Backup Utilities

This page contains information about the similarities and differences between different versions of Unix.

All UNIX systems have utilities for writing files to tape, such as tar and cpio. But typically there are additional vendor-specific utilities suitable for system backups:

AIX 4.X HP-UX 11.X IRIX 6.X Linux Solaris 2.X
Backup backup fbackup
dump (HFS filesys) or vxdump (VxFS filesys) 		Backup
bru
dump (EFS filesys) or xfsdump (XFS filesys)		 dumpe2fs ufsdump
Restore restore frestore
restore (HFS filesys) or vxrestore (VxFS filesys) 		Restore
bru
restore (EFS filesys) or xfsrestore (XFS filesys)		 ufsrestore

If you need to restore the operating system...

Some systems have commands capable of making bootable backup tapes; others require that you boot off an installation CD and then restore from a non-bootable backup tape. Following is a brief summary of the procedures, but check vendor documentation for the detailed instructions.

AIX 4.X HP-UX 11.X IRIX 6.X Linux Solaris 2.X
Backup mksysb fbackup Backup ufsdump
Restore Boot from the mksysb tape & select "Start installation with default settings" from menu Boot from Support Media, go into a Recovery Shell, load needed recovery programs, & then frecover Boot, then interrupt the boot sequence & select "Recover the system;" select option to read recovery info from the IRIX release CD, which will then prompt for the backup tape Boot off Solaris installation CD & then use ufsrestore