I use a ZFS array for backups. The data is first copied to this array, and later copied to tape. This post contains some information which might be useful should I need to replace one of the drives in the array. We have 10 HDD in this system. Two are used in a gmirror for the base OS: ada8 ada9 Seven are active in an array: ada0 ada2 ada3 ada4 ada5 ada6 ada07 […]
ZFS details – just in case Read More »
I have been using Bacula since 2004. I started off on DDS tapes, then moved to DLT. Now I’m backing up to a ZFS array and the copying to tape. About a year ago, I obtained about 200 DLT tapes from a friend. They were no longer used at his place of work. He used Bacula and had written lots of 1s and 0s to the tapes to erase them. However, they still
Bacula – Removing labels, then labeling tapes Read More »
PGCon 2011 has started. The formal schedule says Tuesday, but people have already started to arrive in Ottawa and many more start their journeys today. Late last week, there was another flurry of registrations coming in. I saw some today. I expect another peak on Monday as last minute decisions are made. There have been a few requests for a group trip to Burger Works, Haveli, and Royal Thai for dinner. We’ll definitely
Bacula is a backup and restore solution which I’ve been using and contributing to since 2004. Recently, I started backing up to disk and then copying to tape later. This approach, combined with a scratch pool, has proven to be very low maintenance, from a sysadmin point of view. I think all sysadmin will agree: the less you have to do, the better. At this time of year, I’m away running BSDCan and
Bacula run-after scripts Read More »
I’ve been in Ottawa for a week now, preparing for both BSDCan 2011 and for PGCon 2011. Pretty much everything is done. The t-shirts are ordered. The lanyards, tote bags, and Google goodies are ready to go. The hard stuff is done. What’s left is mostly logistics, coordination, timing, and organization. And for you to turn up. Two weeks from today, the final day of PGCon 2011 will start. While it becomes cliche
PGCon – we’re ready. Are you? Read More »
PGCon is just two weeks away. Based on previous years, half of you register between today and the conference. I don’t know why… it just happens that way. Yes, it means our attendance will double in the next two weeks. PGCon 2011 will be on 19-20 May 2011 at University of Ottawa, with two days of tutorials on 17-18 May 2011. PGCon is the place to meet, discuss, build relationships, learn valuable insights,
PGCon 2011 is just two weeks away Read More »
PGCon is an annual conference for users and developers of PostgreSQL, a leading relational database, which just happens to be open source. PGCon is the place to meet, discuss, build relationships, learn valuable insights, and generally chat about the work you are doing with PostgreSQL. If you want to learn why so many people are moving to PostgreSQL, PGCon will be the place to find out why. Whether you are a casual user
Today is the first Sunday since I started using a scratch pool with Bacula. I was disappointed to see an email asking for a tape to be mounted. Why? With four tapes in the scratch pool, I shouldn’t be asked for a tape. Something is wrong. But there is no directive on a pool to say use the scratch pool. Bacula just uses the scratch pool if one is defined. However, I checked
Differential backup didn’t use scratch pool Read More »
I hate it when this happens: [root@kraken /usr/home/dan]# /usr/local/sbin/mtx-changer /dev/pass10 list mtx: Request Sense: Long Report=yes mtx: Request Sense: Valid Residual=no mtx: Request Sense: Error Code=0 (Unknown?!) mtx: Request Sense: Sense Key=No Sense mtx: Request Sense: FileMark=no mtx: Request Sense: EOM=no mtx: Request Sense: ILI=no mtx: Request Sense: Additional Sense Code = 00 mtx: Request Sense: Additional Sense Qualifier = 00 mtx: Request Sense: BPV=no mtx: Request Sense: Error in CDB=no mtx: Request
INQUIRY command Failed Read More »
I’m about to double the RAM in my ZFS system. It will go from 4GB to 8GB. Right now, I have: real memory = 4294967296 (4096 MB) avail memory = 4100382720 (3910 MB) I’m not interested in any big extensive benchmarks. I just want something simple. Hence: $ cd /storage/bonnie/ [dan@kraken:/storage/bonnie] $ ls -l total 0 [dan@kraken:/storage/bonnie] $ bonnie++ Writing a byte at a time…done Writing intelligently…done Rewriting…done Reading a byte at a
ZFS benchmarking ideas Read More »