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As the need for system availability increases, especially in 24 hour operations, the backup “window” must decrease to prevent data from changing while being backed up.

Backing up “live” data can cause erroneous or partially updated files after such data is restored from a backup. This is particularly problematic with databases, which typically have relational data that must be kept in sync.

SBAdmin includes the ability to perform a snap shot, or point in time backup of any live data contained in Logical Volumes. Logical Volumes are software storage devices used exclusively on AIX systems and are quickly becoming a standard installation storage configuration on Linux systems.

Logical volumes are created by the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) package. SBAdmin performs snap shot backups by backing up an offline copy of all data in the logical volumes.

This allows users to continue to access and modify data in the online copy, while the backup includes all data as it was when the backup process started. This ensures the relational data, when restored, is all at the same point in time, no matter how long the backup takes.

SBAdmin uses a Split Mirror Backup process on AIX systems to capture data from an offline copy of a mirrored logical volume. All AIX systems use the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for storing all data.

Logical volumes may be mirrored, keeping a separate up to date copy of all data as the data is changed. SBAdmin will allow you to configure split mirror backups, which will break off a copy of the live data, and use the offline copy to perform the backup.

This is especially useful for backing up live data such as Oracle, DB2, or MySQL databases. When the backup is complete, SBAdmin returns the mirror and syncs it up with the online copy. LVM also allows for 2 mirrors (3 copies) of a logical, so SBAdmin can break off one copy while data and system availability is still preserved using the remaining mirrored copies.

A backup job configured to use split mirrors, whether a specific file system, raw database, or the entire system, performs all the steps in splitting off copies, backing up, and re-syncing the copies making the process automatic and transparent to the user.

On Linux systems SBAdmin uses the Snapshot Logical Volumes. Most Linux systems now support the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for storing all types of data, from file systems to raw database data. SBAdmin provides a simple user interface for performing LVM snapshot backups.

Now, when performing any SBAdmin backup of LVM data, a copy of the live changing data is automatically created, allowing the original data to be “frozen in time” at the point of the backup. At the same time, users can continue accessing and updating the changed data while the backup is running.

When this “hot backup” completes, the system is returned to normal operation, and the entire process is completely transparent to the users. The interface gives you several options such as which logical volume to create the snapshot, whether to create them all at once or sequentially and whether to continue or fail if there is a problem.

Since the snapshot backups are performed on any data residing in logical volumes, including raw databases and file system data, any and all data, even on a full system backup, may be captured.

For more information about live data backups, oracle backup and recovery linux,and AIX data recovery visit our site.

Linux provides numerous options for configuring storage, such as Logical Volume Management (LVM), Software RAID (metadisks), and many various filesystem types. After a full system failure, recovering a server to its previous configuration can be quite a daunting task.

Also the cost involved to have a hardware technician perform the work could be very expensive. Add a change in disk hardware to the mix, and you may experience days of downtime!

While SBAdmin for Linux is a tape and disk backup management solution with many advanced features for managing your user data backup and restore strategy, it is the full system backup and recovery features that set us apart. Storix SBAdmin for Linux is the leader in Adaptable System Recovery (ASR).

This is the process to be able to perform hardware migration of the entire system (operating system and user data) onto different system and disk configurations. SBAdmin understands your Linux system and can individually backup and restore files, directories, filesystems, raw partitions, volume groups, raw logical volumes, software RAID devices or the entire system in case of disaster recovery.

Another versatile advantage is that backups can be archived to local or remote tape or disk.
Most bare metal restore products for Linux create disk images that limit your ability to flexibly restore the system.

SBAdmin records your system and storage configuration with each system backup. This information can then be used to rebuild the system from the ground up. Since we are rebuilding the system and not copying the system, within our System Installation Menus, you can easily make changes to that configuration to restore onto completely different hardware.

SBAdmin for Linux can not only restore your user data, but also can easily rebuild and restore your entire system. Every detail, including the disk placement of partitions, logical volumes (LVM1 & LVM2) and RAID devices, file system types and attributes is retained.

You can then change the configuration when reinstalling from a system backup to install onto different hardware or migrate to a different software storage configuration to increase flexibility, performance and availability. When it comes to Linux backup and recovery SBAdmin offers the most flexibility and reliability.

SBAdmin is very versatile and supports virtually any Linux distribution including RedHat (RHEL and Fedora), SuSE (SLES and OpenSuse), Ubuntu, Debian, Mandriva and Slackware, on the following hardware platforms.

Intel 32-bit (x86) systems, AMD64, EM64T, and x86_64 64-bit systems, IBM System p (pSeries/RS6000) and System i (iSeries), IA64 Itanium II (HP Integrity).

For more information about Linux backup and recovery or to learn more about how to data backup visit our site.

Here are a few tips I found that could be useful:

Let’s get to the important part first – if you’ve just lost your data, skip past this introduction and go directly to our first tip, so you can start your rescue operation. If not, a few minutes spent now might help you a lot in the future. Pay special attention to our third tip.

I always thought of myself as a reliable guy with reliable data. I never deleted my files accidentally; I made regular backups and had a power supply for my computer to protect me against surges and outages. However last year I experienced two cases of data loss where I needed to use recovery software. The first was a dead hard drive that’d hardly served a year. Subsequently, I accidentally deleted a large project file that was too big for the Recycle Bin. Happily I’ve got all my data back, thanks to good advice and a little preparation.

These handy tips will help you stay confident in the face of data loss, no matter how it occurs.

Steps
Tip #1
Use your system as little as possible until you recover all of your lost files. The more activity taking place on your hard disk, the greater the chance that some of your lost data might be written over.

Don’t copy any files to the disk containing your lost data;
Avoid browsing the web, because your web browser saves cache files on the disk;
Don’t launch any unnecessary programs, because they can also use your disk;
Don’t restart your computer.

Tip #2
Before you go further, take steps to free up some space on the disk containing your lost files. The more free space your system has, the less chance of overwriting any lost files with new ones. You can do one or more of the following things.

Delete old files that you don’t need anymore (you can also move them to another source, like a USB flash drive, instead of deleting);
Empty your Recycle Bin – making sure that you haven’t put any important files in there by mistake;
Empty your browser cache. For Internet Explorer, click on the “Tools” menu, and then select “Internet Options”. Then, on the “General” tab, click the “Delete Files…” button.

Tip #3
To install any software after data damage increases the risk of your data being overwritten, so if you haven’t had any data problems yet, consider installing a data recovery program just in case. Prevention is always better than cure, and a recovery program is good insurance for your data. However, if you don’t yet have a recovery program, find one and – if possible – avoid installing it to the disk where your lost files are located.

Most recovery programs work fairly similarly. You need to select the disk where the lost files are located, let the program analyze the content of the disk – this can take a while – and then select the file you want to recover. Then, provide a location where you want to save that file. You should try to avoid recovering files to the same disk. You could use another hard drive, a network or removable media like a floppy disk or USB flash drive.

After you recover your files, check that they are correct. If you’ve recovered applications, check that they still run, or if you’ve recovered documents, check that your words are still there. Even the best recovery software can’t guarantee 100% results. If some parts of your files were overwritten – meaning that other data was saved to their location on your disk – after recovery they might contain invalid information. Depending on the type of file involved, partially recovered files like this can be mended by special utilities.

The author writes about Linux Tip and blogs at http://www.hackitlinux.com/.

The huge amount of data stored on computers at home and in businesses, combined with the need to protect the files from disaster, has resulted in the need for backup mass data storage. Often when backups are full of copies of a network with increments of file changes, the backup is even larger than the originals. Because the data needs vary greatly, so do the data storage devices that meet them.

All Shapes and Sizes

Large businesses often store backups on tape devices. Sometimes the entire network is copied at regular intervals and the tapes are stored and then reused. Sometimes the network is copied, and then supplemented with taped copies of only the changes made since the last copy was completed. The copies have to be made at times when the network is not being used, and the tapes have to be stored carefully and replaced before they become worn. Other backup mass data storage devices use discs such as CD’s or DVD’s. The procedure is similar to that used with tapes. Because tape reels can hold more data, the discs have to be changed manually as they become full. Compression is used to fit more data on each device. For individual files, or those on a home computer, a zip drive may be sufficient to compress the data for storage.

USB devices often serve as data storage devices. External hard drives can backup all of the programs on a computer hard drive with or without the data files. It acts as a mirror of the existing hard drive and can restore a damaged computer easily. Flash memory devices are good options for both permanent storage and portable storage. The USB Implementers Forum has come up with a standardized set of communications protocols for backup mass data storage using USB. This ensures that all devices whether for external storage, digital cameras or cell phones will work with the USB port on a computer regardless of the manufacturer. This includes the operating systems of most computers.

The need for backup data storage devices began with large businesses like banks and stock exchanges, and has now filtered down to small businesses and home computers. The important thing to keep in mind is to make sure that otherwise irreplaceable files are backed up for protection. Whether the files consist of credit card numbers for thousands of customers or the first photos of someone’s grandchild, backup mass data storage devices can be lifesavers.

Roland Jefferson is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, Calfornia. For free tips and resources covering storage, please visit our backup mass data storage Resource.

When you have a Windows XP system and your system restore won’t work, don’t worry. It could be something small. Have you thought about how a system restore works? Do you understand what it does? How should you really protect your data? Computers work in funny ways and if we are not sure what they are doing how can we truly protect ourselves. It is evident that more and more people are using computers and digital media but are not giving much thought to how they will backup their systems.

System Restore is a Windows XP system function that restores critical Operating System Files and registry entries back to their original state. It takes a snap shot of key files and the registry for restoring after an application install or driver install. A system restore gives you the ability to do a system restore to an earlier time. The resotre is only specific to those critical operating system files and registry keys. It does not provide you data protection for your regular day to day files or your important files. It won’t backup your mp3’s or your photos of your last vacation. It is merely there for assistance if you install something that doesn’t work right or causes problems with your Windows installation.

Another problem is when you want to restore your system to an earlier time in its entirety. It makes it difficult if you are just relying on system restore to do the job. Like I said system restore is a just in case measure for your Operating System’s important files and key registry areas. It could care less about your personal files. You will need to perform regular backups and full backups of your system if you want to restore your system to an earlier time in its entirety. It takes a little effort to set up but will be worth it in the end. Once you learn what to do and how to do it the backup and restore process will be easy.

Imagine just a few years ago storage was hard to come by because of its cost. Now storage is so cheap it makes sense to start backing up your computer regularly to external hard drives. It makes sense to learn how to implement a home backup system or plan that is automated and that you can setup and forget it until you need. The biggest problem people face today is they never have the backup when they need it. They always think about backing up their systems after a loss of data has happened.

Digital Data is growning by the hour as we move forward with technology and innovation. We are digitizing books, music, and pictures every minute. We, as computer users, must learn to backup our data often and systematize it. You never know when the mechanical hard drive will go bad. You never know when your electronics may get zapped. We must protect our investments of data that we have spent time collecting. It should be like brushing your teeth, done every day.

Don’t wait or put off the ultimate in data protection. Do your backup today so that you can be sure you will have it when you need to restore to an earlier time or if system restore is not working. Be prepared.

Imagine having the ability to schedule a backup and walk away knowing your data is being protected nightly. Learn how to perform a restore to an earlier time, find out how to backup files, and find out how to protect your data. If your system restore won’t work then come check out how to fix it now.