Disaster Recovery - AIX File System

Planning for a Disaster Recovery

Before you begin a disaster recovery, make sure to do the following:

Perform regular backups of the AIX file system. These backups can be scheduled to run at convenient intervals.
Ensure that the destination client is same as source client while performing a disaster recovery.
Make sure to Install the AIX Operating System on the system that you want to restore. Make sure to install the Operating System exactly as it existed prior to a hardware or software corruption problem.
The client computer must have a default install partition with the AIX File System iDataAgent installed on it. Make sure to enable the Networking option. The TCP/IP, hostname, and domain name settings of the default install must match those of the system that you are restoring.
Create and mount a root file system on the computer that you want to restore.
Create a backup of the operating system i.e., the root volume group (volume group containing the base Operating System). Use mksysb command to create an installable image of the root volume group either in a file or onto a bootable tape. mksysb command captures the contents of the root volume group.

Rebuilding the Operating System

1.	From the Command Line, type the mksysb command. Make sure to include the name of the appropriate device or file to which the backup information should be sent.	Example: # /usr/bin/mksysb -m -v -i -X -p /dev/rmt0.1
2.	A series of messages along with the message indicating that the backup is complete will be displayed.	Example: Creating information file (/image.data) for rootvg.... Creating tape boot image............ Creating list of files to back up.... Backing up 61161 filesBacking up to /dev/rmt0.1. Cluster 51200 bytes (100 blocks). Volume 1 on /dev/rmt0.1 a 8243 ./bosinst.data a 6178 ./image.data a 384 ./tmp/vgdata/rootvg/hd1.map a 1416 ./tmp/vgdata/rootvg/hd2.map The total size is 2459400240 bytes. Backup finished on Tue Sep 25 10:33:15 EDT 2001; there are 4822100 blocks on volumes. 0512-003 mksysb may not have been able to archive some files. The messages displayed on the Standard Error contained additional information.
3.	Restart the computer.
4.	Perform the following additional steps to rebuild AIX Operating system from bootable tape: After restarting the computer, press F1 to open the SMS console. From the SMS console, modify the boot sequence to have the computer restart from the tape drive containing the mksysb tape (i.e., the bootable tape created by the mksysb command). Save the boot sequence and exit. The computer should now restart from the tape.	Example: SMS - SYSTEM MANAGEMENT SERVICES - 1. Select Language 2. Change Password Options 3. View Error Log 4. Setup Remote IPL (RIPL (Remote Initial Program Load)) 5. Change SCSI Settings 6. Select Console 7. Select Boot Options [7] 1. Select Install or Boot Device 2. Configure Boot Device Order 3. Multiboot Startup [1] Select Device Type : 1. Diskette 2. Tape 3. CD/DVD 4. IDE 5. Hard Drive 6. Network 7. List all Devices 1. Information 2. Normal Mode Boot 3. Service Mode Boot

Restoring the Aix File System

From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | File System.
Right-click the defaultBackupSet and then click All Tasks | Restore.

Enter the AIX file system path to the data you wish to restore. You can type "/" as the path to restore the entire content.

Select the name of the client computer from the Destination Client list. If you are mounting the new root file system at /mnt, type or accept "/mnt" as the restore destination. Do not select Restore to same folder checkbox.

Click OK.

Do not select Unconditional Overwrite from the Advanced Options.

Restored data retains its original permissions. The ACLs are restored after the permissions are restored.

Select Immediate from the Job Initiation tab.
Click OK.

You can monitor the progress of the restore job in the Job Controller or Event Viewer window of the CommCell Console.

Restart the computer.

Disaster Recovery - AIX File System

Table of Contents

Planning for a Disaster Recovery

Rebuilding the Operating System

Restoring the Aix File System