Data Volume Group Backup and Restore

This posts explains the steps to followed in taking a Data Volume Group Backup. The data volume group is backed up a backup/restore format file which contains complete information about the volume group backed up.
This operation is performed without bring the VG offline.

Scenario:

Volume Group to be backup'd :  office

Destination : /tmp/office-bakup, this logical volume belongs to a different volume group.

# lsvg -o /* Ensure the VG is online */

# savevg -ivf / /tmp/office-backup office

-i : Create a image of the volume group office.

-v : Verify the file backed up.

-f :  Destination file name. /tmp/office-backup

# cd /tmp/office-backup /* Verify the backup file created */

# cat <filename> / * View the contents of the VG backed up*/

Restore:

Now we delete the source volume group to restore the volume group from its backup.

# umount <filesystem> /* Unmount all the file systems of the volume group office*/

# reducevg -d -f office hdisk* /* Remove the hdisk from the volume group*.

# lsvg  /* Verify the volume group does not exist */

# restvg -f -d  /tmp/office-backup /* To restore the Volume Group */

The above command restored the volume group as it was on the same PV, with all the file systems mounted.

Logical Volume Copy

This posts explains the steps the copy a logical volume from one volume group to another volume group.

Scenario:

Logical Volume : /dev/fslv01

Mount Point : /data

Source Volume Group : office

New Logical Volume Name : /dev/copy-fslv01

Destination Volume Group :  home

Step 1:

# lsvg -l office /* Verify the LV's in the VG */

# umount /data /* Unmount the LV */

# cplv -y <New LV Name> -v <Destination VG> <LV to be Copied>

# cplv -y copy-flsv01 -v home fslv01

# lsvg -l home /* Verify a new LV is created by the name copy-fslv01 in home VG */

# mklv -t jfs2log  home 1 /* Creating a log device for the copy-fslv01 LV */

# logform /dev/loglv01 /* Initialize the log device */

# chfs -a log=/dev/loglv01 -a device=/dev/copy-fslv01 /data

Changing the reference for the file system indicating the new log device and new logical volume on /data.

Note: Mount point act a reference in copying a logical volume from one VG to another VG. Mount point has to be the same.

# mount /data

# cd /data 

You can find all the information stored in the logical volume /dev/fslv01 in /dev/copy-fslv01. Thanks.