[SunHELP] using dd

[Jeff Howie]

Edward Chase wrote:
> I'm working on developing a backup script for a Solaris 2.7 box.
> 
> The machine has 2 internal 18GB hard drives.  (c0d10t0 and c0d11t0)
> 
> I am using the dd command for the first time in hopes for a little
> reduncancy and backup speed.  Here's my thoughts...
> 
> Both drives are partitioned the same.  Right now, I've issued the following
> command:
> 
>     dd if=/dev/rdsk/c0t10d0s0 of=/dev/rdsk/c0t11d0s0
> 
> I was thinking that this would create a quick snapshot of one filesystem
> from one drive to the other and then I was going to run ufsdump from the
> 2nd drive.  It's the / filesystem if that matters.
> 
> I issued that command over an hour ago and it still appears to be
> running.  The partition is 17GB or so, but only has 1.5GB of data in it.
> 
> Should this be taking this long?  This machine is a 4 CPU - E4500 w/ 1GB of
> RAM.  Only the basic OS is running at the moment.

If I understand dd properly, you are now making a backup of a 17gb
image, _NOT_ just the data on the drive! That might explain why it's
taking so long :#>.

We'll have to wait for backup experts to answer for what the best
solution would be, I would suspect something along the lines of a simple
tar command would serve you better.

-- 
thks
jeff