[CentOS] your advice on backup procedure

[Steven Crothers]

Snapshot the lvm and rsync it to your house. Then wipe out the snap.
Seems easiest. Though it won't be the best for things like running
databases.

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 23, 2012, at 8:20 PM, Bob Hoffman <bob at bobhoffman.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
> I am down to my last hurdle of my project, backups.
> I am thinking of three different ways to go and wanted to ask for input
> on what you think is the better choice.
> Not asking for 'how to' but more of 'what is best in your experience'
>
> The scenario...
> centos server acting as a virtual host. Virtual machines are webservers
> and dns servers. All on one machine, all running centos 6.
> Virtual machines are kvm, sitting in lvm storage.
>
> What I want to do..
> auto backups of the virtual machines to be stored on the virtual host's
> extra drives for later download to my home computer.
>
> Many backup solutions and programs seem centered on a network of
> computers with file sharing. I do not have this and don't think I want
> to go that way on my host.
>
>
> My three thoughts, not sure which one to pursue...
> (involves certain folders, /home/ (which includes maildir), /var/www/,
> /mysqlhotcopys and bin files, and maybe a few more. I can rebuild the
> comp pretty quick and then restore, or maybe just do one big backup of
> each server, then work on the folders as a solution)
>
> 1- Amanda. I do not know much about it or how it would deal with mysql
> databases, but it look promising. I do not have a NFS in place on any of
> the installs.
>
> 2- rsnyc - some kind of rsync going from the host to each machine,
> putting it on the host's backup drives. Adding a mysql hotcopy of some
> kind on the VMs, along with bin files, saved to a special folder that
> will then be part of the rsync. Once a week full of both rsync and
> mysqlcopy, then incremental daily.
>
> 3- Use kpartx ? and access the lvm the VM is on to rsync internally on
> the host, ditto above with the mysql copy/bin setup.
>
> Number 3 seems like it is the securest way, but obviously not much info
> out there on it.
> Number 2 seems like the 'old way' and will require some real work to get
> it right
> number 1 looks good, but do not really know anything about it.
>
> Which way would you go, or do you have a different way you like better?
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