Attention: If you attempt to back up a mounted file system a message is displayed. The backup command continues, but inconsistencies in the file system may occur. This situation does not apply to the root (/) file system.
You can create copies of your files on a backup medium, such as a magnetic tape or diskette, with the backup or smit commands. The copies are in one of the two following backup formats:
Notes:
- There is always the possibility of data corruption when a file is modified during system backup. Therefore, system activity should be at a minimum during the system backup procedure.
- If a backup is made to 8-mm tape with the device block size set to 0 (zero), it is not possible to directly restore from the tape. If you have done backups with the 0 setting, you can restore from them by using special procedures described under the restore command.
Attention: Be sure the flags you specify match the backup medium. Also, if you attempt to back up a mounted file system, inconsistencies may occur.
For example, to back up selected files in your $HOME directory by name, enter:
find $HOME -print | backup -i -v
The -i flag prompts the system to read from standard input the names of files to be backed up. The find command generates a list of files in the user's $HOME directory. This list is piped to the backup command as standard input. The -v flag displays a progress report as each file is copied. The files are backed up on the default backup device for the local system.
For example, to back up the root file system, enter:
backup -0 -u /
The 0 level and the / tell the system to back up the / (root) file system. The file system is backed up to the /dev/rfd0 file. The -u flag tells the system to update the current backup level record in the /etc/dumpdates file.
For example, to back up all files in the / (root) file system modified since the last 0 level backup, enter:
backup -1 -u /
See the backup command in the AIX Version 4.3 Commands Reference for the exact syntax.
The backup command can also be done using smit.
smit backup
/home/bill
/dev/rmt0