Topic: Backup to USB DRIVE Multiple Disk Routine

[kruhm]

Hi,

I backup a server with the builtin backup service to workstation to a USB CADDY hard drive (/dev/sdc mounted at /media/BackupDrive1). It's working fine.

I want to replace the hard drive with another to provide a snapshot archive.

When I shutdown the USB CADDY, I unplug the hard drive and plug in another hard drive. I start the USB CADDY again and the hard drive is recognized as /dev/sdd.

When I start the backup job manually via:

Code: [Select]

/sbin/e-smith/do_backupwk
I get:

Error while mounting /dev/sdc1 /media/BackupDrive1 :
mount: special device /dev/sdc1 does not exist
Backup terminated: backup failed - status: 7424

So my question is how do I correctly rotate usb hard drives and get the same backup to work?

Thanks,

[janet]

kruhm

Is the label name on each backup disk the same or different ?

[kruhm]

The labels are different.

Code: [Select]

# e2label /dev/sdd1
BackupDrive2

[janet]

kruhm

I suggest you make the disk labels the same.

[kruhm]

That didn't work.

Code: [Select]

# e2label /dev/sdd1
BackupDrive1

Code: [Select]

# /sbin/e-smith/do_backupwk
Error while mounting /dev/sdc1 /media/BackupDrive1 :
mount: special device /dev/sdc1 does not exist
Backup terminated: backup failed - status: 7424
If the labels didn't work, it looks like it uses the dev name.

Won't my options for a large, long-term backup be limited to either a NAS or limiting down the length of the backup that can fit on 1 dev.

[janet]

kruhm

I swap up to 4 portable USB drives, with only one connected at any time so each one gets the same USB port & is identified as sdc. They all have the same label name & it works fine.

Maybe the issue is with the caddie, is it a single disk or multiple disk caddie. The sme server is seeing the first port sdc as already in use & then allocating the next port sdd.
Assuming it's external then try unplugging the caddie USB cable from sme server before swapping drives, & reattach after inserting the new drive.

Also did you read the USB drive Howto where it talks about adding label IDs to fstab. Maybe you need to try that.

what is current contents of /etc/fstab

[kruhm]

I swap up to 4 portable USB drives, with only one connected at any time so each one gets the same USB port & is identified as sdc. They all have the same label name & it works fine.

Thanks for confirming this is possible.

Assuming it's external then try unplugging the caddie USB cable from sme server before swapping drives, & reattach after inserting the new drive.

That's a really good idea. I'll continue to try and let you know what I find.