Questions and problems can be sent to help@archive.uky.edu
CAM is a client/server tool for backing up, or archiving data from various machines to a central server.
All of the data backed up, the databases for each machine being backed up, the logs for each backup, the job files for each backup, and the indexes for each machine are stored on the central server. Only the client software is stored on each machine. The client software, OS, and even the machine can be replaced without losing the backups of that machine.
Backups can be at the disk, file system, folder or directory level. Restores can be of the entire backup, or any portion, including a single file. Restored files can be placed back in the same place they were backed up from, anywhere else on the machine, or a different machine entirely, assuming you have access to do so.
No temporary space is needed on your machine for the backup file. It is created remotely on the backup server as the backup progresses.
There is no charge for the service.
To request new backup service a UK requisition should be sent to:
Work Order Desk 04 PKS2 0198 or FAX to 257-9400
You should be sure the requisition specifies "CAM Backup" and include:
If you are eligible to use CAM (above), there are a few things you need to do:
http://www.uky.edu/ComputingCenter/CamClients
and install it. (just use as simple an install as you can, no custom installs are needed) You will also need to setup your machine so the client is started each time you reboot your machine. As this varies from machine to machine, you will get instructions after your machine is configured on the backup server. If network services will be doing the install and setup you do not need to do this step or the next.
When setting up backups, do NOT fill in the Add New Volumes box on the main "Setup - Host" screen, or the Size field, the Full Only box, or change the Utility field on the "New Volume" screen.
You MUST fill in the Volume Id and the Volume fields. You will also need to change the Schedule Id from dummy to something else. Click on Alternate Schedule Id and pick from the list. You may want to change the time at which you want the backup to start. The start/end times are the times between which the server is allowed to start your backup. The backup does not have to complete by the end time, but it must be running before the end time. The times are given in a 48 Hour clock. This is so you could pick times like 11:00 pm, to 2:00 am. the next day. This would be represented as 23:00 and 26:00 hours respectively. All other fields should be ignored.
** You should NOT routinely backup software that does not change. For example, on a windows machine, backing up C:\ and D:\, when all you really need to back up is D:\ (where your data resides) is a waste of time and resources. Any data that can be reproduced by other means should not be backed up. For example, if you suffer a hard disk failure, you will need to install the operating system and CAM before you can do a restore anyway. At the same time you can reinstall other applications like excel, word, netscape, etc., from distribution disks, or file servers. Not only does this allow for quicker backups of your system, it also help keep costs down for the amount of data being backed up.
Restores are generally very quick. This is attributed to several things.
Backups and restores can be performed any time of the day, but be aware that when backups are running, other services on your machine may be slower.
Backups are being done on a monthly cycle where a full is done on one day of the month, and incrementals done the rest of the month. FULL backups are kept for 60 days and incrementals for 30 days.
Backup times and days may be changed by administrators of the servers in order to balance the load on the backup server, or network. If at all possible these changes will be discussed with the person who maintains a site or machine before being made.
For sites with several machines, one person should be designated as the administrator, to answer questions, update to new releases of the client software, and perform restores. This person will have a userid on the server and permissions to restore for their group of machines. In addition, there is a password, and userid (except on windows machines) that controls access to each client. This password/userid must be used to do backups and restores. For backups, the password/userid is stored as part of the setup of the client. For restores the person doing the restore must know the password. If the password is changed on the client machine, it must be updated on the server in order for backups to work. All passwords on the server are stored in an encrypted format.
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