How to Set up Sysback for Remote Tape Backups

Contents

About this document

These procedures assume the following conditions exist:

• Both client and server are running the same version of AIX.
• Both client and server are running the same version of Sysback.
• The server is the machine with the tape drive.
• The client is the machine which needs to be backed up.
• A client cannot back up to itself. Use a non-remote backup for this.
• You are logged on as root on both client and server.

This document applies to AIX Versions 3.2.5 and later running AIX System Backup and Recovery/6000 Versions 3.x and later.

Install device support for network booting

The recommended method is to install the following device packages on your Sysback server:

• bos.rte.up
• bos.rte.mp
• devices.*

If there is not enough space on the system to install these packages, use the following procedure to install with the correct amount of space:

1. Log on to the client and enter the following commands:

 lslpp -l | grep devices > /tmp/list
 more /tmp/list

2. Log on to the server.

3. Insert your AIX media into the server CD-ROM and enter the following commands:

 mount /dev/cd0 /mnt
 rcp client:/tmp/list /tmp/lst
 installp -acd /mnt/usr/sys/inst.images -f /tmp/list

Configure the server for remote backups

To perform a remote backup, use SMIT to set up the Sysback remote services on our server machine.

Enter smitty sysback and select the following menus options:

   Configuration Options
     Remote Services
       Server Options
         Configure Remote Services

Allow access to the Sysback server

Next you must allow access to the server. You can choose to allow access by host name, or you can allow all hosts. Also, you can allow either root or all users. Next, a menu will come up with the current settings and more options. You can allow specific devices, or "all" devices. Finally, if you want to allow backups to disk, you can specify the directories for this.

Enter smitty sysback and select the following menu options:

   Configuration Options
     Remote Services
       Server Options
         Add a Remote Client

• hostname = client_host_name
• username = root or all
• device = all
  or
  device = /dev/rmt1 /dev/rmt2 ... /dev/rmtX

Configure the server for network booting

Next you need to set up the network boot configuration. Without this, there is no way to boot the machine should it go down. You can't actually boot from a remote tape drive, so this procedure will build a boot image and configure the boot servers.

Enter smitty sysback and select the following menu options:

   Configuration Options
     Network Boot Config
       Add a Network Boot Client

Complete the Add a Network Boot Client fields as follows:

• hostname = client_host_name
• Network type = tok, eth or fddi

Configure the client for remote backups

For a client to be able to perform network backup and recovery, it must have its remote services enabled.

Enter smitty sysback and select the following options:

   Configuration Options
     Remote Services
       Client Options
         Configure Remote Services

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Add a server to the client's list of backup options

Now that remote services are enabled you need to tell the client which servers are OK to use:

Enter smitty sysback and select the following options:

   Configuration Options
     Remote Services
       Client Options
         Add a Remote backup server

• hostname = server_host_name
• List directories = no for tape backups

Verify configuration

Sometimes the configuration does not result in complete communication. You should verify that communication exists between the client and server. If this fails, there could be a DNS or /etc/hosts discrepancy including multiple lines for the same host or IP, or non-matching reverse DNS. Sysback is very particular about this; upper and lower case will make a difference. Also, some earlier versions of Sysback were not too happy going through a firewall. To verify communication, do the following:

1. Log on to the client.
2. Enter smitty sysback and select the following menu options:

      Configuration Options
        Remote Services 
          Client Options
            List Remote Backup Servers
   

3. If this hangs or otherwise fails to list your server and its devices, enter the following command to remove Sysback:
   

   /usr/lpp/sysback/rmsysback
   

4. Re-install from your source media. Then follow the instructions in this document again.
5. If Sysback still fails at this point, contact your AIX support center for troubleshooting assistance.

How to use the remote devices

To use a remote device:

• Use SMIT and perform your sysback as you normally would. When the device listing comes up, it will include any remote devices which are properly configured if currently accessible. Simply choose your device.

  Make sure you have a tape in your drive and that the tape drive has been cleaned fairly recently.

• From the command line, use your normal sysback command and add
  -h sbserverhost to access the remote device specified with the -f flag.

• For assistance with remote booting and recovery, refer to the product documentation or contact your AIX support center for assistance.