Hi, we are using Bacula's raw block device backup features for backing up virtual machines that use raw devices (logical volumes, or DRBD) as their storage. As advised by the bacula documentation (obviously, for the purpose of sparing storage space), we set "sparse = yes" for the respective file sets.
Recently, we discovered a problem with systems backed up in this way. Bacula does not only back up sparse data; it also restores the data in such a way, which can result in problems. Imagine a virtual machine that has a (non- sparse!) file with large chunks of zero data in its file system. When these data are backed up, these null data are stored as a sparse stream. During restore, however, this can result in a problem: The sparse data (all zeros) are not written to the disk; instead, the respective chunk is just skipped (via seek). As a result, the virtual machine now has random data in its (formerly all-zero) file. While Bacula's auto-detection of sparse (32k-)blocks is more than welcome in our scenario, it can result in real data corruption. The solution -- as configured and implemented by us, though -- is flawed. Would you regard this behavior as a bug? Restored data are not identical with what was backed up. Or is this inteded behavior (which one should, I guess, document in a better fashion), and we are using the technology in a wrong way? Btw: When restoring a block device that has a number of zeros at its end into a file (e.g., by pre-creating such a file -- see mail thread "Behavior w.r.t. block device backup and restore", March 2011, for more information) differs from a file created e.g. by "dd if=/dev/foo of=output" directly. That being said, zeroing a raw block device before restoring is not a solution for all cases. Any solution you'd propose? Best Bastian -- Collax GmbH . Basler Str. 115a . 79115 Freiburg . Germany p: +49 (0) 89-990 157-28 www.collax.com Geschäftsführer: Bernd Bönte, Boris Nalbach AG München HRB 173695. Ust.-IdNr: DE270819312 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Live Security Virtual Conference Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/ _______________________________________________ Bacula-devel mailing list Bacula-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-devel
