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.