Clinic Machine Backups

The computer science department offers daily (backups 5 nights a week) backups for all Windows or UNIX-based clinic machines. In order to utilize this service, you'll need to install backup client software onto your machine.

UNIX Backups with AMANDA

AMANDA (www.amanda.org) is used to provide backups for UNIX-based machines.

If you are using a Linux distribution such as RedHat or Debian, you should be able to install the pre-compiled version of AMANDA that comes with your distribution. You'll only need the AMANDA client program (typically, packaged as amanda-client), and not the AMANDA server.

After installing AMANDA, you'll need to give the CS backup server privileges to connect to your machine. In the amandahosts file, add the following lines:

backup.clinic.cs.hmc.edu  backup
backup.clinic.cs.hmc.edu  root

On Debian the file is /etc/amandahosts. On RedHat systems, it can be /var/lib/amanda/.amandahosts. If you are using another system, or have installed AMANDA yourself, you'll need to find the amandahosts file yourself. Running locate amandahosts may find it if the locate database is up-to-date.

If you have a firewall installed on your clinic machine, you will probably need to modify the firewall rules to allow AMANDA to operate. Because AMANDA uses a rather complex protocol, it is easiest to simply allow all traffic from backup.clinic.cs.hmc.edu.

The CS Department uses tar, not dump, for our backups, so you won't need to worry about finding an appropriate version of dump for your system.

If you are using a system without a pre-packaged version of AMANDA, need to compile it from source for some other reason, or are running into other problems, send an e-mail message to dumpsters@cs.hmc.edu to ask for help.

After installing AMANDA on your machine, send a copy of /etc/fstab, along with the name of your machine and any special instructions for which data should be backed up, to dumpsters@cs.hmc.edu. You should hear back to let you know that the backup server has been configured. After the next backup run, you should either hear that backups are working properly or that you have a problem to fix.

Windows Backups with Retrospect

Windows backups are performed by Retrospect Backup.

To set up backups for a Windows machine, see the Systems Administrator (in Beckman B101) and ask to borrow the Retrospect installation CD.

When installing Retrospect on your clinic machine, you will be asked for a password used to authenticate the backup server. You can make this anything you like (it shouldn't be a password that you use anywhere else). After finishing the installation, return the installation CD, then send a message to dumpsters@cs.hmc.edu requesting that your machine be backed up. Give the name of your machine and the password you entered during the installation. If you would prefer not to e-mail the password, you can tell it to the Systems Administrator in person. If you have any special instructions, such as data that should not be backed up, include that in the e-mail as well.

You should hear back within a day or two whether backups are working for your machine or whether you have to fix something first.

Note: Machines running firewall software might be blocking Retrospect. Windows SP2's Firewall automatically blocks Retrospect. There is a webpage detailing how to let Retrospect through the Windows Firewall here: http://www.bc.edu/offices/help/meta-elements/doc/articles/html/SW-WindowsXPSP2.shtml

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