Using backup and restore methods to migrate data

Sometimes you must back up data to tape and then restore the data to the new disk.

The back up and restore method is slower because tape devices require that you move the data twice. However, if you are removing disks before you install the DS8000 system, this method might be the only one available.

You can find a number of different archive utilities on UNIX systems. The cpio command can also create and read archives on tape devices. Use the -o (output) option to create archives; use the -i (input) option to read and extract data from archives.

AIX provides the backup and restore commands. The backup command can create archives specifying either the file name or the inode value. Use the restore command to read any archive that is created by the backup command. Solaris and HP-UX provide the dump and restore commands, which back up and restore data through the inode value.

The tar command is available on all UNIX systems that support the DS8000 system and provides another way to create and extract tape archives. Use the c option to create archives. Use the x option to extract files from archives.