Hi, Thank for the recommendation.
One addition question, if I backup using tar with -r (--append) and -N (--newer) options to the end of the tape, how would I go about extract or restore the files if the files have been modified on the daily basis and I do this append with newer backup daily? Which mail order place has the best price on this HP DAT drive? Thanks kmself@ix.netcom.com wrote: > > On Tue, Jun 20, 2000 at 09:57:48AM -0600, Dean Allen Provins wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > I'm thinking to get a scsi backup tape for the Potato > > > box. I'd like to know what is the recommended drive > > > and what software should be used. > > > > > > I also have this dump question. Would the backup software > > > append the backup files to the end of the tape or overwrite > > > it everytime? > > > > > > TIA! > > > > > > --- > > > tcp > > > > I use an HP DAT drive (35xxx - now called Surestore, I think). Its > > been use for about 5 years (every night) without a problem. I've used > > 'tar' and 'dump' and both work just fine. > > I'll second the Surestore recommendation. I've got a 2GB DAT which has > been used a little less frequently <g>, but does a great job. Note that > if you plan on aquiring more than about 15 tapes, the cost point > between DAT and Travan/QIC breaks down about even. DAT is solid, > dependable, proven technology, and the media are cheap and reusable. > Just what you're looking for in a backup. The downside is that > capacity, relative to today's drive sizes, is somewhat limited. I can > get ~4GB compressed, which works for me, but you'll have to look at > higher capacity tape drives for your 9-40GB disks out now. > > > Whether or not the software appends or not, is in part predicated on > > where the tape is when the run gets going. Device /dev/nst0 doesn't > > rewind, while /dev/st0 does. If the backup software always rewinds, > > and doesn't search for an EOF marker before writing again (i.e. knows > > to append) you'll be out of luck. > > > > If you use commercial software, check the specs first. If you write a > > simple 'tar' script, you can do what you want. > > On this. Unless you have specific requirements to meet (eg: management > can't keep from fucking with a technical decision), I'd choose the > simplest backup methods possible. My own local backup script is: > > #!/bin/bash > > # Create backups of /etc, /home, /usr/local, and... > > mt rewind > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /etc > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /home > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /usr/local > > # and selected /var directories > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /var/backups > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /var/cache/apt > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /var/lib > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /var/log > tar cvf /dev/nst0 /var/www > mt rewoffl > > Tar isn't the sexiest thing out there (honey is <g>), but damned if it > doesn't work, and if the tools for accessing archives aren't available > on every flavor of Unix, and most lesser operating systems, not to > mention boot, rescue, and minimal installations of Linux. You *will* be > able to get at your data. > > Other general recommendations -- dump, cpio, and apio. I'd generally > *avoid* using an integrated backup management solution -- far less > portable, and you may *not* be able to get at your data, unless you are > part of a large and well-supported organization. You get some plusses > -- usually a searchable index or other log of what was archived, but it > costs you in terms of flexibility. > > -- > Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://www.netcom.com/~kmself > Evangelist, Opensales, Inc. http://www.opensales.org > What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand? Debian GNU/Linux rocks! > http://gestalt-system.sourceforge.net/ K5: http://www.kuro5hin.org > GPG fingerprint: F932 8B25 5FDD 2528 D595 DC61 3847 889F 55F2 B9B0 > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Part 1.2Type: application/pgp-signature