mksysb for AIX what is similar for Linux ?

[cts123]

Hi Gurus,

I know this question is not for this forum, but just wanted to confirm with you all, if you face this situation what will you do?

I have bunch of AIX servers and among that there is only one Linux server which is acting as a "Send-mail" server of whole organization.

The version of Linux is : Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES release 4 (Nahant)

I do periodically mksysb for all AIX servers, but to be honest I didn't do anything for that Linux server. I don't know anything about Linux. The previous Admin guy suggested to stick with Linux for Sendmail, and thats running as it is.

Do you know if there is any command on Linux which does the same as mksysb of AIX? So that during any crisis, I can just simply restore the OS image and make the machine ON.

Any suggestion or any document link on this topic will be highly appreciated.


Regards,

-Sam

 

[khalidaaa]

I'm no expert in linux at all but i got this while googling:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux-Complete-Backup-and-Recovery-HOWTO/

http://linux.about.com/od/softbackup/Linux_Software_Backup_Solutions.htm

http://www.arkeia.com/products/index.php?gclid=CM3_h96GvIwCFRROQwodJUP0aA

Regards,
Khalid

 

[kHz]

Linux doesn't have an AIX mksysb or Solaris flash archive utility. You would have to write some dd script to another drive. As far as I know there isn't a snapshot utility like AIX and Solaris have either.

I am not a proponent of Linux for the enterprise. Use it as a mail server, file server, or something else. I wouldn't recommend it for databases or SAP or large programs that are mission critical.

There are times I will spend a couple of days trying to figure something out with Red Hat that could have been done in minutes with AIX or Solaris.

The Linux LVM is quite frankly a joke. It is absurdly pathetic. Try to find any information you need with it and all I can say is good luck.

Red Hat support is the worst I have ever used. I had one problem and it took four months for them to finally do something after I talked to some sales guy. Then the jokers had the nerve to want me to do the same thing I did four months ago. For example, in January they wanted me to add a line in modprobe.conf and run initrd. Did that to no avail. A week later they wanted me to do the same thing, which I informed them was done previously - look at the ticket. Did it anyway. Fast forward to March. Asked me to add the same line and run initrd - same thing as in January. Talked to the sales guy. Movement. Sent them the results and they sent me a test kernel that solved the problem. Month later after asking them when the kernel change would be GA. Result: test again what you did in January because we don't know what fixed your problem. (even though nothing worked until the test kernel!)

Good luck with Linux. It really is mostly a hack job and has that feel. And it really truly isn't free since a company wants support! Do yourself a favor. Stick with AIX and Solaris, can't go wrong with companies like IBM and Sun.

Besides, I have this awful feeling the Red Hat support people are mostly just-graduated high school kids that played with Linux at home and like playing with computers. Not what I need when I am calling support.