backup problems

[juliewal]

As a new user to linux I am unsure if my full backup is working correctly.

It would appear that even though I am trying to backup all files, there are
many files from the sys, var and usr directories which are not backing up.
Is this a problem or normal for linux.

Would appreciate any help.

[gogalthorp]

There are virtual files that are really processes mapped to the file system.

IMHO you really only need to back up the home directory that is where all your personal files and settings are stored. Everything else can be reinstalled from the Install CD/DVD and the repositories. I keep copies of the Video driver install file, VMware Server, and SKype ie third party propritary software in a folder in my home. Unless you are running a Server of some kind then you would alos want to backup any files for that App.

[juliewal]

I am running a server with many users and using a database and application written in cobol. I need to be certain that none of the files that are missing are important and was curious about the /var, /sys and /usr areas that do not appear to be backed up.

[hannosirkel]

How do you know, that these dir's are not backed up?
There might be some files under these directories, that are changing while the backup process runs(logs, etc.). What do you use for backup?

Common approach would be just to tar-gzip the root directory of your system, excluding some parts(/proc for example, as this is not a real file system, but dynamically created by kernel). Your databases need to be stopped at the time of backup, to maintain integrity and avoid data corruption. For backing up database online, you need to use specific method for your database. For smaller SQL databases, dumping data to textfile might be an option.

regards,
HS

[juliewal]

Thank you for your response.

I am using tar -cvf /dev/st0 etc for my back up, and have stopped the data base to back it up also.

When I do a tar -tvf /dev/st0 to confirm the backup there are no files from the /var directory and very few from the /sys directory. As I am new to this operating system I was not sure whether this is "normal" or not. I have excluded /proc and /dev from my backup.

[gogalthorp]

Here is where you can find what the various directories are used for

at a console type

man hier

This will list the normal use for most if not all directories in Suse/Linux

here is a place to learn most things you need to know about Linux admin.

start [LBo]

the current running course is up to chapter 4 but it would not be hard to catchup or just read the book. here is the forum link

LinuxBasics.org - Forum - Index

[hannosirkel]

Being unable to restore/verify files on tape means, that the backup is not functional. Any errors displayed while making the backup? Running backup job as super-user?

regards,
HS

[tyc]

I am using tar -cvf /dev/st0 etc for my back up, and have stopped the data base to back it up also.

Something you may not have thought of with regard to making backups easier and more practical ... a trick I learned back in the late seventies when we used to use KSR33 instead of laptops;

If you want, try the following ...

. In your HOME Directory make a file folder and call it BACKUP
. Within BACKUP make a sub-directory for each of your sub-directories in your HOME directory
. Whenever your're done working on a given file, save it, THEN go over to BACKUP and save it in the appropriate sub-directory within BACKUP
. Then on a given set schedule (every day, every week, every ten days, every month, etc) TAR BACKUP and Gzip it
. Copy the Gzip file to a CD or DVD, whichever is applicable

If you do this, you'll end up with a Primary, a Backup, a Compressed Backup as well as a Compressed Backup on a CD or DVD, which is another way of saying, loss of data you've so laborously built up is essentially no longer an issue or worthy of concern. You'll rest easier knowing you not only have a primary data sorce but two easy access backups, plus a CD or DVD back up as well and odds are you'll never need the data on the CD or the DVD - but then again ... "when it rains, it often pours!"

Hope this helps some.

tyc

[juliewal]

Thank you for your responses.

I think the problem is solved, an error was occurring when backing up ./sys directory, when I specifically excluded this directory the backup is working.

[gogalthorp]

/sys appears to be a virtual directory (at least for the most part) that holds device references. In Unix/Linux all things are files.

I still say backup your data all else can be reinstalled.