Re: [cobalt-users] Alternative Backup Solution - Dantz Retrospect

[Malcolm McLeary <mmcleary@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Michael,

on 16/8/02 9:14 AM, Michael Aronoff wrote:

> I use Retrospect 5.6 now so I have been looking at upgrading to start
> backing up my Raq3 as well but I have a few questions since you have
> been using it.
> 
> Have you done a compete disaster recovery?  What options does it offer
> in that regards?  I want to know what to expect if a drive fails and I
> have to do a complete recovery.

I have tried disaster recovery a couple of times.  I've done it live and
I've done it off line ... it works.  I believe its safer to do it off line
if you need to restore more than data.

The Retrospect Client allows Retrospect to see the mount points, so on a
Qube3 I can see /, /var, and /home.  I can backup each of these as is or
define sub-volumes.

If a system failed and needed to be restored, then the process I'd follow
would be to do an OS Restore first, patch it up to how it was and then do a
live restore.  Retrospect will match up the files which need to be restored
so only the data and config files will be replaced.  Once the box has been
rebooted, it should be as it was.

A potentially quicker solution is to have a "spare" Qube3 which is fitted
for two disks.  Stick the disk to be restored in Slot B and boot from the
disk in Slot A.  Once its up mount the partitions on the other disk, then
use Retrospect to restore them.  Finally remove the disk and install it
where it needs to go.

At the very least I use an OS Restore CD first to get the disk partitions
established and the basic OS installed.

As for options.  There is a retroeventhandler just like on MacOS and
Windows.  You can create your own scripts such that things can happen before
and/or after volumes are backed up.  This would allow you to dump live
database before a backup, etc, etc.

This is actually an area where Sun needs to get involved and tailor the
scripts which are available for Legato, Veritas, and Arkiea for Retrospect
... and build an install package.

An area for improvement (with Suns help) would be a Disaster Recovery CD.
It would be like the current OS Restore CD, but it wouldn't actually restore
anything ... all it needs to do is allow the Qube or RaQ to netboot,
partition the disk and launch the Retrospect Client.  From the Retrospect
Backup Server you then simply do a full restore of the disk.

As an existing user you'd appreciate that Retrospect does a great job in
managing media and storage sets used by backup scripts.  Finding what needs
to be restored and then doing the restore is much easier than it is with the
existing backup solutions.

Cheers,  Malcolm