Chapter 6 - Restoring Files and Services
If server information is lost due to user error or damage to a server disk, you can restore it using the backups you have created. How you choose to restore server information depends on the type of information you want to restore and the type of backup you have. In general, two methods exist for replacing lost information on a server disk:
Restoring - When you restore a file or service, the Backup/Restore function overwrites the information for that file or service on the server disks with the information on the backup.
Rebuilding - When you rebuild information, the Backup/Restore function first deletes the information on disk, and then restores the backup information to the disk. For information on rebuilding services or the complete system, refer to Chapter 7.
This chapter explains how to restore:
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One or more complete services |
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Individual files to one or more file services |
You can restore individual files to a file service only.
Preparing to Restore a Service
Before restoring a service:
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Obtain copies of the most recent complete system backup, and any incremental system backups created since that backup. During the restoration, always load the complete backup first, followed by each incremental backup in chronological order from least recent to most recent. |
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Confirm that the backup media containing the service data have passed a readability test. |
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Stop any file service, Event Management service (EVS), or Intelligent MessagingTM service to which you intend to restore all files. Use StreetTalk Explorer or MSERVICE to stop individual services. |
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Determine whether you need to change the file system view. Refer to "Configuring the Default File System View" later in this chapter for information on these views and their respective delimiters. |
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Consider restoring the service information to a service of a different name on the server, or to a service on a different server. Restoring files to a service of a different name or in a new location avoids disrupting an existing service and allows you to avoid overwriting existing files. You must create or relocate the service before you restore the service information to it. If you restore files to a new location (to a different server or to a different service), verify that the service exists before you begin restoring files. You can create a new service using StreetTalk Explorer or MSERVICE. Do not start the service until after you have restored files to it. |
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When restoring a file service, the existing top-level ARLs are preserved. During a rebuild, the top-level ARLs from the backup tape overwrite the existing values. |
Configuring the Default File System View
Before restoring selected files to a service, select a file system view for restoring the files. You can configure the server to use a default file system view or select a different file system view each time you restore files.
The file system view you select determines:
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How files and their pathnames appear when you list the contents of a backup tape. For example, if you select the Macintosh view when restoring a file, its pathname delimiters are evaluated as Macintosh pathname delimiters, and the filename appears during the restore process as it appears to a Macintosh user. |
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The format you can use when entering the name of a file to restore. For example, in the DOS viewpoint, you can use only filenames that conform to the DOS 8.3 format. |
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Which files on the backup are considered matches for the files on the server disks. Filenames that match within a given file system view are restored. |
Default File System View Settings
When restoring files, you can select one the following default file system views:
DOS or OS/2 (FAT) - Restores the specified files as seen from the DOS and the OS/2 File Allocation Table (FAT) file system views. This is the default view.
Macintosh - Restores the specified files as seen from the Macintosh file system view.
UNIX - Restores the specified files as seen from the UNIX system view. This view is intended for VINES Toolkit users.
No Default - No default is set. This setting forces you to select a file system view each time you restore selected files for a file service.
File System View Delimiters and Case-Sensitivity
When restoring files to a file service, depending on the file system view you use, you need to avoid using certain characters to specify a filename (Table 6-1). In addition, each file system view follows its own rules with regard to case-sensitivity and may not preserve the case you use when creating a file name.
When the file system view is case-sensitive, the Backup/Restore utility evaluates the uppercase and lowercase versions of each alphabet letter differently. Thus, in a case-sensitive file system view, the filenames, "Foo.exe" and "foo.exe" are distinct from each other. Filenames in the UNIX viewpoint are case-sensitive.
When the file system view you are using is case-insensitive, the Backup/Restore utility evaluates the uppercase and lowercase versions of each alphabet letter identically. Thus, in a case insensitive file system view, the filenames "Foo.exe" and "foo.exe" are identical. Filenames in the DOS and Macintosh viewpoints are case insensitive.
A file system view may or may not preserve the case of a filename that you are attempting to restore. If the file system view preserves case, filenames appear during the restore process just as you enter them when specifying files to be restored. For example, if you enter "Foo.exe" at the prompt, and you are using the Macintosh file system view, the Backup/Restore utility displays the file name it is restoring as "Foo.exe."
If the chosen file system view does not preserve the case of your entries, what you enter at the prompt is converted during the restore process into the case preferred for display by the file system view. For example, if you enter "Foo.exe" at the prompt, and you are using the DOS or OS/2 (FAT) file system view, the Backup/Restore utility displays the file name it is restoring as FOO.EXE.
Restoring Objects with Similar Names
When restoring files, in some instances, a service may contain files with similar, but not identical names. UNIX files, which have names that are case-sensitive might be overwritten if a DOS or Macintosh file with an identical name string in a different case were restored to the service. To prevent such occurrences, if a file on the backup in one view matches a filename in a different view, the file is not restored.
When you restore a unique object - that is, a file or directory that exists on the backup, but not on the server - no conflict occurs during restoration. However, in some instances, when restoring an object, naming conflicts occur between an object on the backup and an object on the server. A naming conflict occurs when an object on the server has the same name as an object on the backup. In the event of a conflict, the object on the backup must only be allowed to overwrite an object on the server if the two are equivalent. Two objects are equivalent if they are identical in type and name. Overwriting an object that is not equivalent would result in loss of data.
If a naming conflict occurs, the following naming attributes are checked before an object on the backup is restored:
Object Type - The object on the backup must be of the same type as an object on the server. A file on the backup cannot overwrite a directory of the same name on the server.
Object Name - If the objects are of the same type, the name of the object on the backup must be consistent with the name of the object on the server across each of three name spaces. A name space defines how a filename behaves within each of three defined file system viewpoints (DOS or OS/2, Macintosh, and UNIX). An object on the backup can only overwrite an object on the server if its filename in each name space matches exactly the filename of the existing file. If the filenames do not match in each name space, the file on the backup cannot overwrite the file on the server.
Example Not Restoring an Object Because Its Name Matches that of a Different Type of Object on the Server
If you are restoring a backup that contains a directory named MEMOS and in the target directory on the server a file named MEMOS already exists, the contents of the MEMOS directory on the backup is not restored. When a directory is not restored due to a naming conflict with an existing file, messages similar to the following appear on the console:
***ERROR: memos/+emdir: collides with file on disk
***ERROR: Not restoring memos/june.rpt
***ERROR: Not restoring memos/field.rpt
Similarly, if the backup contains a file named LETTERS and a directory named LETTERS exists in the target directory on the server, the LETTERS file is not restored.
Example Not Restoring a Macintosh File When a Similar UNIX File Exists
The backup contains a Macintosh file called
Letter. In the different file system viewpoints, the name of
this file would be
In the target directory on the server,
a different UNIX file, called LETTER, already exists. In the
different file system viewpoints, the name of this UNIX file
would be
The Macintosh file on the backup would not be restored, because the names are equivalent in the DOS/OS/2 name space, but they differ in the other two name spaces. A file is restored only if the names are consistent across all three name spaces. That is, either the names do not match in any of the name spaces or they must match in all three name spaces.
To Change the Default File System View for Restoring Selected Files
1. From the Operator Menu, select Backup/Restore. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
2. Select Change Configuration. The Change Configuration Menu appears.
3. Select Default View for Restoring Selected Files. The Set Default Viewpoint Menu appears.
4. Select the default view you want to use. If you select No Default, during subsequent restore operations, you will be prompted to specify the viewpoint. The viewpoint you select appears as the Current Default Viewpoint.
5. Press ESC. The Change Configuration Menu appears.
Restoring all files in a service is the same as restoring the entire service. You can restore all of the files from a Banyan file service, mail service, print service, or from any third-party service. Services can be restored from any of the following types of backup:
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Complete system backup |
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Incremental system backup |
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Multiple-service or single-service backup |
If the backup contains more than one service, you can restore files to several services at once.
Some services, such as the Security Service or Server Service, are only restored during a complete system rebuild. Refer to "Rebuilding the Complete System" in Chapter 7 for information on rebuilding the complete system.
This section explains how to restore all files to any service from a complete, incremental, or service backup. If the service backup contains more than one file service, you can restore files to more than one service at a time.
Caution: It is recommended that you do not restore an STDA (StreetTalk Directory Assistance) service. STDA services are closely associated with every other service on the network and should only be restored during a complete system rebuild.
To Restore All Files to a Service
1. From the Operator Menu select Backup/Restore. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
2. Select Restore. The Insert Media Screen appears.
3. Insert a backup tape.
4. Select one of the following:
- CONTINUE to proceed. The Restore Menu appears and lists information about the backup in the drive. Continue with step 5.
- ABORT to stop the procedure. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
5. One of the following occurs:
- If the backup contains a single service, the Restore Service Menu appears. Skip to step 7.
- If the backup contains multiple services, the Restore Menu appears. Continue with step 6.
6. Select Restore Selected Files. The Restore Service Menu appears.
7. Select one of the following:
- Service of the Same Name
- Service of Another Name
If you are restoring from a single-service or multiple-service backup, one of the following occurs:
- If you are restoring from a single-service backup, the Select Files to Restore Menu appears. Skip to step 12.
- If you are restoring from a multiple-service backup, the Select Service Menu appears and lists the services available on the backup media. Continue with step 8.
8. Select a service from among those available on the backup media. One of the following occurs:
- If you chose Service of Another Name in step 7, the Select Service Menu presents a list of services available on the server. Continue with step 9.
- If you chose Service of the Same Name in step 7, the restore program checks whether the service is running on the server. Skip to step 10.
9. Select the name of the service that you want to restore files to.
Note: You can restore files to VINES Files only if the files originate in a VINES Files file service. You cannot restore files from other file services to VINES Files.
10. One of the following occurs:
- If the file service is currently open and running on the server, the Continue Operations screen appears and you are prompted to continue. Restoring into an active file volume may overwrite files currently in use. Continue with step 11.
- If the file service is not running, the Select Files to Restore menu appears. Skip to step 12.
11. Select one of the following:
- YES to continue. The Select Files to Restore menu appears.
- NO to stop the procedure. The Select Service Menu appears, displaying the list of services available on the backup media.
12. Select Restore All Files. One of the following appears:
- If the backup contains multiple services, the Select Service Menu appears. Continue with step 13.
- If the backup is a single-service backup, the Confirm Restore Menu appears. Skip to step 14.
13. Do one of the following:
- If you want to restore files for another service along with the files you have already chosen, select Select Additional Service. The Select Service Menu appears again. Follow the instruction in step 8 to select another service.
- If you do not want to restore files for another service, select Begin Restoring Selected Service(s). The Confirm Restore Menu appears. Continue with step 14.
14. Select one of the following:
- Restore this Service. All files for the selected service are restored to the server.
- Cancel Restoring this Service. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
After the files are restored, the screen displays the number of files and directories that were restored successfully.
15. Press ENTER.
- If you are restoring files to multiple services, the Confirm Restore Menu appears and lists the next service to restore. Follow the instructions in step 14 to restore this service.
- If you are restoring files to only one service or if there are no more services to restore, the tape rewinds and the Backup/Restore Menu appears.
Restoring Individual Files to a File Service
When restoring a file service, you can choose to restore individual files in that service, rather than restore the entire service. You can restore individual files from a complete system, incremental system (if part of a backup series that begins with a complete backup), multiple-service, or single-service backup.
You can restore individual files or an entire directory. Specifying a directory will include all the files found in that directory. You can also use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard when naming individual files to restore. Use the asterisk to represent zero or more characters when naming any DOS or OS/2, UNIX, or Macintosh file or directory that you want to restore. For example, if you restore files using the DOS viewpoint, entering AB* restores all files and directories with names that begin with the characters AB. VINES does not recognize wildcard characters other than the asterisk for restoring files.
Note: Asterisks are valid characters in Macintosh file names. If you restore a Macintosh file that contains an asterisk in its name, you may inadvertently restore other files with similar names. For example, to restore a Macintosh file that has the name, Ab*, you enter Ab* (See step 13 in the following section). If the backup you insert contains multiple files that begin with the letters, Ab (Abacus.c, Ablative.x, Abort.txt), all of the files beginning with Ab are restored, including the one with the name Ab*.
You can restore files to a file service of the same name or to a service of a different name on the server. To avoid disrupting an existing service, restore the service information to a service of a different name on the server, or to a relocated service. You must create or relocate the service before you restore the service information to it. Do not start the service until after you have restored the information successfully to the service. Restoring files to a service of a different name allows you to avoid overwriting existing files.
You do not need to shut down a file service when you restore selected files to it.
Before attempting to restore files, you can list the files that exist on the backup media. For more information, refer to "Examining the Backup Media" in Chapter 5.
Restoring Files with Long or International File Names
VRESTORE lets you enter the pathname of a file that you want to restore. VRESTORE translates the pathname so the Backup/Restore utility can read and display it. VRESTORE is in VINES Files. You invoke it from the appropriate international client workstation so that VRESTORE uses the appropriate character code page.
When you invoke VRESTORE, press F4 to change the view to enter a DOS pathname or to enter a long filename. In either the DOS view or the long filename view, you can enter a pathname containing international characters. VRESTORE translates the international characters to their hexadecimal equivalents from the appropriate code page.
When you finish entering pathnames, press F10. VRESTORE writes these pathnames to a file named restore.dos for the DOS view or restore.lng for the long filename view. Move this file to the root of the file service where you will restore the files. Backup/Restore reads this file when you do the restore operation.
To restore a file or files, at step 10 (Figure 6-16) below, select Restore Files Listed in Data File, and enter the data file name: either restore.dos or restore.lng. Backup/Restore displays the hexadecimal equivalents from the file names on the tape on the server console and in the log.
Note: Banyan recommends that users not mix files with names using different language location code pages on the same file service. Files can be mixed if they use only ASCII characters with values from 0 through 127 (hexadecimal 0 - 7F) in their names.
To Restore Individual Files to a File Service
1. From the Operator Menu, select Backup/Restore. The Backup/ Restore Menu appears.
2. Select Restore. The Insert Media Screen appears.
3. Insert a backup tape.
4. Select one of the following:
- CONTINUE to proceed. The Restore Menu appears and lists information about the backup in the drive. Continue with step 5.
- ABORT to stop the procedure. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
5. One of the following occurs:
- If the backup contains a single service, the Restore Service Menu appears. Skip to step 8.
- If the backup contains multiple services, the Restore Menu appears. Continue with step 6.
6. Select Restore Selected Files. The Restore Service Menu appears.
7. To restore the files to a service of the same name or a service of another name, select one of the following:
- Service of the Same Name
- Service of Another Name
The Select Service Menu appears and lists the services available on the backup media.
8. Select a service from among those available on the backup media. Depending on whether you chose to restore to the same service or a different service, one of the following occurs:
- If you chose Service of Another Name in step 7, the Select Service Menu presents a list of services available on the server.
- If you chose Service of the Same Name in step 7, the restore program checks whether the service is running on the server.
9. Select the name of the service that you want to restore files to.
Note: You can restore files to VINES Files only if the files originate in VINES Files. You cannot restore files from other file services to a VINES Files file service.
One of the following occurs:
- The Continue Operations screen appears if the file service is currently open and running on the server. A message appears asking if you want to continue. Restoring into an active file volume may overwrite files currently in use. Continue with step 10.
- The Select Files to Restore Menu appears if the file service you select is not running. Skip to step 11.
10. Select one of the following:
- YES to continue. The Select Files to Restore Menu appears.
- NO to stop the procedure. The Select Service Menu appears, displaying the list of services available on the backup media.
11. Select Select Individual Files. The Select Viewpoint Menu appears.
12. Select one of the following viewpoints to use when restoring the files:
- DOS or OS/2 (FAT)
- Macintosh
- UNIX
Refer to "Configuring the Default File System View" earlier in this chapter for information about choosing file system viewpoints.
The Enter Filename screen appears.
13. Type the full pathname of a file that you want to restore and press ENTER. The path to the file you enter appears at the top of the screen.
Enter forward slashes and back slashes correctly when specifying a pathname. If the pathname you specify is not correct, the files associated with that pathname are not restored.
If you restore a directory, the contents of its subdirectories are also restored.
You can include an asterisk to represent zero or more characters in the name of a file or directory within the path. The files you specify are restored to the server.
14. Repeat step 13 for each file you want to restore. When you have no more filenames to enter, press ENTER to continue. The Confirm Restore Menu appears.
15. Select one of the following:
- Restore this Service. The Restore Service Menu appears and displays a message indicating that the selected service is being restored.
- Cancel Restoring this Service. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
Note: Only the files you select are restored, not the entire service.
When all the files you specify have been copied from the backup to the server disk, the screen displays the number of files and directories that were restored.
16. Press ENTER to rewind the tape and return to the Backup/Restore Menu.
Problems Encountered When Restoring Files
If one or more objects cannot be restored from a backup, the Restore Menu lists the number of directories and files not restored.
Refer to the restoration logs to obtain the names of the files not restored. See "To View the Backup/Restore Logs" in Chapter 5 for information on how to display the restoration logs.
Displaying the Current Restore History
From the server console you can view information about the latest complete system rebuild, and any service rebuild or service restoration occurring since the latest complete system backup. The record is known as Current Restore History. The Current Restore History does not contain information about individual files that you restore to the server.
Restoring the complete system overwrites all of the information in the Current Restore History.
To View the Current Restore History
1. From the Operator Menu, select Backup/Restore. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
2. Select Display Current Backup/Restore History. The Current Backup History appears.
3. Press ENTER. The Current Restore History appears.
Selected files that have been restored for a service are not recorded by name. The Current Restoration History screen displays these columns to provide appropriate information about each restore:
Restore - Displays a number assigned to each restore operation.
Type - Displays the type of restoration performed.
Date - Lists the date and time that the restore occurred.
Rev - Lists the revision of the backup tape used to perform the restoration.
Changes Since - Displays the number of an earlier file restore from the same backup series. For example, the file restore would be referred to in the CHANGES SINCE column on the screen as Restore 1.
4. If the restore history does not fit on a single screen, press ENTER to view the next screen. If no other screen is available, pressing ENTER returns you to the Backup/Restore Menu.