Unix Backup and Recovery

Chapter 1. Preparing for the Worst

One of the simplest rules of systems administration is that disks and systems fail. If you haven’t already lost a system or at least a disk drive, consider yourself extremely lucky. You also might consider the statistical possibility that your time is coming really soon. Maybe it’s just me, but I lost four laptop disk drives while trying to write this book! (Yes, I had them backed up.)

This chapter talks about developing an overall disaster recovery plan, of which your backup and recovery system will be just a part.

My Dad Was Right

My father used to tell me, “There are two types of motorcycle owners. Those who have fallen, and those who will fall.” The same rule applies to system administrators. There are those who have lost a disk drive and those who will lose a disk drive. (I’m sure my dad was just trying to keep me from buying a motorcycle, but the logic still applies. That’s not bad for a guy who got his first computer last year, don’t you think?)

Whenever I speak about my favorite subject at conferences, I always ask questions like, “Who has ever lost a disk drive?” or “Who has lost an entire system?” Actually, this chapter was written while at a conference. When I asked those questions there, someone raised his hand and said, “My computer room just got struck by lightning.” That sure made for an interesting discussion! If you haven’t lost a system, look around you . . . one of your friends has.

Speaking of old adages, the one that says “It’ll ...