Re: Retro
Pam Lefkowitz wrote: > Incrementals using Retrospect are handled *very* differently than other > backup software implementations. What were you hoping for/expecting them to > be and what kinds of problems were you having? > > I'd be happy to work with you on this off-list with a summary to the list if > you'd like. > > Pam > Pam, Thanks for your offer. I will give it another chance first. And to appease those who might think that there is an expectation based from other backup software, Retrospect is the only software I have experience with and encounters with other software have produced a very negative reaction. I like Retrospect for ease of use. Simple, expedient, what more can I say? But after I hooked up a DDS-4 tape unit and I tried to run RS in "normal" backup mode (incremental), I would come in the morning to find numerous errors on the screen and no backup. And after having lost drives (this has happened 2 times) within days of having no backup I will not tolerate more than 1 day w/o a complete backup. I gave up and went to a single script that uses a different tape each day, completely replacing the contents, along with a monthly archive backup. Now this was about two years ago. And yes, I too, have several large FMP files that need backup. My expectations for an incremental backup are as have been described in other posts on this list, that is, one initial complete backup followed by backup of only files that have changed. Makes complete sense to me. I'll give it another shot. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Search: <http://www.mail-archive.com/retro-talk%40latchkey.com/> For urgent issues, please contact Dantz technical support directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 925.253.3050.
Re: Retro
Eric Ullman wrote: > Hi John, > > I'm trying to understand something. Can you tell me *why* you want to > perform a complete backup every night? Why not incrementals? > > Thanks! > > Eric Ullman > Dantz Development I can think of one good reason - it (incrementals) doesn't work. At least any of the times I've tried, I've come in the next morning to find a total mess with no backup. After a week of trying and no backups, I gave up. No knock on Dantz here, just that it has never worked for me and I wouldn't recommend it. YMMV. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Search: <http://www.mail-archive.com/retro-talk%40latchkey.com/> For urgent issues, please contact Dantz technical support directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 925.253.3050.
Re: 4.3 and the bleeding edge
Pat Lee wrote: > What is the configuration of your setup (computer, OS, SCSI card, other SCSI > peripherals)? Is the Sony DAT drive a narrow (50 pin) or wide (68 pin) > drive? What type of SCSI card is it connected to (narrow or wide)? Is this > first drive connected to the SCSI card or is there another external drive > connected it before it. Yes, I should have posted that information with the original post. 9600/184mb w/ Newer G3 card, OS 9.0.4. The drive is an APS enclosure Sony DDS-4 68 pin wide off a Adaptec 2940UW (bus 2, id 1). The primary drive (internal) for the machine is also on this card (SCSI bus 2, id 6). SCSI config looks like this: Bus 0 id 0 IBM HD id 3 CD-ROM id 5 Zip Bus 1 id 4 Yamaha CDR 4260 Bus 2 id1 DDS-4 tape [Sony SDT-1] id 6 Quantum Atlas 9gb Other cards in the machine: Keyspan USB, Asante 10/100 Ethernet, Keyspan Serial Port Expansion card (not in use), the video card. As soon as I have a chance I intend to do the extensions thing looking for conflicts there, but since this thing hangs on the SCSI scan, I'm not sure that that is worth the time. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
4.3 and the bleeding edge
Well, 4.3 is a bust for me. During script execution it scans the deives and freezes when it hits my tape drive (Sony DDS-4, scsi bus 2 device 1). Funny but 4.2 was rock solid. G. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Opinions about DDS4?
I'm in there with Nick. I've the same setup and the same comments. Solid and Reliable. Nick Scalise wrote: > I've got the Sony DDS4 with an APS enclosure. Ever since Dantz updated their > drivers (shortly after the 4.2 update) all has been good. > > No drive or tape related failures or hiccups of any kind. I have also been > using the odd DDS3 tape occasionally without problems too. > > Steve Rothman wrote: > > > Can anyone who's been using DDS-4 with a Mac for Retrospect Network > > backup comment about reliability and maintenance? -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Why won't Retrospect autorun?
It is clearly stated in the Black Watch readme that Retrospect will not run if Black Watch is active. In order to have Retro run it must be opened/launched and then it will complete backup operations even though Black Watch is active. Black Watch, IMO, is good stuff. Mark Hewitt wrote: > I had this problem a little while ago, and I was running a screen saver > called BlackWatch. Nice screen saver, but while it was running, Retrospect > wouldn't autorun. As a result, I would arrive at the office in the morning, > move the mouse to deactivate the screen saver (to see if the backup worked), > and the script would start shortly after. Removing BlackWatch worked. > > -- > MARK HEWITT > Programmer / MAX Multimedia / London -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] __@ _-\<, (*)/(*) -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Why won't Retrospect autorun?
Having read some the replys, I'll throw my 2 cents in too. I have noticed that if I've rebooted my backup machine, a good 50% of the time Retrospect will not launch by itself when scheduled. When I first launch Retrospect after it has missed a backup, it will then start to do the backup, and then continue to do backups normally. Thus I find that I often have to remember to boot Retrospect after booting the machine (probably ought to put an alias in the startup folder). Owen Watson wrote: > Occasionally (often when I'm away) Retrospect (latest version) won't > start up automatically on my Mac. No lack of memory. When I do launch > Retro on these occasions it then happily does its scripts, but why is > the autolaunch so erratic? > > Yes, I do have it turned on. . . > . > Owen Watson > at home in Wellington, New Zealand -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] __@ _-\<, (*)/(*) -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: DDS-3 speeds (was RE: ailing DAT drive)
Philip Chonacky wrote: > snip> > I think the speed limit in this case are the tape writes, > so a faster interface would not be of benefit > > 10bT clients I found max out around 30MB/min, > 100bT clients at 45-55 MB/min. > snip> FWIW, on my DDS-4 (APS Sony - SCSI Wide) backups (at my desktop 9600 w/ G3) over a 100bT link I'm getting 73.4mb/min from my 8550 (w/ G3 card and 100bT card) to 134.2mb/min from my G3 (B&W) server. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] __@ _-\<, (*)/(*) -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Solution ->[SOT?] Retrospect causing ASIP crash?
Well, I got around to investigating my problems with this machine this weekend. It turned out to be either a bad sector or just corrupt files. While making a backup copy of the files, the machine continued to seize whenever it hit on of the corrupt files (endless restarts), but once all were copied, a reformat of the drive and reinstallation of the data has resulted in a functional machine and smooth backup. Thanks to all who offered suggestions. Serge Paulus wrote: > I have the same problem on a similar config; I have no correct backup of my CMD 105 >gb Raid drive: the ASIP/retrospect server running on a 8600/250/ w/ G3 Newertech card >freezes after a few files are backed up... However there is no "hard freeze"; the >asip server simply doesn't respond but the mouse/keybord is active. The asip version >is 6.1. > Another element: I have exactly the same configuration running another ASIP server >that has no problem doing incremental backups every day. > -- > Serge Paulus > > On jeudi 10 février 2000, Craig Gaevert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >snip>. But ever since this time trying to > >back up the server with Retro from my desktop machine causes the ASIP > >server to freeze hard. By freeze hard I mean that it will cause the > >server to drop into MacsBug but MacsBug will not write a StdLog file. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] __@ _-\<, (*)/(*) -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[SOT?] Retrospect causing ASIP crash?
2 weeks ago I brought my ASIP server (6.2) down for some basic maintenance - Techtool Pro (2.5.3) and a desktop rebuild - and brought it right back up. This server had been up for about three months with no problems. Everything looked ok. But ever since this time trying to back up the server with Retro from my desktop machine causes the ASIP server to freeze hard. By freeze hard I mean that it will cause the server to drop into MacsBug but MacsBug will not write a StdLog file. This machine will run all day with NT boxes and Macs hitting it with no problem but as soon as Retro starts to harvest files it's gone. This machine also hosts FMP Server and has done so without a hitch for about 5 years. The specs: 8550 w/ Newer G3 card 184 mb ram 2 - 4gb drives My suspicion is that the G3 card doesn't like sustained transfers all of a sudden and I am going to experiment with swapping back in the 604e card to see if I can achieve the same result. If so then I'd say it's bad ram. Thoughts? -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect / Associate / Systems Administrator TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Retrospect 4.2, OS9, and DLT?
I was having a real problem until I added the latest driver update, the one specifically for DDS-4 drives. While that update may not apply to DLT drives it sure solved some serious crashes with OS9 and Retro 4.2. I think it may have fixed some things other than just DDS-4 drives. You may also find some relief if you remove the FBC Scheduler extension and Find by Content Extension. That suggestion came from the ASIP bug team. HTH Chris Ross wrote: > I have a Lacie DLT 2000 tape drive... Recently I updated our server to > OS9, ASIP 6.3, and Retrospect 4.2 - from OS 8.6, ASIP 6.2, and > Retrospect 4.1. Ever since Retrospect has not been the same. > snip> > Is anyone else > having problems with Retrospect 4.2, ASIP 6.3 and OS9? Any Ideas? > -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect / Associate / Systems Administrator TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Retrospect freeze
Well, it seems that I had spoke too soon about my freeze problems going away. It returned with a venegance last week and early this week. Then on Tuesday, one of the Apple bug engineers on the ASIP list suggested removing the FBC (Find by Content) extensions and see if that didn't improve stability in reference to another poster's problems with ASIP 6.3/MacOS9. Worked like a charm. My desktop backup machine is now working quite nicely. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect / Associate / Systems Administrator TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Retrospect freeze [final]
Well, after acquiring a batch of DDS-4 tapes and enlarging the memory allocation to 20mb I am happy to report that I've had several successful backups in a row. I'm leaving things just as they are and not changing a thing. Thanks for everyone's input. -- Craig Gaevert, A.I.A. Architect / Associate / Systems Administrator TLCD Architecture Santa Rosa, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- To subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives:<http://list.working-dogs.com/lists/retro-talk/> Problems?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
