Backups, Reimages, and Backups, Reimages, and Drive Fitness TestsDrive Fitness Tests

(or how to kill an entire afternoon/evening)

Backup ServerBackup Server

Used only when Windows is not bootableLast resort backup methodRPI Helpdesk maintainedAny one is welcome to help with

administering the server

Backup SpecificationsBackup Specifications

Server name: backup.arc.rpi.eduServices provided: ssh, scp, sftpAccessible on campus or via VPNPentium III 1 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 20 GB

system drive, 80 GB RAID-1 array for user data, CD-RW driver, 100 Mbit ethernet

Backing up a T30 or OlderBacking up a T30 or Older

Make sure user reads the Conditions of Use Form Boot the LNX-BBC CD. If T20 or T30, choose 4 from the

boot menu, for T22 choose 5 Login as root. There is no password on the CD. Run “trivial-net-setup” (Type trivial and press TAB) Press ENTER at all prompts Run “ssh youruserid@backup.arc.rpi.edu” Enter yes to the security question, then enter your

password

T30 and Older, ContinuedT30 and Older, Continued

Read the welcome screen and press ENTER Choose 1 off the menu and press Enter Enter your password at the security prompt Have the user enter his RCS userid and his real name. If the user does

not have an RCS userid, have them enter their email address on the same line as their name

The user needs to accept the conditions of user The user will be prompted for a password. Nothing will echo on the

screen. The password complains about, but accepts most passwords Log out from the backup server (Q)

T30 and older, continuedT30 and older, continued

Run “cd /mnt/rw/discs/disc0/part1” You are now in C:\ on the user’s disc Use cd to change directories, ls to list files, and du –h to see the

contents of the folder Spaces need to be escaped with a backslash: /Documents\ and\

Settings Unix uses / to separate directories To backup a folder, run “scp –r folder

client@backup.arc.rpi.edu:” The colon at the end is important. To back up files, run “scp file client@backup.arc.rpi.edu:” When done, enter reboot at the prompt

T40 and T42T40 and T42

Boot the knoppix CD At the boot: prompt, type “knoppix lang=us

screen=1400x1050” and press Enter After the CD fully loads, click the icon that looks

like a terminal with a shell super imposed on it. Run “ssh youruserid@backup.arc.rpi.edu Enter yes at the security warning Enter your password to log in

T40 and T42 ContinuedT40 and T42 Continued

Read the welcome screen and press ENTER Choose 1 off the menu and press Enter Enter your password at the security prompt Have the user enter his RCS userid and his real name. If the user does

not have an RCS userid, have them enter their email address on the same line as their name

The user needs to accept the conditions of user The user will be prompted for a password. Nothing will echo on the

screen. The password complains about, but accepts most passwords Log out from the backup server (Q)

T40 and T42 ContinuedT40 and T42 Continued

Run “mount /mnt/hda1” You are now in C:\ on the user’s disc Use cd to change directories, ls to list files, and du –h to see the

contents of the folder Spaces need to be escaped with a backslash: /Documents\ and\

Settings Unix uses / to separate directories To backup a folder, run “scp –r folder client@backup.arc.rpi.edu:”

The colon at the end is important. To back up files, run “scp file client@backup.arc.rpi.edu:” When finished, click on the K icon and select Log out. Choose “Turn off Computer”

Drive Fitness TestsDrive Fitness Tests

Materials Required:– 1 laptop– 1 floppy drive (parallel port to T30 and older,

USB for T40/T42)– 1 Drive Fitness Floppy– 1-2 hours– Full backup of all critical data

Drive Fitness Tests, Drive Fitness Tests, ContinuedContinued

Boot the laptop off the floppy drive. At the menu, select ATA only (it boots faster and doesn’t

give any errors) Agree to the license. The trackpoint/touchpads do work in

the program, or you can use the keyboard Go to the Utilities Menu and select Erase Disk Have the user click through the confirmation dialogs and

click start. Do NOT do this yourself.

Drive Fitness Test, ContinuedDrive Fitness Test, Continued

If the end result is a red screen, fill out a drive fitness test report. If you did not run a test on the report, fill in N/A. For “Text Error”,

you do not need to fill in “Defective Device”, just whatever comes after it.

Have the user fill out the serial number themselves Although there is no blank for it, the TRC code needs to be on the

report. If the DFT does not find a hard disk, note that on the report. RCR will not replace a failed hard drive without a properly filled out

Drive Fitness Test report

Reimages – T22 and newerReimages – T22 and newer

Make sure the user has filled out the self service reimage agreement

Have them plug into a BLUE Ethernet switch. Boot the Reimage CD. Have the user enter all prompts. There

are 4 prompts on the CD.– The first prompt is a confirmation the user wants to continue.– The second asks for what model laptop the user has.– The third asks whether to use the full or base image.

At the time of this writing, only the full image exists, and the base images will be availible in the future

– The fourth prompt is a final confirmation As soon as the progress bars appear, the CD can be used on the

next client

Reimages T20 and olderReimages T20 and older

We are currently transitioning to a new server. At the moment, we are using an older server. Please ask a senior consultant who is familiar with the procedure to help a user with a T20 or older.

Once the transition is complete, details will be announced on hd-l@lists.rpi.edu

General NotesGeneral Notes

The user MUST remain with the laptop at all times. We can not be responsible for laptops.

These procedures can and will destroy all data on a user’s disk. Make sure the user is aware of this before the laptop is powered on

Paperwork is your friend. It covers your butt, if and only if you follow it. Pat will back you up 100% if you have followed the proper procedures.

More NotesMore Notes

Make sure the user is aware of the time a procedure will take

Make sure you are aware of the current time. Do not begin a procedure if it won’t finish before closing

Estimated TimesEstimated Times

T20 T22 T30 T40 T42

Backup Can copy at rate of 45 MB/min

Can copy at rate of 45 MB/min

Can copy at rate of 45 MB/min

Can copy at rate of 45 MB/min

Can copy at rate of 45 MB/min

Drive Fitness

30-90 minutes

1-2 hours 1-2 hours 1-3 hours 1-3 hours

Reimage 20 min – 2+ hours

1 hour 1 hour 2 hours 2 hours

Applications – Windows XPApplications – Windows XP

Tell user to connect to the blue hub Start a web browser Go to http://foo.bar/apps.exe Run the file Have user put in their name and rcsid in the top two boxes. Put your RCS ID in the bottom box and use a password of

“foobar” Click “Install Software” Click the application you want. Everything will proceed

automatically.

Applications - CampuswideApplications - Campuswide

Solidworks, Matlab, Labview, Symantec Antivirus – installed online. We have CDs if sambasrv isn’t working right

Mac and Linux versions of Matlab and Labview are available.

Solidworks and Matlab use license servers – user either needs to be on campus, dialed into the modem pool or connected to the external VPN

Applications – Laptop Applications – Laptop Software – Older WindowsSoftware – Older Windows

Use CDs in binderPut borrower’s ID in spot in binderMicrosoft Products require patches after

installing.Microsoft Products require product CD to

patch.

QuestionsQuestions

Questions?Comments?Suggestions?

If you have any questions or are interested in helping to run backup or any of the servers in the back office, contact hd-sysadmin-l@lists.rpi.edu