OS/2 Backup Solutions
I see posts all the time about how to backup data on Os2/eCS. So, I decided to collect some of the techniques that I have seen posted on the news groups. Also, I encourage others to post their solutions and scripts that they use to backup data on OS/2. The first couple are the easiest to use, then later on I will get into the use of Rsync (local and network backups).
Updated, 26 December:
On Christmas my boot drive quit working. However, since I been working on a way to use Rsync as my main backup solution, I had about 10 different full backups on hand. And in 36 seconds flat I had a working boot drive up and running again using Backup Again/2 to restore my drive. Now that was actual restore time, but the complete time it took was a bit longer (finally reading the manual). Because I did not completely take DougB's advice on how important the restore process is too.
Back Again/ 2000 - Server Edition
***WARNING BACKAGAIN/2 HAS A 2 GIG LIMIT. IT WILL
BACKUP DATA GREATER THAN 2 GB, BUT IT WILL NOT RESTORE THE DATA ****
I keep all my boot partitions under the 2Gb limit , so it is not a problem for me. I use Back Again/2 for my full daily backups using the included scheduler. I highly recommend BA/2 for backing up your boot partitions, you not find a more powerful and easy solution for this purpose.
1) Download BackAgain/2 here: ba2ksv410.zip and the fix for the scheduler here: Ba2Sched.zip
2) If you lost your serial numbers they can be found on the net. Search: comp.os.os2.misc google group with the Keywords: back again serial numbers.
3) Install BA/2 and unzip Ba2Sched.zip to the BA/2 directory and install it, move the WPS object to the BA/2 folder and create a shadow in the startup folder.
4) Open up the Sets folder => Full.bst => Options => Media => Erase options, and set to 'Always Erase', save the changes. Now drag the 'Full.bst' object to the Back Again!2000 Scheduler Folder to create a shadow of the 'Full.bst' object.
5) Open the 'Scheduler Folder' and select the 'Full.bst' object, do not open it. Now click on the 'change ' button to set up the scheduled run times for daily and that's it.
ZipBoot - RsyncBackup
ZipBoot is part of the 'RsyncBackup' package and is a simple frontend for Info-Zip. Just like the XCOPY command, I can never remember the command to zip my boot partition. And if you're in a jam and only need one file or directory, 'ZipBoot' can restore those too. If you do not remember the path of the file, the log file from the backup can help you with the exact location. I forgot to add this to the 'ZipBoot' directions, but don't forget to do a SYSINSTX [your boot drive] after a complete restore.
Here is a screen shot of the restore process:
Updated, 6 Janurary:
RsyncBackup
RsyncBackup is a bit more complicated once you start backing up over the network. I put together a package that will install a working setup for Rsync. You can install it on only one machine or install the same package on two machine for a client / server setup. However, the main focus will be on setting up a working Rsync server with clients pushing data to that server. The RsyncBackup quick guide will allow you to complete this task in about 10 minutes (Windows included) !
Download the RsyncBackup package here:
ftp://os2notes.gotdns.org/rsyncbackup/
Everything is a template in RsyncBackup, the main focus is helping you on setting up a working Rsync server with clients pushing data to that server.
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I have two hard-drives and all my boot partitions are (2000MB) under the 2GB limit. This first solution is the easiest and most convenient for me. The first hard-drive has my primary Os2/eCS a 2000MB (C:) partition, my second hard-drive has a primary (2000MB) boot partition (X:) and my Os2/eCS data partition (E:).
1) XCOPY - I use this command to backup the entire C: partition to the X: partition on the second drive. So, if the first drive fails, all I have to do is to disconnect it (assign X: => C:) and now the second drive will boot with the exact copy of the C: partition from the first hard-drive.
XCOPY /H /O /T /S /E /R /V c:\* x:\
Andreas Buchinger (4os2 & rar) wrote:
1a) 4os2 - synchronize non compressed backup
from a 4os2
command prompt
COPY /S /U source_dir\* destination_dir
1b) Rar - script for daily backup of data partition to backup partition
---------------------------------------------
REM script to save all new data from data partition E: to O:\DailyBack
REM -r recursive
REM -ac clear achive bit
REM -ag Generate archive name using the current date
REM -ao Add files with Archive attribute set
REM -v max. volume size
o:
cd \DailyBack
rar a -r -ao -ac -v2000m -ag+YYYYMMDD-NN AutoBak e:\* -x\delete\*
-xE:\Mozilla\default\dtadmfoc.slt\Cache\*
-xE:\Seamonkey\default\zddd4y2q.slt\OfflineCache\*
-xE:\Seamonkey\default\zddd4y2q.slt\startupCache\* 2>error.log
2) Info-ZIP seems to be a popular way of backing up entire partitions. Here is the command:
ZIP -Srg9 X:\Drive-C.zip C:\*
Where C: is the partition being zipped and X: is where the zip file is created and located. I would be grateful if you sent me your ideas and scripts that use Info-Zip (including RAR32).
A nice script is included in the Rsync package below.
4) LuckyBackup is a Qt4 app and is highly recommended for local backups. Installing RsyncBackup-005.zip above satisfies the the rsync requirements for LuckyBackup.
Download the LuckyBackup package here:ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/qtapps/luckybackup-0.4.5-os2.zipHomepage for LuckBackup is here:
http://luckybackup.sourceforge.net/
5) Rar -
Here's mine:
http://users.socis.ca/~ataylo00/programming/rexx/index.html#rrbackupIt's basically just a wrapper for RAR which imposes a slightly more usable command-line syntax and provides some sensible defaults.
Gabriele Gamba wrote:
6) eBackUP - I'm currently using, and I'm quite happy with, eBackUP:
http://www.wdsibyl.org/en/Wiki/view/tag/eBackUpHomepageDeu
Al Heath wrote:
8) BackEmUp - I use my "BackEmUp" (command line version) and/or "BackEmUI" (PM gui version of same functionality...) to keep my systems backed up. Eugene Gorbunoff is adding his own interface (Vareyne another alternative gui..) on top of my command line program to add in automatic scheduling, etc. (I use the "AT" command for my scheduling...)
Anyway, my programs are able to deal with large files > 2 gig,backup data sets to fit anywhere from a lan backup directory (or cloud if you have virtual drive letter support...), multiple DVD, CD ... or even memory sticks or floppies if you still have those... It can run from the eComStation recovery console (booted from CD...) to allow for a disaster recovery. With your own plug-in routines for compaction (I use ZIP but something could be substituted) and encryption (again, you provide your own favorite encryption executable... pgp, scramble, etc.. ) such as if you are backing up to a cloud or need to be concerned about your back'ed up data getting into the wrong hands... etc... To much functionality to talk about in a short note. I like it better than xcopy or rar or rsync, but I'm probably biased. Anyway, I'll attach a WarpIN WPI for your pleasure. Otherwise, my stuff is presently anchored from:
http://webpages.charter.net/
Alan wrote:
9) PMBackup - I found the registration info for PMBackup -- at Mensys under its old
name "Varenye Backup": it's US$25 for a single user, US$30 for "family" use.
I have since tried eBackup, which seems OK (basically just a GUI for
RAR), but AFAICS there is no scheduler.
Yuri Dario wrote:
10) Git and SmartGit - I'm now using git to backup my data files: I can get versioning and
backup with a single app. tagging sets allows restoring old versions.
Also git pack format is highly compressed.
Once committed a new set to my local disk, I use git to push changes
to my server, so I have a fast backup; to be safer, I then use jgit on
the server to push updates to amazon s3, I do this from the server
since my adsl upstream is not as fast as my lan connection.
Julian Thomas wrote:
11) ZBU - I presented my scripts for ZBU 6 yrs ago at Warpstock - the package is available by ftp from my website: ftp://jt-mj.net zbu.zip
It requires some customization. It does boot to the maintenance partition and back again. It uses zip.exe for backup, with parameterization so that large partitions (too big for zip) can be done in separate pieces.
There's a doc file and a sample parameter file in the package.
--
Julian Thomas: jt@jt-mj.net http://jt-mj.net
In the beautiful Genesee Valley of Western New York State!
Roberto wrote:
12) Backrar009.zip -You can download hobbes, this program is for use with the RAR, being able to include or exclude files. With restoration instructions in the help. Sources included. http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/download/pub/os2/util/backup/backrar009.zip
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This is intended to be an expanding article on backup
solutions for Os2/eCS, so send in or post your backup
solutions for
Os2/eCS.
