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Restoring critical file systems

This is a mini-HOWTO on restoring the /, /usr and /var partitions from tapes made with ufsdump. Like procedures apply for other backup media and/or tools.

Restoring /usr and /var in 10 steps

1. Boot from Installation CD 1 of 2 in single user mode.

2. Create a new file system on the partition that holds /usr or /var:

   newfs /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s3
   

3. Mount the partition on a temporary directory:

   mount /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s3 /a
   

4. Change to that temporary directory

5. Restore from tape:

   ufsrestore rf /dev/rmt/0
   

6. Remove the restore report:

   rm restoresymtable
   

7. Leave the temporary directory, unmount the partition.

8. Run a filesystem check on your restored data:

   fsck /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s3
   

9. While in single user mode, take a new backup of this partition.

10. Reboot.

Restoring the root partition

1. Execute steps 1-6 of the above scheme.

2. Change to the directory holding the installboot program for your architecture:

   cd /usr/platform/`uname -m`/lib/fs/ufs
   

   Mind that this is /usr on the CD. When you boot from it, you will find yourself initially in /tmp/root.

3. Install a bootblock on your root partition:

   installboot bootblk /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s0
   

4. Execute steps 7-10 of the above scheme.