Specifying updates to the /etc/dumpdates file

What the /etc/dumpdates file is for

The /etc/dumpdates file enables you to keep track of backups. It records the following information:

The name of the backup. The name is one of the following:
- If you use the n option, the name you supply
- If you use the Q option, the volume you are backing up followed by the notation /all_non_quota_files
- If you use neither, the dump path
The level of the backup.
The time of the snapshot used for the backup.

Why to update the /etc/dumpdates file

You update the /etc/dumpdates file for the following reasons:

You plan to perform incremental backups. The filer uses the data in the /etc/dumpdates file to determine what to include in incremental backups.
You want to keep a history of a backup.

Principles applying to the /etc/dumpdates file

The following principles apply to the /etc/dumpdates file:

If the /etc/dumpdates file does not exist when you try to update it, the filer creates it.
You can edit the /etc/dumpdates file manually, if needed.
A new backup of the same path and level overwrites the old entry.

Example of an /etc/dumpdates file

An /etc/dumpdates file lists one backup per line. Each line contains the name of the backup, followed by the level of the backup, then the date of the backup. An /etc/dumpdates file looks like the following:

/vol/vol1/ 0 Tue Jul 24 22:07:48 2001

/vol/vol0/ 0 Tue Jul 24 21:06:53 2001

/vol/vol0/etc 0 Tue Jul 24 19:06:15 2001

my_named_dump 0 Tue Jul 24 20:40:09 2001

/vol/vol0/all_non_quota_files 0 Tue Jul 24 20:54:06 2001

/vol/vol0/home 0 Tue Jul 24 21:06:39 2001

/vol/vol1/ 1 Tue Jul 24 22:08:09 2001

/vol/vol1/ 2 Tue Jul 24 22:08:20 2001

my_named_dump 1 Tue Jul 24 22:12:26 2001

/vol/vol0/home 5 Tue Jul 24 22:12:45 2001

Updating the /etc/dumpdates file

To update the /etc/dumpdates file, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Include the `u` option in the `dump` command line. Note This option does not take an argument.

Example

The following command backs up the /vol/vol0 volume and adds the backup information to the /etc/dumpdates file:

If the command is issued on Monday, April 16, 2001, at 45 seconds after 1:12 p.m., the following line is added to the /etc/dumpdates file:

/vol/vol0/ 0 Mon Apr 16 13:12:45 2001