using rsync

[blabelle]

(Please take into account that my knowledge of SCO pretty limited.)
I am looking for a way to get a directory full of files from a primary server to a identical backup server automaticly overnight over our network. I was told that I could use rsync (thanks Annihilannic). the problems is I have no idea how to use it. Both servers have the same ver. of SCO. I just need to backup the files that are in a directory to the backup server over the network during none working hours. Something that would run on a schedule.
Thanks for any help.
blabelle

 

[PHV]

man exportfs
man hosts.equiv
man mount
man cpio or man tar or man copy

Hope This Help
PH.

 

[blabelle]

Do you know how any of these commands work, or how to write a script for these commands so that they are automated?

 

[PHV]

For automation,

 man crontab

Hope This Help
PH.

 

[blabelle]

Is there anyone who can give me spicific help with this, maybe an example or two? I am not sure how to write commands within the crontab file. I have read all these files and still am not sure what to do.
sorry for my stupidity, but SCO just isn't real intuitive. At least not to me.

 

[apeasecpc]

I would think that the rsync software has documentation on how to set it up. You should do an internet search of rsync and see if it does what you are needing. I did a quick search on altavista and there appear to be a number of useful information sources for the product.

It is also possible to use basic unix networking to copy files from one system to another (which is what I think PHV was trying to point you to). Basically you configure the main server to share its filesystems out, then mount them on the backup server, and copy the files to the backup server from the mounted filesystems.

As far as configuring the crontab is concerned, you need to come up with a working script before you even try to put it in the cron.

If you are hoping for someone here to just magically give you a script that does everything you need, it's probably not going to happen, because everyone's systems and processes are unique (most likely nobody has exactly what you are needing or it would already have been posted for you).

If you aren't able to figure out how to do it from any of these sources, it may be time to consider hireing a consultant to assist you.

 

[blabelle]

Hireing a consultant was what I was trying to avoid by posting here. All I was looking for was a little help. I guess thats what I got.
thanks

 

[apeasecpc]

Sorry we couldn't be more helpful. Unfortunately that's the way these sites go. If someone else had already done exactly what you were asking about you would probably have gotten the detail you were hoping for, but since apparently nobody has (at least nobody who has been actively monitoring this forum for new posts), all we are able to do is point you in the right direction.

I am sure that, like myself, most of the active users of this forum have many responsibilities for their own employers. We don't necessarily have the time, nor the resources to research something like you are asking if we haven't already done it.

I myself do not have a backup server that I would be using rsync nor any other method to keep synchronized with my live SCO server, so I can't provide you with any more information than I have already given. I use a tape backup method, and my users understand that if the server crashes it will be down until I repair the problem and restore the tapes.

 

[blabelle]

Thats exactly what I was hoping for, that someone out there was already doing what I want to do. Any way I think that I did get pointed in the right direction and will research it further.
Thanks for your help,
blabelle