I am just a simple home user. When I was using linux, I backed up my home directory (which contained all my critical data) using tar. I backed up my linux partition using partimage. These backups were put on dvd''s. That way I could restore (and have) even if the hard drive completely went belly up. I would like to duplicate this scheme using zfs commands. I know I can copy a snapshot to a dvd but can I recover using just the snapshot or does it rely on the zfs file system on my hard drive being ok? Cork -- This message posted from opensolaris.org
Collier Minerich
2009-Sep-03 17:15 UTC
[zfs-discuss] Read about ZFS backup - Still confused
Please unsubscribe me COLLIER -----Original Message----- From: zfs-discuss-bounces at opensolaris.org [mailto:zfs-discuss-bounces at opensolaris.org] On Behalf Of Cork Smith Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 4:43 AM To: zfs-discuss at opensolaris.org Subject: [zfs-discuss] Read about ZFS backup - Still confused I am just a simple home user. When I was using linux, I backed up my home directory (which contained all my critical data) using tar. I backed up my linux partition using partimage. These backups were put on dvd''s. That way I could restore (and have) even if the hard drive completely went belly up. I would like to duplicate this scheme using zfs commands. I know I can copy a snapshot to a dvd but can I recover using just the snapshot or does it rely on the zfs file system on my hard drive being ok? Cork -- This message posted from opensolaris.org _______________________________________________ zfs-discuss mailing list zfs-discuss at opensolaris.org http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/zfs-discuss
>I would like to duplicate this scheme using zfs commands.you don`t want to do that. zfs is meant for using it as a filesystem on a backup server, but not for long-term storing of data on removable media -- This message posted from opensolaris.org
Let me try rephrasing this. I would like the ability to restore so my system mirrors its state at the time when I backed it up given the old hard drive is now a door stop. Cork -- This message posted from opensolaris.org
Cork To answer your question just use tar for everything. It''s about the best we''ve got. :-( When the disk turns into a doorstop re-install OpenSolaris/Solaris and then tar back all your data. I keep a complete list of EVER change I make on any OS (including the Redmond one) so I can re-create the machine. And, IMHO - And I know I will get shot at for saying it, but.... One reason why I would not use ZFS root in a real live production environment, is not having the equivalent of ufsdump/ufsrestore so I can do a bare metal restore. ZFS root works great on my laptop, but I know lots who still rely on ufsdump to a local tape drive for quick bare metal restores. The only good news in UNIX is much more tidy then Windows and there is very little that is not in /home (or /export/home) that gets changed throughout the OSes life. Unless somebody know better.... Cork Smith wrote: Let me try rephrasing this. I would like the ability to restore so my system mirrors its state at the time when I backed it up given the old hard drive is now a door stop. Cork www.eagle.co.nz This email is confidential and may be legally privileged. If received in error please destroy and immediately notify us. _______________________________________________ zfs-discuss mailing list zfs-discuss@opensolaris.org http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/zfs-discuss
Let me explain what i have and you decide if it''s what you''re looking for. I run a home NAS based on ZFS (due to hardware issues i am using FreeBSD 7.2 as my os but all the data is on ZFS) This system has multiple uses. I have about 10 users and 4 HTPC''s connected via gigabit. I have ZFS filesystems for Video, Audio and Data. I have no problem using it for my main itune library or storing downloaded and recorded video. Each user also has thier own share to store data and backups. The system itself is made up of 3 raidz vdevs rights now, each with 4 1tb hard drives so i have about 9 TB total space right now. Having a setup like this sort of changes how you do things. I have several computers, but all the stuff i care about it on the NAS. I am very happy with ZFS for this purpose. I originally used a linux backend with mdadm and xfs but i am very much in love with my new system. I love the ability to clone and snapshot and i use it often. It''s already saved me from human error on 2 occasions. It''s also very fast. I''m using cheap parts and have seen speeds over 250 MB/s, although i get around 30 MB/s per client average with samba. for streaming music and video it has never shuddered or skipped. I have mostly 720p video but a large amount of 1080p as well. It''s not uncommon to have 3 htpc''s streaming at the same time and 2 people using the network for other stuff.....i''m very happy with it. I''m SURE you can find a method to backup/restore your data with ZFS. Just think of it more as a backend solution. You''ll still probably use whatever method you''re used to for transfering data, although i use a combination of samba/nfs and even FTP. If you''re used to tar, no need to stop using it. You might also look at rysnc. You could set up a ZFS filesystem on the NAS and set up rsync on your client, then set up automatic snapshots on the ZFS machine. This way you''d have multiple methods of restoring (you could just dump back the latest rsync or you could clone one of the older snapshots and dump THAT back) On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 4:58 PM, Cork Smith <corkbarb at sbcglobal.net> wrote:> Let me try rephrasing this. I would like the ability to restore so my > system mirrors its state at the time when I backed it up given the old hard > drive is now a door stop. > > Cork > -- > This message posted from opensolaris.org > _______________________________________________ > zfs-discuss mailing list > zfs-discuss at opensolaris.org > http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/zfs-discuss >-------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://mail.opensolaris.org/pipermail/zfs-discuss/attachments/20090904/e80cf5cd/attachment.html>