BACKUP and RESTORE
The importance of backups and tested restores is recognized when the BSD system administrator successfully recovers from a disaster or business disruption by rapidly restoring from a backup data set.
The BSDP candidate should be able to take a backup and successfully restore files, filesystems, and whole disks, with and without encryption, locally or over a network.
3.8.1. Perform a backup of a data set.
Importance: 4.6, Frequency: 3.4, Bloom: K,A
Concept:
To perform a backup means saving data in case it is needed later. Such a need can arise due to corruption or loss of a single file or an entire disk. Backups can be performed on single files, whole file systems or entire disks including all partitions, the partition table and boot blocks.
BSDP candidates should be able to backup a variety of different data sets.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
tar(1), cpio(1), pax(1), dump(8), dd(1)
Estimated Time:
20 minutes to backup a data set according to a specification.
3.8.2. Restore a portion of a system from a backup.
Importance: 4.6, Frequency: 2.3, Bloom: K,A
Concept:
Backing up data is only one half of what is needed to provide a reliable service. Restoring data from a backup data set is just as important.
BSDP candidates must know how to retrieve all or a portion of a backup data set.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
tar(1), cpio(1), pax(1), restore(8), dd(1)
Estimated Time:
20 minutes to retrieve and verify all or a set of files from a backup data set according to a specification.
3.8.3. Maintain synchronized files on two or more systems.
Importance: 4.3, Frequency: 3.2, Bloom: K,C,A
Concept:
Maintaining synchronized data across multiple systems is often necessary for operational reasons.
BSDP candidates should be able to configure synchronization of data files across two or more systems.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
scp(1), cron(8), crontab(1) and (5)
Estimated Time:
30 minutes to set up the system to synchronize files according to a specification.
3.8.4. Perform an encrypted backup over the network.
Importance: 4.1, Frequency: 2.8, Bloom: K,C,A
Concept:
The ability to perform a remote backup is a common component of many disaster recovery plans. Encrypting the transmission link between the source and destination during the backup ensures confidentiality of the backup data.
BSDP candidates should be able to configure an encrypted backup over a network connection.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
tar(8), cpio(1), dump(8), dd(1), ssh(8), scp(1)
Estimated Time:
20 minutes to configure and perform an encrypted backup according to a specification.
3.8.5. Perform a distributed backup on multiple systems.
Importance: 3.7, Frequency: 2.5, Bloom: K,C,A
Concept:
Backups can be distributed across multiple systems in order to decrease risk due to loss of both the source and backup system. Multiple backup systems allow for data recovery in the event of such a disaster.
BSDP candidates should be able to perform a backup over a network to multiple systems.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
tar(8), cpio(1), dump(8), dd(1), ssh(8), scp(1)
Estimated Time:
30 minutes to configure and perform a backup to multiple systems over a network connection.
3.8.6. Backup Windows shares to a BSD system.
Importance: 3.1, Frequency: 2.4, Bloom: K,C,A
Concept:
BSD systems are capable of being configured to mount, read, and write to Windows shares.
BSDP candidates must be able to access files on Windows shares, back them up to remote storage facilities which may not use native Windows filesystems, restore the files to a (possibly different) Windows share, and keep user, system, and file attributes intact.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
DragonFly BSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD: mount_smbfs(8)
Estimated Time:
35 minutes to configure and perform a backup of a Windows share over a network connection, restore the backup, and verify the results.
3.8.7. Backup and restore an RDBMS.
Importance: 3.7, Frequency: 2.5, Bloom: K,C,A
Concept:
RDBMS vendors provide tools to export and import the database and schema for backup and restore purposes.
BSDP candidates should be able to backup and restore a database using tools provided by the database vendor.
Practical:
software of choice from packages/pkgsrc
Estimated Time:
30 minutes to backup and restore an RDBMS according to a specification.