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Backup of Distributed Networks
Hi!
I have a subject for interesting (at least IMHO) discussion. Although
I need an answer for myself, I am sure that the same problem
interests many of us. There are some models for backuping non-UNIX
systems by a Linux server, and I want to choose the best one. Let me
present a typical network (it's mine, but it is typical):
I have 3 computers connected by a LAN:
1. Linux server, with tape, running Linux 24 hours a day.
2. A desktop, with 2 disks containing 3 bootable (LILO) partitions:
Linux, Win95, NetBSD.
3. A notebook, with 2 disks containing 4 bootable partitions, one of
them Windows 95, and the others - UNIXes (e.g. SOlaris).
I want to backup all the systems on the server's tape. While it is
obvious that the UNIXes will be backuped by a UNIX tool (e.g. tar),
I prefer to backup the WINs by the MS backup. I know that some of us
hate MS and everything which it develops, but backuping Win95 by tar
is exactly (or even worse) like backuping UNIX by MS backup. The
backup tools of MS have many specific features critical to filesystem
of MS. So I thought about a few options/models:
1. The best, but I don't know if it is possible: "Exporting" the tape
to the Win95 by Samba. Is it possible? How?
2. Exporting a partition (or part of partition) of the Linux to the
Win95 by Samba, and using it as the backup "media". After writing
a full/daily/incremental backup on this disk (by the MS tools),
Linux can save the new contents of the disk to tape. It's assumed
that the available disk space of the server is bigger than the
used disk space of the clients.
3. Exporting the Win95 disk to Linux (by Samba), and using one of the
good tools (e.g. BRU2000, included in the official RH5) to backup
it. I am not sure that these tools are aware of all the unique
features of Win95. Does anybody have any experience?
This option has some sub-options:
a) Using the Linux as a permanent file server of the Win95's (by
Samba), so backup will be done immediately. i.e. the files of
the Win95's will reside permanently on the Linux' disk, so the
backup will not have to be made through the net (but locally).
b) Using alternatives of BRU2000 (any recommendations?).
What is the best? Is there anything impossible? Do you have any
experience? What do you use currently? Is there a forth option I
didn't think about? Or a special tool for this purpose?
Although I don't think I'll come to the meeting today, if you prefer
to discuss it there, let me know, and I'll change my plans. I can
give a *very* brief lecture about news in the world of PC-UNIX. After
boring years almost without any news (except for Linux), it seems
that the world, (including all the big companies), adopts our vision
of running UNIX (and not Windows) under Intel (and not a multi-
zillion dollars RISC). Is it good or bad for Linux?
Happy Chanukah,
--
Eli Marmor
marmor@elmar.co.il
El-Mar Software Ltd.