backing up and restoring a linux machine
 

1. The best would be to have a tar backup of the machine
ok,but
2. The restore files go onto a windows share, basically loosing all
unix attributes
3. The restore is to a new machine
ok,so install linux from a dvd. and copy files from the restore data

problems with /etc/passwd for example,
it seems you can't just copy them, possibly to do with the encrypt key
used to generate them.

Is there a way to copy /etc/passwd ?
or must recreate groups/users

it seems I must cherrypick which files to copy over, for example networking, the setup may be different on the new machine.

My question here is, has anyone else gone about it this way and how successfull, seems to work out ok, except for loosing attributes, just wonder about others experience.....


4. RALUS backup agent, what is the procedure to using this and keeping
all unix permissions?

Why not tar it to the CIFS share? The archive will retain the permissions, so you don't have to worry.

I do similar things all the time for my small business customers - rsync to a CIFS share or to a VFAT formatted USB drive. They don't see security as a problem - they just want to get at the data if the server goes, so it's ideal for them.

Can't say I've ever had a problem restoring /etc/passwd. Could be SELINUX or something getting in the way (assuming your backup is running as root)?

With regard to your backup agent, never heard of it! There are so many backup tools out there, you might struggle finding someone with experience of that.

I think you're confusing /etc/shadow that stores users encrypted passwords with /etc/passwd, which only holds the user account info.

And I'd agree, I've never had any problems restoring, copying these files.

I'd never heard of Ralus either, but a bit of googling turned up "Symantec Backup Exec Remote Agent for Linux and Unix Servers (RALUS)" -- So, for Windows admins who are using Symantec Veritas Backup Exec on Windows. They can grab control of all your linux boxes too. ;)

thanks, forgot all about /etc/shadow stuff!!

yes RALUS is an agent software that runs on linux, allowing the
a windows server to back it up.
So the issue i had is when it is then restored to a windows share.
I'm not the one driving the backup s/w, so don't know much about it at all.
would be perfect if the agent s/w could emulate tar,

Ah who the !@!! had the wise idea of deprecating cp --reply=yes
because --force does not do what it says it should, and still get a prompt!!! AH@!!

Backup Exec was primarily designed for Windows. From my experience, it sucks in handling Linux, even though it has an agent for them. Veritas Netbackup Server was designed for *nix servers and handles file attributes much better.