Microsoft Word Hardware Reconfiguration Methodology V final2

Raw data

A determining factor for selecting the appropriate type of backup scheme will depend on whether any raw partitions or data need to be backed up (i.e. raw database partitions). DD is uniquely suited to this task. Dump, Tar and Cpio cannot be used because there is no recognizable filesystem for data acquisition from these partitions or devices.

5. Locked files

A determining factor for selecting the appropriate type of backup scheme will depend on whether locked files need to be backed up. Certain key operating system files from /dev and /proc are automatically locked by the kernel and normally not accessible by most of the backup tools. These files are also generally off limits to users and applications (and sometimes the root user). Consider the following:

1. 
   Are there locked operating system files? DD is generally the only way to acquire them using a partition dump if the Dump program cannot acquire them, but this should only be done if the filesystem is inactive otherwise image acquisition may result in a corrupt image. It is preferable to run DD only when the partition/disk is offline or mounted read- only.
   

2. 
   Are there user or application-based locked files? Can those files be backed up without resulting in file or data corruption? Generally, other than for database files, locked application and user files can be backed up using Tar, Cpio, and Dump.; however, locked operating system files cannot.
   

3. 
   If some files must be backed up and are locked and inaccessible no matter what is attempted then a rescue or Live CD can be used to backup the files.
   

6.