FSAVE(ADM) UNIX System V
Name
fsave - interactive, error-checking filesystem backup
Synopsis
fsave filesystem [ backupinfo ] [ mediainfo ] [ sitename ]
Description
fsave is used by fsphoto(ADM) to provide a semi-automated
interface to xbackup(ADM) and cpio(C) for backing-up
filesystems. Human intervention is required to mount and
dismount tapes or floppies at the appropriate times, but is
kept to a minimum to reduce the potential for error.
The operator is prompted each time some action is required,
such as mounting or unmounting a tape or floppy. These
prompts, and their possible selections, are described below.
For all prompts, an answer of h, H, or ? will display a
short summary of the possible answers.
Filesystem dump (backup)
The following prompt displays the defaults (gleaned from the
schedule database file) and presents options to alter them:
Level dumplevel dump of filesystem filesystem , date
media size: size feet [or Kb]
media drive: drive
This media will be saved for howlong, and is howvital.
M)ounted volume, P)ostpone, C)heck or F)ormat volumes,
R) Retension or H)elp:
The values displayed dictate the following instructions:
filesystem is to be backed-up using size-foot long magtapes
(or size-kilobyte big floppies) mounted on drive drive. The
media will be saved for howlong (``1 year,'' ``2 months,''
etc.), and being a level dumplevel dump, is howvital
(``critical,'' ``precautionary,'' etc.).
The menu options are:
m A volume of the asked for size has been mounted
(write-enabled), so begin the dump.
mnewsize Insufficient volumes of the originally asked for
size are available, so a newsize big volume has
been mounted instead. If the dump extends across
more than one volume, each volume must be of the
same size.
p Postpone this backup until later (fsphoto will
automatically retry this filesystem next time it is
run).
c Recheck the volumes used to backup filesystem for
errors. This answer is useful when a dump
mysteriously fails and fsave is starting over from
the beginning, but the operator doesn't believe
there really is a problem (for example, the tape
drive was accidentally left offline or the floppy
door was left open), and wants to check the volumes
again.
f Format the currently mounted volume (useful mainly
for floppies).
r Retension cartridge tape using /usr/bin/tape.
If multiple volumes are required, backup will pause for the
next volume to be mounted. Be certain to keep track of the
volume order.
Format check
The format of ``critical'' volumes are checked using
dumpdir(ADM):
Check vital volumes for format errors
M)ounted first volume, S)kip format check, or H)elp:
The menu options are:
m The first volume has been (or still is) mounted,
and dumpdir can now check the volume format.
s Skip checking the volume format, and continue on to
the read error check (below).
The format is not always checked, but when it is, the first
volume written must be mounted.
Read error check
All volumes created using xbackup(ADM) are read using
xrestore(ADM), which checks for errors during reading. If
an error occurs, the dump is declared unsuccessful and is
retried from the beginning.
Check vital volumes for read errors
M)ounted which volume, E)rror on previous volume, D)one,
S)kip checks, or H)elp:
The menu options are:
m The which (``first'' or ``next'') volume has been
mounted on the drive and is ready to be checked for
read errors.
e An error occurred on the last volume checked, and
the dump should be retried.
d All volumes have been checked and no errors
occurred, so the filesystem has been
successfully backed-up; This backup is done.
s Don't bother (skip) checking the rest of the
volumes for read errors.
Every volume should be checked for read errors; xrestore
requires the volumes to be checked in first-to-last order.
Volumes that produce read errors should be marked
``suspect,'' discarded and the dump run once again.
After the backup has been successfully performed,
instructions are given on how to label the volumes.
Arguments
fsave is normally run by fsphoto, which passes all the
proper arguments based on the schedule(ADM) database.
filesystem
The filesystem to be backed-up.
dumpinfo
A set of blank-separated strings that give some
optional information about this backup:
dumplevel size savetime importance marker
Each of these component strings may be quoted and can thus
contain spaces.
dumplevel
The level of the dump to be performed. This is a
single digit from 0 to 9 (passed to dump), or the
letter x (which means no dump is to be done). The
default is to perform a level 0 dump.
size The size of the media volumes that should be used.
This should be in feet for tapes and kilobytes for
floppies. A size of - means to use the first size
listed in mediainfo. This is the default.
savetime How long this backup is to be saved (for example,
``3 months''). Default is ``1 year.''
importance
How important is this backup? (For example,
``critical'' or ``precautionary.'') Those which are
``critical'' have their format checked by dumpdir.
Default is ``important.''
marker Either ``none'' (the default) or an additional
label to place on each volume (for example, ``a
pink sticker'').
A typical dumpinfo might look like:
9 1200 "2 weeks" useful "a blue X"
which specifies that a level 9 dump is to be done on a 1200
foot tape (or 1200 kilobyte floppy) which will be saved for
2 weeks and is to be marked with a blue cross (in addition
to a more descriptive label). This backup is merely
considered ``useful'' and thus will not be checked by
dumpdir.
mediainfo
A set of blank-separated strings that give some optional
information about this the media to be used:
drive d density sizes... [format]
drive k sizes... [format]
drive The name of backup device to use. The default
is /dev/rmt0.
k sizes... If k is specified, drive is assumed to be a
floppy, and the list of sizes which follow
define the allowable capacities of the floppies
that can be used (in kilobytes).
d density sizes...
Otherwise, d must be specified. In this case,
drive is assumed to be a magtape at density BPI
, in one of the possible sizes (in feet).
format The UNIX command used to format the tape or
floppy so described.
A mediainfo describing 9-track magtape would be:
media /dev/rmt0 d 1600 2400 1200 600
media /dev/rmt2 d 800 1400 1200 600
which specifies that /dev/rmt0 is a 1600 BPI magtape capable
of handling 2400, 1200, and 600 foot reels, and that
/dev/rmt2 is the 800 BPI device.
A floppy might be described with:
media /dev/fd0 k 1024 format /dev/fd0
which describes device /dev/fd0 as a megabyte (1024
kilobytes) floppy formatted by the command:
format /dev/fd0
sitename
Where this backup was made (for example, the name of the
company or which building). Note that the uucp(C) nodename
from /etc/systemid is automatically placed on the volume
labels.
Only the super-user can execute the fsave command.
Files
/etc/systemid
Name of this machine.
/etc/ddate
backup-maintained record of last time each filesystem
was backed-up.
/dev/tty
Always-existent character-special device.
See Also
fsphoto(ADM), schedule(ADM), xbackup(ADM), dumpdir(ADM),
xrestore(ADM), cpio(C), basename(C)
Diagnostics
A successful backup exits successfully (0), but errors
generate a complaint and an exit status of 1. fsave
complains about illegal or incorrect arguments, and exits
with a status of 2.
If the backup of filesystem is postponed, fsave exits with a
status of 3.
Value Added
fsave is an extension of AT&T System V provided by the Santa
Cruz Operation.
(printed 8/23/89) FSAVE(ADM)