Importing backup images that span more than one piece of media, via the command line.

Backups that have expired may be imported by using the bpimport command, provided the media on which the backups reside have not yet been overwritten. Importing images is a two-stage process:

The Phase 1 Process
This is performed first and must be done on all media concerned with the backups to be imported (particularly if the backups have spanned over several tapes). This phase recreates catalog entries for the backups by populating the media server's Media Database (mediaDB) with the media IDs, and creating the header files of the backup images in the Image Database. After this phase is completed, the images may be browsed for selection for Phase 2 import.

The Phase 2 Process
This may be performed on all media involved in Phase 1, or if there is a selection of backup images desired for importing(after browsing), then the import may be done on the basis of backup IDs. This phase of the import creates the files file(s) of the backup images in the Image Database.


The bpimport commands to perform Phase 1 and 2 operations are as follows:

Phase1
/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bpimport-create_db_info -id <mediaid> -server <master_server_hostname> -L<progress_log>

If browsing for backup images to be imported at Phase 2, use the command:
    /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bpimport  -PM

Once the backup IDs to import have been chosen, they can be listed in a file referred to as the "Bidfile" for use in Phase 2. If all the backup images (as given by Phase 1) are required for importing, there is no need for a Bidfile,and the Phase 2 will only require the command bpimport with no options.


Phase 2
With Bidfile (A filenameprovided that contains the image Id's
    /usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bpimport  -Bidfile  <filename_with_image_ids>  -L  <progress_log>

WithoutBidfile (assuming all backup images listed by Phase 1 are for import)

/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bpimport

 

Please note that it may be considered easier to import using the Java GUI rather than command line, particularly as Phase 2 requires a Bidfile to be created, or that the import may need to use the -backupid option if importing one backup image at a time is desired.

The bpimport command options may be displayed by the command:

/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/admincmd/bpimport  -HELP

 

For further information on bpimport, see the VERITAS NetBackup (tm) System Administrator's Guides referenced in the Related Documents section of this article.