How to Backup a File System to Tape

The following are general steps for backing up file systems by using the ufsdump command. The examples show specific uses of options and arguments.

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. Bring the system to run level S (single-user mode).

   For example:

   # shutdown -g30 -y

   
   

3. (Optional) Check the file system for consistency.

   For example:

   # fsck -m /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s7

   
   

   The fsck -m command checks for the consistency of file systems. For example, power failures can leave files in an inconsistent state. For more information on the fsck command, see Chapter 43, Checking UFS File System Consistency (Tasks).

4. If you need to back up file systems to a remote tape drive, follow these steps:

   1. On the system to which the tape drive is attached (the tape server), add the following entry to its /.rhosts file.

      host root

      
      

      The host entry specifies the name of the system on which you will run the ufsdump command to perform the backup.

   2. On the tape server, verify that the host added to the /.rhosts file is accessible through the name service.

5. Identify the device name of the tape drive.

   The default tape drive is the /dev/rmt/0 device.

6. Insert a tape that is write-enabled into the tape drive.

7. Back up file systems.

   # ufsdump options arguments filenames

   
   

   You can back up file systems or directories or files within file systems. For information on backing up individual files, see tar(1) or cpio(1).

   The following examples show how to use the most common ufsdump options and arguments:

   • Example--Performing a Full Backup of root (/)

   • Example--Performing an Incremental Backup of root (/)

   • Example--Performing a Full Backup of a Home Directory

   • Example--Performing a Full Backup to a Remote System (Solaris 9 Data to Solaris 9 System)

   For other ufsdump options and arguments, see Chapter 50, UFS Backup and Restore Commands (Reference).

8. If prompted, remove the tape and insert the next tape volume.

9. Label each tape with the volume number, dump level, date, system name, disk slice, and file system.

10. Bring the system back to run level 3 by pressing Control-D.

11. Verify that the backup was successful.

    # ufsrestore tf device-name

    
    

Example--Performing a Full Backup of root (/)

The following example shows how to do a full backup of the root (/) file system. The system in this example is brought to single-user mode before the backup. The following ufsdump options are included:

• 0 specifies a 0 level dump (or a full backup).

• u specifies that the /etc/dumpdates file is updated with the date of this backup.

• c identifies a cartridge tape device.

• f /dev/rmt/0 identifies the tape device.

• / is the file system being backed up.

For example:

# init 0
ok boot -s
# ufsdump 0ucf /dev/rmt/0 /
  DUMP: Date of this level 0 dump: Tue Oct 07 16:23:08 2003
  DUMP: Date of last level 0 dump: the epoch
  DUMP: Dumping /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s0 (starbug:/) to /dev/rmt/0.
  DUMP: Mapping (Pass I) [regular files]
  DUMP: Mapping (Pass II) [directories]
  DUMP: Writing 63 Kilobyte records
  DUMP: Estimated 296644 blocks (144.85MB).
  DUMP: Dumping (Pass III) [directories]
  DUMP: Dumping (Pass IV) [regular files]
  DUMP: Tape rewinding
  DUMP: 296224 blocks (144.64MB) on 1 volume at 424 KB/sec
  DUMP: DUMP IS DONE
  DUMP: Level 0 dump on Tue Oct 07 16:23:08 2003
  # ufsrestore tf /dev/rmt/0
         2      .
         3      ./lost+found
      3776      ./usr
      7552      ./var
     11328      ./export
     15104      ./export/home
     18880      ./etc
     22656      ./etc/default
     22657      ./etc/default/sys-suspend
     22673      ./etc/default/cron
     22674      ./etc/default/devfsadm
     22675      ./etc/default/dhcpagent
     22676      ./etc/default/fs
     22677      ./etc/default/inetinit
     22678      ./etc/default/kbd
     22679      ./etc/default/mpathd
     22680      ./etc/default/nfslogd
     22681      ./etc/default/passwd
                .
                .
                .
  # (Press Control-D to bring system to run level 3)