Disaster recovery framework
Migration Aid
Relax-and-Recover also helps administrators with the process of moving a system to a different environment – whether physical or virtualized hardware. Transferring a hardware-based server to a virtual machine (P2V) is quite simple, but, as always, the devil is in the details – of the virtualization software, in this case. As a first experiment, the test team converted an application server (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS) with a MySQL database from an old Dell PC with a faulty RAID drive to a virtual machine on a XenServer [5].
Creating the rescue system and the backup did not differ from the steps discussed previously. To boot the image, we created an ISO storage repository (NFS ISO storage) in the XenServer configuration. As the VM template, we chose Other; the other templates refused to cooperate.
During the recovery process, Relax-and-Recover asked a few questions about the network card (Figure 4) and the hard disk, because of, first, the modified virtual hardware and, second, the different drive size. We had to explicitly confirm the device file change from /dev/sda
to /dev/xvda
and had no problems downsizing the disk.
When migrating an old laptop (Debian 8) P2V, the test team had to trick both VMware [6] and VirtualBox [7]. The rescue system again landed on a USB stick. To boot from this medium, USB 2.0 support had to be activated on the virtual machine. Moreover, we used a special boot manager named Plop [8], because VMware and VirtualBox cannot boot natively from USB. The subsequent rear recover
command then proceeded without any glitches.
Pure Relaxation
Relax-and-Recover showed hardly a weakness during our tests. Only cloning a laptop with a solid-state disk and the subsequent migration to an older computer with an EIDE drive failed. Even customizing the scripts did not help in this case; a bug report has been submitted. The program is constantly learning new tricks, which makes us optimistic. For example, the upcoming version 1.18 includes support for NVM Express, an interface to connect SSDs via PCI Express, for the first time.
In all of our other experiments, the disaster recovery tool was convincing. With a few simple commands, you can generate rescue systems and then provide them on CD, USB media, or via a PXE boot image. Relax-and-Recover also proves extremely cooperative when it comes to backups. Not only does it have its own minimal backup routines, it works with known and flexible backup software from other vendors.
Infos
- Relax-and-Recover: http://relax-and-recover.org
- Relax-and-Recover on GitHub: https://github.com/rear/rear
- Handbook: https://github.com/rear/rear/blob/master/doc/user-guide
- Bareos: https://www.bareos.org
- XenServer: http://xenserver.org
- VMware: http://www.vmware.com
- VirtualBox: https://www.virtualbox.org
- Plop boot manager: https://www.plop.at/en/bootmanagers.html
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.