Unix Backup & Recovery (O'Reilly $36.95) is an invaluable book for administrators that begins with detailed explanations of the native backup utilities available to the Unix administrator, and ends with practical advice on choosing a commercial backup utility.

"Companies used to think they could create backup and recovery plans themselves with a couple of shell scripts. Now it's clear to most everyone that they can't do it without professional software and a professional implementation," says Preston. That's where Unix Backup & Recovery comes in.

For small shops on tight budgets, it explains:

1. How to use the basic backup and recovery commands
2. How to obtain and install free backup software that will help automate your backups (including database backups)

1. How to find and evaluate a commercial backup product once the free software is not enough
2. How to backup clearcase
3. How to find and evaluate backup hardware

• Describes the features, limitations, and syntax of Unix backup and restore utilities,(including dump, tar, cpio, dd, GNUtar, and GNUcpio) for many popular versions of Unix, including AIX, Compaq Unix, HP-UX, IRIX, SCO, Solaris, and Linux
• Provides instructions for installing and configuring freely available backup systems such as AMANDA
• Includes ready-to-run shell scripts that automate live backups of Informix, Oracle, and Sybase databases
• Presents step-by-step recovery procedures for Oracle, Informix, and Sybase
• Presents step-by-step "bare-metal" disaster recovery procedures for AIX, Compaq Unix, HP-UX, IRIX, Solaris, and Linux
• Describes the design of "disaster recovery" and "highly available" systems
• Provides guidance on choosing a commercial backup and recovery system
• Describes the features and limitations of backup hardware

"Curtis Preston is a System Administrator with a breadth and depth of knowledge that is rare and all of that knowledge is employed in this volume. He has taken an immense subject and attacked it with the passion that can only come from having been bitten too often by the improbable. He teaches us here how to avoid getting similarly nipped. The coverage is thorough.... SysAdmins would do well to be sure that their newly hired team members find a copy on their desk on day one." --Art S. Kagel, Informix/Oracle DBA

"To avoid losing valuable data, SysAdmins need reliable, easily accessible backups. Unix Backup & Recovery provides a comprehensive guide to performing backups for crucial systems and includes detailed information on topics such as hot and cold backups, database backup and recovery. And commercial options. Curtis' informed approach to developing effective backup procedures is refreshingly clear and practical. The expertise offered in this book can help SysAdmins prevent backup crises, which is valuable information indeed." --Amber Ankerholz, Editor in Chief, SysAdmin magazine

Online Resources

• More information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bio, and samples

• Cover graphic in jpeg format