Re: [Dovecot] backup strategy
Sean Kamath wrote: On Feb 6, 2008, at 5:40 AM, Rick Romero wrote: IMHO, if you're going to use tapes, just buy ArcServe. I've used it for years on Netware, and was unable to get it to work with Debian (so I'd suggest rsync/mysqldump to a supported box). snip Forgive me if I disagree. Whilst the whole rsync or other on-line solution is fine for those who want that, my solution was a little more direct: use dump (ufsdump on Solaris). Don't use dump on Linux, it won't work (so says Linus: http://dump.sourceforge.net/isdumpdeprecated.html, except the links don't work. Sigh. I can't find the direct link.). At least not on live filesystems. snip curious... I've been using dump for decades (unix and linux) without any problems on mounted filesystems. And yes, I have restored successfully from those dumps. Perhaps I'm just one of the lucky ones. Anyone with half an ounce of common sense will use due caution backing up live data, regardless of the tool used, and will prefer to work with umounted filesystems when possible, but it isn't an imperative, nor always practical. There are plenty of choices for all manner of backup and restore needs. It's always best to consider all options first and find your way to the one that works for you. And just because something doesn't work for you (or for someone else) doesn't mean it won't work for the next sys admin to come along. Simply present the options that worked for you and let the OP decide what works best for them. A good reference for back and restore is: http://www.bookpool.com/sm/0596102461 -- Steve Lindemann __ Network Administrator //\\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign Marmot Library Network, Inc. \\// against HTML/RTF email, url: http://www.marmot.org //\\ vCards M$ attachments email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: +1.970.242.3331 ext 116 fax: +1.970.245.7854
Re: [Dovecot] backup strategy
Quoting Sean Kamath [EMAIL PROTECTED]: So. . . If you want tape backups, buy ArcServer and Netware because it doesn't work on Linux? This is straying off the intended topic... Whilst the whole rsync or other on-line solution is fine for those who want that, my solution was a little more direct: use dump That's what I've always used too. (ufsdump on Solaris). Don't use dump on Linux, it won't work (so says Linus: http://dump.sourceforge.net/isdumpdeprecated.html, except the links don't work. Sigh. I can't find the direct link.). At least not on live filesystems. That's because he later retracted that statement. Dump is as reliable on linux as anywhere else. Keypoint: dump isn't reliable on a live filesystem; either unmount it or use snapshots to get a consistent dump. Of course, you have to think about your backups. But I think it's a worthwhile investment to actually think about your backups, your rotation and retention schedule, and not just trust the vendor. Agreed. And realize that no one backup system works for everyone, or every setup. You will have to think a bit to come up with a backup system that fits your own needs and resources. Sean -- Eric Rostetter The Department of Physics The University of Texas at Austin Go Longhorns!
Re: [Dovecot] backup strategy
On Thu, 2008-02-07 at 13:35 -0600, Eric Rostetter wrote: Quoting Steve Lindemann [EMAIL PROTECTED]: curious... I've been using dump for decades (unix and linux) without any problems on mounted filesystems. Well, any known/observed problems... Anyone with half an ounce of common sense will use due caution backing up live data, regardless of the tool used, and will prefer to work with umounted filesystems when possible, but it isn't an imperative, nor always practical. Only if you want a good backup of the data... Okay, I will admit that I sometimes do backups with dump on live filesystems also... But I know what I'm doing, and why... But again, this is getting off topic... So enough about this... Right. Cause anyone with a decent filesystem is using snapshots anyways ;) Rick
Re: [Dovecot] backup strategy
Jochen Kaechelin wrote: what's the prefered way to backup users mail? i use doevcot shipping with debian/etch an maildir. thanx Have you considered Amanda or Bacula? www.amanda.org www.bacula.org Regards, Hugo Monteiro. -- ci.fct.unl.pt:~# cat .signature Hugo Monteiro Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Telefone : +351 212948300 Ext.15307 Centro de Informática Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa Quinta da Torre 2829-516 Caparica Portugal Telefone: +351 212948596 Fax: +351 212948548 www.ci.fct.unl.pt [EMAIL PROTECTED] ci.fct.unl.pt:~# _
Re: [Dovecot] backup strategy
On Wed, 2008-02-06 at 13:23 +, Hugo Monteiro wrote: Jochen Kaechelin wrote: what's the prefered way to backup users mail? i use doevcot shipping with debian/etch an maildir. thanx Have you considered Amanda or Bacula? www.amanda.org www.bacula.org IMHO, if you're going to use tapes, just buy ArcServe. I've used it for years on Netware, and was unable to get it to work with Debian (so I'd suggest rsync/mysqldump to a supported box). Now I've been using bacula, and it's just not a polished solution. I'm no *nix newbie, but just setting up a rotation was a headache, and the expiration doesn't seem to work right. Missing a job means you have to go back and start pruning - and I still don't have a proper last day of week is weekly, unless it's the last day of month rotation - and that's with one tape, daily, FULL, backups. I have been able to restore from it, though due to setup issues, I've again had to do more work than necessary. It seems the backup database gets HUGE (possibly due to lack of incrementals), even though it's SQL, and that slows things down too. Like NTFS, it leaves me wishing I had Novell's Salvage so I could just pull the file back and be done with it. Backup just isn't something I feel I should ever have to really think about. ArcServe and Netware are probably the only two pieces of software I can easily justify purchasing. Rick
Re: [Dovecot] backup strategy
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 i agree with rsync too, you can see http://www.rsnapshot.org/ for snapshots (my very best backup solution ) Jochen Kaechelin wrote: | what's the prefered way to backup users mail? | i use doevcot shipping with debian/etch an maildir. | | thanx Evaggelos Balaskas - http://ebalaskas.gr Unix System Engineer Informatics Engineer Technological Education -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFHqKeMWIK+Pe9twhoRAlTAAKCazfwH3JZrFwuQrRJf1Ul84VFWGgCg345i qYe+ORpNhQR8TCg3V4JxMwY= =4x8h -END PGP SIGNATURE-
