windows CD burner program that are incorrect.&nbsp;&nbsp;Have a look around for &quot;High Sierra&quot; or &quot;ISO9660&quot; in the program settings.&nbsp;&nbsp;IIRC, Microsoft have their own filesytem that kludges the old 8.3 DOS filenames to give long filenames.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's possible the CDs are being burned in this format, and Solaris is only seeing the 8.3 format filenames.<br><br>In the meantime, if things still don't work, why don't you FTP the files from a Windows box back to the Solaris box?&nbsp;&nbsp;I know it will be slower than accessing the CD, but it should be OK as an interim solution.<br><br>HTH.

 

[babeo]

Thank AndyBo<br>I don't have full right to do any thing (!) on the machine of Windows CD burner, but I will check with my guy.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the meantime, your suggetion about ftp is good.&nbsp;&nbsp;Probably I will do it for a while until I figure out the set up on Windows CD burner.<br><br>You're very helpful

 

[babeo]

Hi AndyBo<br><br>According to my guy, the setup on Window CD burner is right, which is set up for long file name.&nbsp;&nbsp;So what is the real problem then?<br>By the way, as I said, the set up of the CD on UNIX is set up by someone previously, I actually don't know what is the command the previous person mount it on.!<br>Thanks