NAME

backup − backup or archive file system

SYNOPSIS

/etc/backup [−archive] [−fsck]

HP-UX COMPATIBILITY

Level: HP-UX/STANDARD

Origin: HP

Remarks: This manual page describes backup as it is implemented on the Series 500 computers.  Refer to other backup(1M) manual pages for information valid for other implementations. 

Not supported in the Integral Personal Computer. 

DESCRIPTION

Backup uses find(1) and cpio(1) to save on the default tape drive (/dev/rmt79xx) a cpio archive of all files which have been modified since the modification time of /etc/archivedate.  Backup should be periodically invoked by cron(1M) at night, or when the system is otherwise idle. 

The −archive option causes backup to save all files, regardless of their modification date, and then update /etc/archivedate using touch(1). 

Backup prompts you to mount a new tape and continue if there is no more room on the current tape.  Note that this prompting does not occur if you are running backup from cron(1M). 

The −fsck option causes backup to start a file system consistency check (without correction) after the backup is complete.  This is the normal mode of nightly operation.  For correct results, it is important that the system be effectively single-user while fsck is running, especially if it is allowed to automatically fix whatever inconsistencies it finds.  Backup does not ensure that the system is single-user. 

You should edit /etc/backup to "customize" it for your system.  For example, backup uses tcio(1) by default.  You will need to modify backup to use cpio(1) if you want to access a raw device. 

Several parameters are used which can be customized:

backupdirs specifies which directories to recursively back up (usually /, meaning all directories);

backuplog file name where start and finish times, block counts, and error messages are logged;

archive file name whose date is the date of the last archive;

remind file name that is checked by /etc/profile to remind the next person who logs in to change the backup tape;

rootdev list of places for fsck (usually a character special file that points to the root device);

fscklog file name where start and finish times and fsck output is logged. 

You may want to make other changes, such as whether or not fsck does automatic correction (according to its arguments), where cpio output is directed, other information logging, etc. 

In all cases, the output from backup is a normal cpio archive file (or volume) which can be read using tcio (if used to generate the backup) and cpio with the −c option. 

FILES

/etc/archivedate
parameterized file names

SEE ALSO

cpio(1), find(1), touch(1), cron(1M), fsck(1M). 

BUGS

Refer to BUGS in cpio(1). 

When cpio runs out of tape, it sends an error to stderr (which is logged, so it does not appear on your CRT), and demands a new special file name from /dev/tty.  To continue, rewind the tape, mount the new tape, type the name of the new special file at the system console, and press RETURN. 

If backup is left running overnight and the tape runs out, backup terminates, leaving the find process still waiting.  You need to kill this process when you return. 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  April 12, 1993