Rebuilding Systems Faster and Better
October 17, 2016
I'm looking at how to save as much time as possible in rebuilding an HP 3000's software and directories. My options seem to be using STORE, versus the sysgen tape command "tape store=@.@.@". What's the best way to go here?
Donna Hofmeister of Allegro replies
Unless your system is small (like a 918 with 8-12GB of disc), you don't want to try to do a full backup via sysgen. If you really do a full backup then I prefer this syntax “store /;...” as it is self-documenting and you know that the Posix files will be backed up as well. (On older releases of MPE, @.@.@ did not back up Posix files <eek>)
You want to make sure that you run 'buldacct' periodically (and routinely). You also want to make sure that you are somehow backing up your directory (store /;*t;directory, for example). Between the two, you have belts and suspenders (for recovering your accounting structure).
On older releases of MPE, you want to make sure that the network is shut down prior to making your SLT tape. And it's still a good idea to have the system quiesced when making an SLT, since everything in the sys account (and .pub.sys in particular) will be locked while the tape is being made. Nothing quite like grumpy users to make your day.
Just as a matter of preference, you should normally do a BULDACCT @ at the beginning of the weekly full backup, then the DIRECTORY option along with ;ONVS=MPEXL_SYSTEM_VOLUME_SET, PRODUCTION_SET, etc as a belt and suspenders approach for that day we all hope never comes.
Mark Ranft of Pro 3K outlined the use of sysgen
Here are instructions for a complete backup of basic MPE/iX system via SYSGEN's TAPE option. It is best if everything fits on a single DDS (or DDS-2 or DDS-3 or DDS-4) tape cartridge, but it will ask for a second (additional) tape(s) as needed.
Note: I included a 'second_volume_set' which can be changed or removed
Note 2: The line below is >80 characters, so you have to know how to create a file so that this does not wrap (or make other adjustments.)
Step One - Create an indirect file containing the following as a single line...
@.@.@;onvs=mpexl_system_volume_set, second_volume_set
;progress;maxtapebuf;compress=high;online=start;partialdb;directory
Step Two - Create this job
:job jsltall,manager.sys;outclass=,1
:sysgen
tape store=^fsltall.job.sys
exit
:tellop END OF JSLTALL -------------- EOJ
:eoj
Feel free to add a BULDACCT to this.