Novell EDIRECTORY 8.8 - GUIDE, Manual

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Backing Up and Restoring Novell eDirectory 393
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To identify, back up, and remove roll-forward logs that are safe to remove:
1 Make a note of the name of the last unused roll-forward log.
You can find out the name of the last unused roll-forward log in the following ways:
• In iManager, click eDirectory Maintenance > Backup Configuration and read the filename
displayed.
• In the eMBox Client, enter the getconfig backup command. See “Configuring Roll-
Forward Logs with the eMBox Client” on page 410 for instructions.
The last unused roll-forward log is the most recent roll-forward log that the database has
completed and is no longer using to record transactions. It's called the last unused roll-forward
log because the database has finished writing to it and has begun a new log file, so it does not
need to have this one open any more. (The current roll-forward log in which the database is
recording transactions is in use and is still needed by the database.)
2 Do a file system backup of the roll-forward logs, to put them all safely on tape.
3 Remove the roll-forward logs that are older than the last unused roll-forward log.
WARNING: Keep in mind that you must be cautious when removing roll-forward logs from
the server. Compare carefully with your tape backup to make sure you have a backup copy of
everything you delete.
The last unused roll-forward log indicates which file the database has just completed and
closed. It does not indicate whether it's safe to remove that file from the server. You must make
sure that you remove only files that you have a tape backup for.
If you need to retrieve any of the roll-forward logs from tape for use in a restore because you have
placed some of them on tape backup, keep in mind the following issues:
• As with any roll-forward logs used for a restore, log files retrieved from file system backup
tapes must be placed in the same folder as the other roll-forward logs, local to the server being
restored.
• You must compare time stamps for any files that are duplicated on the tape and on the server.
Use the latest one, the one on the server, if the time stamps are not the same. For example, the
roll-forward log file that was in use by the database during the time of the file system backup
will be incomplete on the tape; the latest and complete version of that file will be on the server.
14.3.4 Cautionary Note: Removing eDirectory Also Removes
the Roll-Forward Logs
If you remove eDirectory from your server, the roll-forward log directory and all the logs in it are
also removed. If you want to be able to use the logs for restoring the server in the future, before
removing eDirectory you must first copy the roll-forward logs to another location.
14.4 Preparing for a Restore
The most important part of restoring the eDirectory database is making sure it is complete. Before
restoring an eDirectory database to a server, ensure the prerequisites have been met as described in
“Prerequisites for Restoring” on page 394 . If you are not sure how to gather the right backup files,
see “Locating the Right Backup Files for a Restore” on page 395 .