When I set up Amanda at the first site I managed with a large Linux base (beginning of '99), I naturally expected to use dump/restore just as I had managed to do on 4BSD, Ultrix, SunOS 4/5, OSF/1, DG/UX, etc.
I'm not positive what I ran into at the time, and it wasn't just that the version was 0.XX - disturbing as that is - but I quickly decided that my only option on Linux was GNU tar. Let me turn it around: What do you use to backup your Linux systems? Can you recreate a key infrastructure Linux machine given a backup tape and blank HDD? I'll confess I punt: just keep the data away from the OS and apps, and keep RPMs or tarballs of all apps. When something happens, reinstall the OS, reload all the apps, then restore the data. Annoying. Tedious. I suppose Kickstart or similar would help with the more tedious bits, until it's your Kickstart/RPM server that's crapped out... Sortof goes with Andy Hume's comments about just assuming it's going to blow up at some point... Just looking for some better ideas... --Steve. --- Send mail for the `bblisa' mailing list to `[EMAIL PROTECTED]'. Mail administrative requests to `[EMAIL PROTECTED]'.
