Anyone whose ever had to rebuild a server just fromtapes might agree

[CLIFFORD ILKAY]

At 15:09 05/01/2004 -0500, Keith Mastin wrote:

> >> 1. Getting a true backup of a system onto tape is often difficult due to
> >> open files of the OS and various(important)  data and programs.
>
>IMHO, simply backing up to tape isn't enough. Tapes are slow write
>devices, and any changes to data during the write process isn't captured
>accurately. I also don't like backing onto tape direct from a live server
>for the same reason. A solution is simple as using rsync to copy the data
>to a back-up server so the data snapshot has a lower timestamp spread and
>make the backup to the tape from the snapshot.

You have the exact same issue with rsync. The result of rsyncing a file 
that is open is indeterminate. I asked on the rsync list when I first 
started using it. You're right about the narrower window of opportunity 
but, I would not bet the farm on it. Doing backups on live data is tough 
and in fact with databases, it is difficult to impossible to do unless one 
uses the backup utilities provided by the database, e.g. pg_dump for 
PostgreSQL.

Regards,

Clifford Ilkay
Dinamis Corporation
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1419
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4N 3P6

Tel: 416-410-3326 

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