Environment
Novell eDirectory 8.8 for Linux
Novell eDirectory 8.8 for Solaris
Situation
What is the ndsbackup tool?
When to use the ndsbackup tool?
How to perform object based backup with ndsbackup tool?
How to perform object based restore with ndsbackup tool?
Resolution
What is the ndsbackup tool?
The ndsbackup utility archives and extracts Novell eDirectory objects to and from a single file called an ndsbackupfile. You need to log in as a user with Administrator rights to the tree to archive or restore objects.
When to use the ndsbackup utility?
The ndsbackup utility allows you to customize the backup process. You can choose specific eDirectory objects to exclude or include in the backup session. Whether you use exclude or include usually depends on the size of the data you want to back up, compared to the size you do not want to back up. By combining the include and exclude options, you can control what is backed up. To back up most of the eDirectory tree structure while omitting only a small part, use the exclude option to omit the part you do not want to back up. Everything that you do not specifically excluded is included. After you exclude part of the structure, you cannot include objects below that container.
How to perform object based backup with ndsbackup tool?
The syntax options are very similar to those of the tar utility.
Options:
c = create archive
v = verbose (show objects being backed up)
f = Specify backup file name.
X = Specify exclusion file
I = Specify Inclusion file.
-a = user object with supervisory rights to objects to be backed up or restored.
-p = user/admin credentials
Example 1: Perform full tree backup including schema:
ndsbackup cvf backupfile -a admin.novell -p password
Example 2: Perform backup of Schema only:
ndsbackup cvf backupfile -a admin.novell -p password Schema
Example 3: Perform backup of all objects underneath o=novell
ndsbackup cvf backupfile -a admin.novell -p password .o=novell
Example 4: Perform backup of all objects underneath o=novell except rbs container.
ndsbackup cvfX backupfile excluderbs.txt -a admin.novell -p password [Root]
contents of excluderbs.txt:
cn=Role Based Service 2.o=novell
Example 5: Specify specific objects to backup with include file.
ndsbackup cvf backupfile -I include.txt -a admin.novell -p password
contents of include.txt:
cn=admin.o=novell
ou=linux.o=novell
ou=linux.o=novell
Note: Everything you do not specifically include is excluded. When you specifically select only part of the eDirectory tree structure to include, all objects below that container are also included.
How to perform object based restore with ndsbackup tool?
Options:
x = Extract archive
Other options are the same as defined under the backup options.
Example 1: How to restore entire tree including schema.
ndsbackup xvf backupfile -a admin.novell -p password
Example 2: Restore schema only
ndsbackup xvf backupfile -a admin.novell -p password Schema
Note: If only schema was backed up then it is not necessary to specify Schema at the end. This same syntax can be used if the backup was a full backup. In fact, for all of the examples listed above, "c" could be replaced with "x" to perform the same restore.
Additional Information
To see what is going to be backed up without actually performing the backup, the "s" option can be used:
For instance, the following command could be used to illustrate example 4 from above:
ndsbackup sX excluderbs.txt [Root]
For more information regarding ndsbackup, type "man ndsbackup" at the console.
ndsbackup is part of the novell-NDSserv-* package.
ndsbackup is only available on *nix platforms. For a full backup solution available on all platform's NTS recommends using dsbk. For more information on dsbk see the eDirectory 88x Admin Guide