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eDirectory backup and restore using Novell agent

DSBK is a command line utility that enables backup and restore of eDirectory. The backups that are generated using DSBK are server-centric and not tree-centric. The backup file and logs contain information necessary to restore eDirectory.

It allows the backup from the server console without user credentials. It runs as an NLM on the NetWare server, and backs up data from an eDirectory database on a server to a specific file. The DSBK generated backups are server-centric and not tree-centric. The backup file and logs contain information necessary to restore eDirectory.

The Novell eDirectory backup is supported for version 8.7.3 IR3 or later.

No changes are needed to the master.ini file if only eDirectory is being backed up with the system agent.

See the following for additional considerations when backing up eDirectory on the Unitrends system:

ClosedInstalling eDirectory
• During the installation process, a directory named SYS:\edirbk\ is created on the NetWare server to store eDirectory back and related logs.
• Two NCF files named dsbkinc.cfg and edirbk.ncf are placed in the SYS:/BP directory on the NetWare server.
• If required, edit the SYS:\BP\dsbkinc.cfg file. This file has list of additional files to be backed up along with eDirectory.

These are the files, which backup administrator assumes, are important when restoring the server’s eDirectory database.

The entries in the file should list the full path of each file followed by (;). It should not contain spaces or hard returns.

• The default contents of the file are as follows:

sys:\system\autoexec.ncf;sys:\etc\hosts;

• If required, edit the sys:\BP\eDirbk.ncf file to modify the default paths for backup and eDirectory logs.
– By default, the backup is created in SYS:\edirbk\ndsbak.bak. It can be modified by altering the value for the option -f in sys:\BP\edirbk.ncf.
– By default, the log for the backup process is kept in sys:\edirbk\ndabak.log. It can be modified by altering the value for the option -l in sys:\BP\edirbk.ncf.
– By default, the roll forward logs (RFL) path for eDirectory is set to SYS:\edirbk\rfl. It can be modified by altering value for the option -r in SYS:\BP\edirbk.ncf. Roll forward logs are activated after a backup but are set OFF after every Restore.

Note:   It is advised to keep the RFL on a separate drive. This helps to recover in case there is a hard drive failure.

ClosedBacking up eDirectory
• Enter the following in the Pre-Backup command field:

SYS:/BP/EDIRBK.NCF

This Pre-Backup command backups up the eDirectory and stores it in the ndsbak.bak file on the Novell client. The system will then backup this nsdbak.bak file as part of the file-level backup. See About backup options for details.

• To avoid backup timeout situations, you may need to increase the BeforeCmdWaitTime value in the master.ini on the NetWare server. This file is located in SYS:\BP. The default value for the BeforeCmdWaitTime is 60 seconds. It is advised that you increase this to a time that will allow the eDirectory backup to complete such as 6000 seconds. The file-level backup will proceed when the eDirectory backup concludes.
• The following is the backup command used:

dsbk backup -f sys:\EDIRBK\ndsbak.bak -l sys:\EDIRBK\ndsbak.log -u sys:\BP\dsbkInc.cfg -b -t -w

where:

-f is the backup filename and path (mandatory field)

-l is the log filename and path (mandatory field)

-u is the user includes filename and path (optional field)

-b is the option to perform a full backup (optional field)

-t backup up stream files (optional field)

-w overwrites the existing backup file of the same name (optional field).

ClosedRestoring eDirectory
• Restoring the eDirectory is a manual process that should be done on the Novell server console screen once the files have been restored from the Novell file-level backup.
• Once the restore has been successfully completed from the system to the Novell server, the ndsbak.bak file that contains the backup will be restored back in the SYS:\EDIRBK folder.
• Next, run the eDirectory restore manually using any of the restore commands from Example restore commands on the server to get back the contents of the database.
ClosedExample restore commands
• The following command restores the eDirectory database as well as included files but without the roll forward logs:

dsbk restore -f sys:\eDirBk\ndsbak.bak -l sys:\eDirbk\ndsres.log -u -r -o -a -k

• The following command restores the eDirectory databases well as included files, but with the roll forward logs:

dsbk restore -f sys:\eDirBk\ndsbak.bak -l sys:\eDirbk\ndsrestore.log -d sys:\EdirBk\ nds.rfl -r -o -a -k

Note:   The only difference in the above commands is the use of option -d.

• If you want to use the roll forward logs you will need to make sure it is set to ON. To check the current status of the RFL logs run:

dsbk getconfig

• If the switch is not ON, set it by running the following command:

dsbk setconfig -L -r <path to RFL files>