Thread: Disaster Recovery in a box - alternative to Platespin Forge?

hi,

i'm trying discover whether possible replicate functionality of novell's platespin forge disaster recovery product.
forge allow make copy of live servers (not sure whether wintel , linux based) , store them locally virtual machines. can configure forge make periodic backups of entire server stack operating system, application binaries , data backed forge storage.
in event of disaster can perform v2p, v2v restore of failed server or boot forge's local copy of live server , run forge. forge uses embedded vmware hypervisor this.

so, using ubuntu server possible perform following?;

1. create virtual machine on ubuntu server using live physical or virtual server source.

2. schedule replication of source server's disks (the data delta, not entire set of disks each time) ubuntu server. (wonder if rsync can here or need rsync agent or client installed on source server?!)

3. restore copied vm ubuntu server new physical or virtual server.

4. bring copied server online locally within ubuntu server if there no spare servers restore copied server image to.

i'd try create solution above utilising open source (and supported canonical) software, possible.

ah, , 1 more requirement / nice have / manage of above headless ubuntu server via kind of web interface(s).

hope above possible somehow , many in advance input project.

best regards.

there more ways there systems.

there many tools , methods , restore. bacula worth mentioning. however, dump/restore plain old mount+rsync

directories /etc, /var, , /home hold data, , maybe /boot. rest replaceable. note unusual applications might keep data in parts of /opt

posted bluntknife

so, using ubuntu server possible perform following?;

1. create virtual machine on ubuntu server using live physical or virtual server source.

yes, why vm? can filesystem image mounted via loop back.

posted bluntknife

2. schedule replication of source server's disks (the data delta, not entire set of disks each time) ubuntu server. (wonder if rsync can here or need rsync agent or client installed on source server?!)

rsync the way delta.

posted bluntknife

3. restore copied vm ubuntu server new physical or virtual server.

posted bluntknife

4. bring copied server online locally within ubuntu server if there no spare servers restore copied server image to.

posted bluntknife

i'd try create solution above utilising open source (and supported canonical) software, possible.

ah, , 1 more requirement / nice have / manage of above headless ubuntu server via kind of web interface(s).

hope above possible somehow , many in advance input project.

webmin first option at. however, won't work until first bring os, web server, , webmin itself. that, need shell...

fast way back-up system use rsync copy /etc, /var, /home, , /boot locally mounted filesystem (e.g. removeable drive). include somewhere list of installed packages.

code:

dpkg --get-selections \    | grep install \   | grep -v deinstall \   | awk '{ print  $1 }' \   | sort \   > /tmp/my.list.of.installed.packages.txt

to restore, choose 'cli system' option install , bare bones. while still in installer live cd system, go shell, chroot installation target, use list of packages above restore packages, use rsync restore data, reboot , verify.

if roll own install cd, can include openssh-server, plus server key (so password not need stored on cd)

Forum The Ubuntu Forum Community Ubuntu Specialised Support Ubuntu Servers, Cloud and Juju Server Platforms [ubuntu] Disaster Recovery in a box - alternative to Platespin Forge?

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