Backup media

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Several different types of backup media are available. The different types of backup media available to your specific system configuration depend upon both your software and hardware.

Several types of backup media are available. The types of backup media available to your specific system configuration depend upon your software and hardware. The types most frequently used are tapes (8-mm tape and 9-track tape), diskettes (5.25-inch diskette and 3.5-inch diskette), remote archives, and alternate local hard disks. Unless you specify a different device using the backup -f command, the backup command automatically writes its output to /dev/rfd0, which is the diskette drive.

Attention: Running the backup command results in the loss of all material previously stored on the selected backup medium.
Diskettes

Diskettes are the standard backup medium. Unless you specify a different device using the backup -f command, the backup command automatically writes its output to the /dev/rfd0 device, which is the diskette drive. To back up data to the default tape device, type /dev/rmt0 and press Enter.

Be careful when you handle diskettes. Because each piece of information occupies such a small area on the diskette, small scratches, dust, food, or tobacco particles can make the information unusable. Be sure to remember the following:

  • Do not touch the recording surfaces.
  • Keep diskettes away from magnets and magnetic field sources, such as telephones, dictation equipment, and electronic calculators.
  • Keep diskettes away from extreme heat and cold. The recommended temperature range is 10 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Proper care helps prevent loss of information.
  • Make backup copies of your diskettes regularly.
Attention: Diskette drives and diskettes must be the correct type to store data successfully. If you use the wrong diskette in your 3.5-inch diskette drive, the data on the diskette could be destroyed.

The diskette drive uses the following 3.5-inch diskettes:

  • 1 MB capacity (stores approximately 720 KB of data)
  • 2 MB capacity (stores approximately 1.44 MB of data)
Tapes

Because of their high capacity and durability, tapes are often chosen for storing large files or many files, such as archive copies of file systems. They are also used for transferring many files from one system to another. Tapes are not widely used for storing frequently accessed files because other media provide much faster access times.

Tape files are created using commands such as backup, cpio, and tar, which open a tape drive, write to it, and close it.