Topic: Backup space requirements confusing

[jimgoode]

SME 7.5.1 @ current patch level.

The numbers reported by the Backup and Restore panel are confusing.

df -k reports 30,104,244, or 28.7 GB space used.

The Backup panel indicates 42GB, or 31GB used for configuration and data files. Why is there an 11GB discrepancy on different parts of the panel?

Data copied from panel________________________________________________-
Backup or restore server data

The server provides three ways to back up and restore your server: using your local desktop, a tape drive or a workstation on your LAN.

The first method creates a copy of your server configuration and user data files, and downloads it to your local desktop via your web browser. Currently your configuration and data files total approximately 42Gb. The backup file will be somewhat less than this, depending on how compressible the data are. This file can be used to restore the server from the console if you copy it to removable storage media such as a local USB disk.

The tape backup method uses a software package called flexbackup to back up your entire hard disk to tape every night. This requires a supported tape drive and a tape that is not write-protected. The backup is performed automatically at the selected time every night (with a reminder automatically e-mailed to the administrator during the day). Currently your hard disk contains 31Gb of data.

The workstation backup method uses a software package called dar to back up your server configuration and data files to a workstation on your LAN (or a local USB disk). This requires you provide a writable share (cifs or nfs) on the backup workstation or have a local USB disk. You can manage how many rotating sets of backup are kept on the backup share, and also make each set doing incremental backup upon several days. The backup is performed automatically at the selected time every day. Currently configuration and data files total approximately 42Gb uncompressed. Twice the compressed data size must be available on the backup share.

All restore methods allow you to restore your configuration and user data files. Workstation backup provides individual file restore. Ideally, full restore should be performed on a freshly installed server.