Backup for BSD 4.3 system managers

BSD 4.3 system managers can back up data.

The tar and cpio commands can move data between systems. The tar command for AIX is not fully compatible with the 4.3 BSD tar command. The tar command for AIX requires the -B flag (blocking input) if it is reading from a pipe. The AT&T cpio command is compatible with this version.

AIX can read and write in dump and restore command format. For example, the backup command for AIX with the syntax:

backup -0uf Device Filesystemname

is the same as the 4.3 BSD dump command with the syntax:

dump 0uf Device Filesystemname

Similarly, the restore command for AIX with the syntax:

restore -mivf Device

is the same as the 4.3 BSD restore command with the syntax:

restore ivf Device

AIX also has the 4.3 BSD rdump and rrestore commands. The only difference in the two versions is that for AIX, each argument must be preceded by a - (dash). For example, the following command:

rdump -0 -f orca:/dev/rmt0 /dev/hd2

is equivalent to the 4.3 BSD command:

rdump 0f orca:/dev/rmt0 /dev/hd2

The backup command for AIX with the following syntax:

backup -0f /dev/rmt0 /dev/hd2

is equivalent to the 4.3 BSD dump command with this syntax:

dump 0f /dev/rmt0 /dev/hd2

Non-IBM SCSI tape support

AIX does not directly support non-IBM SCSI tape drives. However, you can add your own header and interface that use the IBM SCSI driver.