Hi all,
I've been playing with our Ubuntu server this afternoon, checking out how to back up the system to a windows share. I've got that going using tar and smbmount. First question - is it right that 'tar' does not need to run using 'sudo', as in it can still access all the files? Secondly, does it backup all open files as well? (in windows ntbackup use to choke on open files) And this brings me to the other type of backup On our windows servers we use backup software that utilises the windows 'Volume Shadow Copy' service to take 'snapshots' of the entire disk at one point in time. These backups are sector based disk images. Before the snapshot is taken databases are blocked for writes and buffers written to disk so as they are in a consistent state on disk for when snapshot is taken. Once the snapshot is taken (about 10 seconds), the disk and databases are returned to normal operation and the backup proceeds against the snapshot (while the backup is happening, if disk changes occur the volume shadow service points the backup to a copy of how the disk was at the snapshot time, not what it has become now). On Linux - I see there are equivalent types of backup to a point in time, does anyone have any recommendations? ( I found this one: 'Hot Copy (hcp)' [http://www.softarea51.com/linux/System_Utilities/File_Disk_Management/R eview-Hot_Copy_hcp_for_Linux.html] but maybe there are others that are better?). By the way - I won't see any replies until Monday now as off home - thanks for your opinions. Regards, Bryce Stenberg IT Department Harness Racing New Zealand Inc DISCLAIMER: If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by reply email, facsimile or collect telephone call to +64 3 9641200 and destroy the original. Please refer to full DISCLAIMER at http://www.hrnz.co.nz/eDisclaimer.htm
