Backup solution needed for AS 4.0
 

As a fairly new Linux user, I'm looking for a backup solution for Linux. Something that's battle-tested and performs reliably and simply. Currently we run Redhat AS 4.0 and while not currently running anything in a production environment we do plan on implementing some stuff (Oracle Database primarily) later this year.

I've got backups of the database and Oracle software so that's not an issue. My main concern is taking a backup of the OS so that I can reinstall from "bare metal" if necessary.

On our older HPUX box we have a make_recovery tape function that allows us to create a tape we can boot/reinstall from. Is there anything similar in Linux?

I'm sure I can get commercial software from a number of vendors that will do what I'm looking for. I'm more interested in good, free, open-source programs that fit the bill. I just don't know where to start to weed thru all the available offerings.

Thanks for any advice given.

Hi Skondolf,

if you want to make simple backups on filesystem level, you can use rsync.

The mondo suite (backup/restore) creates partition backups on filesystem level and is able to store them as bootable iso files. You can use these cds/dvds to recover your system from scratch.
I surely didn't hard proof mondo, but had two succesfull recovers.
I experienced only one problem: The data I wanted to save included a filespool with a lot of subdirectories - realy a lot of. Mondo got massive ram problems while recursing this structure.

I saw a tool, that worked on partition level long time ago. It worked like norton ghost and supported nearly all partition types - ntfs experimental. I don't remember the programs name, I believe it was partimage.

Greetz,
Clemente