Chapter 7 - Rebuilding Services or the System
Rebuilding server information differs from restoring server information. When restoring information, files on the backup overwrite files on the server disks. By contrast, when rebuilding information, the existing information is first deleted from the server's disks. Afterwards, the backup files and configuration information are written to the disk.
This chapter provides information on rebuilding the following server information:
Rebuilding a service - You can rebuild a mail service or a file service from a complete system backup or subsequent incremental system backups. You cannot rebuild other types of services. You cannot rebuild a service from a scheduled multiple-service backup or a manual single-service backup.
You can replace VINES Files by rebuilding the service. However, you cannot rebuild VINES Files as part of a complete system rebuild. After rebuilding the complete system, you must reload VINES Files from your release media.
Rebuilding the complete system - You can restore the entire system, including StreetTalk databases and system services, from a complete system backup and any incremental backups made after that complete backup.
Note: If a severe hardware malfunction (such as a damaged server disk) occurs, you must restore the system by re-installing your Banyan software. See Chapter 11 for more information.
This section explains how to rebuild a mail service or file service from the information contained in a complete system backup and any subsequent incremental backups.
When rebuilding a service, always load the incremental backups as well as the complete system backup, so that the rebuilt service most closely resembles the state the service was in before the rebuild. The incremental backups may have recorded information (such as created or deleted files) that the complete backup does not contain.
Refer to "Displaying the Current Backup History" in Chapter 5 for information on how to determine the number of incremental backups that have occurred since the last complete backup.
Preparing to Rebuild 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 a rebuild, 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 or mail service that you intend to rebuild. Check the Service Monitor screen to verify that the service has been halted. Use StreetTalk Explorer or MSERVICE to stop individual services. |
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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. |
Note: When rebuilding a file service, the top-level ARLs from the backup tape overwrite the existing values.
1. From the Operator Menu, select Backup/Restore. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
2. Choose Restore. The Insert Media screen appears.
3. Insert the tape or diskette containing the complete system backup into the drive.
4. Choose one of the following:
- CONTINUE to proceed. The Restore Menu appears.
- ABORT to cancel. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
5. Choose Rebuild a Service. The Restore Service Menu appears.
6. Choose 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.
7. Choose the service to rebuild. You can rebuild the service with its original name or a new name as follows:
- If you chose Service of Another Name in step 6, the Select Service Menu presents a list of services available on the server. Continue with
step 8.- If you chose Service of the Same Name in step 6, the Confirm Restore Menu appears. Skip to step 9.
8. Choose the new service name to use for the rebuilt service. The Confirm Restore Menu appears.
9. Choose one of the following;
- Restore this Service. The service information is copied to the server.
- Cancel Restoring this Service. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
Messages indicating which files were found and restored are displayed. The files are restored as they are ordered on the backup.
When all of the backup files are restored, the number of restored files and directories is displayed.
10. Press ENTER. The tape rewinds and the Load Next Incremental Menu appears.
11. Do one of the following:
- If you have an incremental backup to load, insert the next tape or diskette in the backup series. Continue with step 12. If the tape you insert is not the next tape in the current backup series, the Incorrect Sequence screen appears, prompting you to load another tape.
- If you have no more incremental backups to load, choose Return to Backup/Restore Menu.
12. Choose Load Next Incremental in Series.
13. Repeat steps 11 and 12 until you have loaded all of the necessary incremental backups.
14. If you keep a written record of server events, record the event in the record. Store the backups in a safe place.
Rebuilding the Complete System
Rebuilding the complete system involves deleting and restoring all of the information for a server, including StreetTalk databases and system services. You can rebuild the complete system only from a complete system backup and the incremental backups that follow the complete backup. You cannot rebuild the complete system from a service backup.
Because VINES Files is not restored during a complete system rebuild, you may not need to load a complete system backup in its entirety. For example, if your complete backup spans six diskettes, the rebuild may only use the first diskette, because the final five diskettes may contain VINES Files information. For information about re-installing VINES Files, refer to "Re-installing VINES Files from Release Media" in Chapter 11.
Preparing to Rebuild the Complete System
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Set aside a specific time for the procedure. |
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Notify users of the time during which the server will be unavailable. |
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Shut down server software so that the server is not available to users during the procedure. |
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Re-install all third-party services before you begin rebuilding the system. If you do not, the services can come up in an inconsistent state at the end of the rebuilding procedure. For information on third-party installations, see "Installing Third-Party Services" in Chapter 10. |
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Assemble your most recent complete system backup plus any incremental backups created since the complete backup. You must load backups in order, beginning with the most recent complete system backup and following with each incremental backup in chronological order. Refer to "Displaying the Current Backup History" in Chapter 5 for information on how to determine the number of incremental backups that have occurred since the last complete backup. |
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Confirm that the backup media containing the system data have passed a readability test. |
To Rebuild the Complete System
1. From the Operator Menu, choose Shut Down Server Software. You are prompted to confirm the shutdown.
2. Enter Y and press ENTER. The Shut Down Menu appears.
3. Choose Shut Down Services and Return Console to Operator Menu. You are prompted to notify users.
4. Enter Y. Users receive notification of the shutdown. After one minute, services are halted and the Operator Menu appears.
5. Choose Backup/Restore. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
6. Choose Restore. The Insert Media screen appears.
7. Insert the complete system backup into the drive.
8. Choose one of the following:
- CONTINUE to proceed. The Restore Menu appears. Continue with step 9.
- ABORT to cancel. You exit the procedure. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
Note: If you do not insert a complete backup into the drive, the Restore Menu does not appear. Cancel the procedure and start over after you obtain the correct backup.
9. Choose Rebuild Complete System. The Rebuild Complete System screen appears. You are prompted to continue.
10. Choose one of the following:
- YES to confirm that you want to continue with the rebuild operation. The rebuild process begins. Continue with step 11.
- NO to stop the procedure. You exit the procedure. The Backup/Restore Menu appears.
11. Messages similar to the following are displayed:
Preparing server for system rebuild...
Rebuilding system databases.
Restore successful.
Rebuilding device drivers...
Done rebuilding device drivers.The Load Next Incremental Menu appears.
12. Do one of the following:
- If you have an incremental backup to load, choose Load Next Incremental in Series.
- If you do not have an incremental backup to load, choose Return to Backup/Restore Menu.
13. Press ESC. The system upgrades services as necessary and rebuilds the UNIX kernel and all device drivers.
After all server information is restored, the following message appears:
Full restore complete. You may now reboot your server.
Although VINES Files exists on the backup, VINES Files is not restored during this procedure.
14. Reboot the server. The server initializes and then displays the Service Monitor.
15. If you keep a written record of server events, record the event in the record. Store the backups in a safe place.
Displaying the Current Rebuild History
You can view a record of the rebuild activity that occurs at a server. This record, known as the Current Restore History, includes dates for the following events:
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The most recent complete system rebuild |
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Subsequent service rebuilds |
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Service restorations since the last complete system backup |
Refer to "To View the Current Restore History" in Chapter 6 for information on viewing the Current Restore History.