Retrieving File Backups on your Virtual Server using the getback utility

Retrieving File Backups

As a Blue Reef Virtual Server Administrator, you can restore files directly from our from our disk and tape backups.

To restore a file from backup, Telnet or SSH to your Virtual Server, and then run the command:

% getback [filename(s)]

Substitute a single file or list of files for [filename(s)]. The getback utility will search the backup archives, find all matches, and display them to you. You can then select the desired backup and commence its restoration. Both online (disk) and tape backup sources will be listed listed.

About the Blue Reef Backups
When the getback program is run, a date-sorted list is presented of possible sources to restore the file(s) from. The online (primary and secondary) backup sources as well as all of the tape backup sources are all listed.

NOTE: Our backups are for your convenience only. You should always keep a backup of your files on your local computer.

Online Backups
The Primary Backup: The primary backup is made to a separate drive on the same machine. This backup is roughly 0-24 hours old. You can access this using the getback retrieval utility or by simply changing your current working directory to /backup/home/[login name].

The Secondary Backup: The secondary backup is a compressed tar archive of the primary backup (just before it is overwritten). Therefore, the secondary backup can be anywhere from 24-48 hours old. The secondary backup is stored to a third disk (the system volume).

If an online source is selected, the file(s) are restored immediately. Any existing file(s) under the same name will be moved to a different filename with the form of filename.DDMonYY, where DDMonYY is the current date.

Tape Backups
The Tertiary Backup: The tertiary backup on the tape backup system holds anywhere from 1-10 copies of your data (depending upon how long your account has been with us) -- the multiple tape backup copies typically span in age from 2 days (the latest) to 2 months (the oldest).

If you select to restore tape backup, an email message is sent to the Blue Reef Support Staff requesting the backup be restored from tape (which usually takes up to 2 business days).

NOTE: Restoring file(s) from tape backup is subject to a tape retrieval fee of $150.

Examples
For example, if you are interested in reviewing all backups Blue Reef has made of the file ~/www/htdocs/index.html, you would simply type:

% getback /www/htdocs/index.html

(sample results)

If you are interested in reviewing all backups Blue Reef has made of multiple files, you would simply type:

% getback [file1] [file2]

For example, you can look at the backup copies of the mailboxes located on your Virtual Server

% getback /usr/mail/jane /usr/mail/dave

(sample results)

You can also look at backup copies of entire directories -- for example,

% getback /www/htdocs/

(sample results)

SEE ALSO:

Managing your Virtual Server Remotely

Administration Utilities

Using Telnet/SSH

Easy UNIX commands

Uploading Web Content to your Virtual Server

Recommended Server Books

BOOKS TO HELP YOU:

Administering Web Servers, Security and Maintenance

Unix in a Nutshell

Apache Server Bible