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Note that a tape backup backs up all file systems on the server, but only restores the "standard restore" files. See this list http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_server_config#Standard_backup_.26_restore_inclusions
 
Note that a tape backup backs up all file systems on the server, but only restores the "standard restore" files. See this list http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_server_config#Standard_backup_.26_restore_inclusions
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If you wish to backup "everything" (including installed rpms), then the standard sme backup methods, which includes most of the available backup contribs eg DAR2, Backup with dar, etc, do not backup "everything".  
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A full restore from a tape backup to a freshly installed sme OS, will cause all sorts of issues. The restored server will start to boot up but then grind to a halt during the startup/post configuration processes.
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If using alternative full backup and full restore methods, problems will be experienced when attempting to restore rpms which have executables/binaries installed in the normal Linux file system locations, that's why they should be reinstalled. If you restore any of /lib, /bin etc onto a running SME server, you are almost certain to have problems.
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Also some contribs will need to be updated if you restore to a newer version of the sme OS, so if you restore old contribs, then you will break your server, in some cases.
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If you wish to backup "everything" (including installed rpms), then the standard sme backup methods (backup to desktop and backup with dar), and most of the available backup contribs eg DAR2, Affa, etc, do not backup "everything".  
 
You need to perform a bare metal or disk clone backup to achieve that.  
 
You need to perform a bare metal or disk clone backup to achieve that.  
The contrib that does that is Mondo, but it may not have been updated to be compatible with sme7.x. Another way of easily doing this is to swap out a RAID1 disk, and plug in a clean (empty) disk.
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A contrib that does that is Mondo, but it appears to have not been updated to be compatible with sme7.x.  
Disk cloning software can also be used, but it must support RAID partitions and lvm volumes, and some software does not.
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Another way of easily doing this is to swap out a RAID1 disk, and plug in a clean (empty) disk. There will only be a few minutes downtime while the disk is swapped, as hot swap is not currently supported. After the clean disk is inserted, then use the admin console to resync the RAID1 array.
The Linux dd command will also copy every bit on a disk, to another mounted disk, but it will be slow and may take a long time for a disk with a lot of data.
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Disk cloning software can also be used, but it must support RAID partitions and lvm volumes, and some cloning software does not.
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The Linux dd command will also copy every bit on a disk, to another mounted disk, but it will be slow and may take a long time (many many hours) for a disk with a lot of data. The server would ideally be disconnected from the local network and the Internet during this operation to prevent data changing on the server during the disk clone/backup process.
 
Each of these methods has their own practical issues, choose the one that best suits your situation.
 
Each of these methods has their own practical issues, choose the one that best suits your situation.
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From what I have read earlier you will get into trouble trying to restore rpms which have executables installed in the normal Linux file system locations, that's why they should be reinstalled. Also some contribs will need to be updated if you restore to a newer version of the sme OS, so if you automatically restore old contribs, then you will break your server, in some cases.
       
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