Restore files by image (backup id)
Hi all,
This is the 3rd thread about backup images I have created in the past two weeks.
Here are the links to the other two threads: (Big credits to Mark_Solutions)
Question about Backup Image fragments (One backup id split up in to parts):
https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/question-about-backup-image-fragments-one-backup-id-split-parts
Find out the exact backup id(s) associated with specific files/folders that have been backed up:
https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/find-out-exact-backup-ids-associated-specific-filesfolders-have-been-backed
I understand that the areas being discussed in these threads are all related, but I feel that separating the threads could allow the shared knowledge to be better referenced if the discussions go deep enough.
With that out of the way, let's get back to the topic of this thread...
I have been asked to restore everything from within 5 tapes. (a tape is identified by its media id)
Restoring by tape is equivalent to restoring by backup image because Netbackup reporting gives you the list of images stored on each tape. (a backup image is identified by its backup id)
So now I have a list of backup images (all from the 5 tapes) that I need to restore.
I understand that I may need more than just these 5 tapes to restore the images because some of the images have fragments stored on tapes outside of the 5 tapes.
Again, Netbackup reporting tells me what those other tapes are, so no problem.
(For your information, now I need a total of 7 tapes just to restore every image listed on the 5 tapes. I need the two additional tapes because they have fragments of images that belong to the images on the 5 tapes)
Now that I have a list of images I need to restore, and all their fragments in hand, time to restore them!
In Netbackup BAR (restore interface), I could not find a way to restore by image (backup id), at least not easily.
For simplicity, assume that the list of images I have are all Full Backups, with policy type "MS-Windows".
After choosing a client, I am presented with a row of "orbs", each representing a full backup for a particular day.
I understand that each of these "orbs" represents an individual image (backup id), please correct me if I'm wrong.
However, when I click on one, it doesn't give me its backup id, and therefore I cannot be sure that it is one of the images I'm looking for (Remember, I'm specifically looking for the images that are associated with the 5 tapes...)
You may think I could simply check the backup date of a backup id (its ctime code) to find out which "orb" this backup id is associated to. You may be right if there is only one "orb" for any particular date, in which case the only "orb" is the right "orb"!
But in my case there are multiple "orbs" under each and everyday. (Due to the way we setup our backup policies)
Given a date from a backup id (its ctime code), and with multiple "orbs" associated with the date, it is not immediately obvious which "orb" is really the one the backup id is associated with.
I understand that I could open up the image (backup id) and look inside its contents, by using tools such as bpflist, or the Windows command findstr. (If you got this far, you probably know how to use these tools)
And if I do this, I can compare the contents (file by file, folder by folder...) between an image and the "orbs" of the same date.
I can then be 100% sure that the "orb" I have selected for restore is associated with which image (backup id).
Now my question is:
Is there an easier way to restore by tape? (Or by image/backup ids. Same thing really.)
Given a tape (media id), how do I select all the right "orbs" in BAR that would encompass everything associated with the tape, and nothing more? (And also nothing less)
(Oh and I seriously don't have a clue what those "orbs" are supposed to be. They're... just too small for me to see them...)
(....and if you are really interested, the reason why we need to restore by tape is because we need to dispose of these specific tapes physically and securely, but want back all the data on them before doing so...)
Thanks all,
RLeon
On BAR, uncheck "Show NetBackup History as a Timeline" in [View] Menu.
You can see backups by list instead of "orbs".This list does not have "Backup ID", but you can check "Backup Time" of each backups.
Backup ID is in form of "client_name"_"backup_time_seconds_from_epoch", you can identify each backups by "Backup Time".If you want to restore backups written in a given tape, search images with media id from [NetBackup Management]-[Catalog], write down backup time of each backups on notepad. Then, kick BAR and select backup by backup time from list.