Backups, Reimages, and Drive Fitness Tests

Backups, Reimages, and Drive Fitness Tests (or how to kill an entire afternoon/evening)

Backup Server • Used only when Windows is not bootable • Last resort backup method • RPI Helpdesk maintained • Any one is welcome to help with administering the server

Backup Specifications • Server name: backup.arc.rpi.edu • Services provided: ssh, scp, sftp • Accessible on campus or via VPN • Pentium 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 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, 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, 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 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 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 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 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, Continued • 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, 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 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 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 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 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 Times

Applications – 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 - 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 Software – Older Windows • Use CDs in binder • Put borrower’s ID in spot in binder • Microsoft Products require patches after installing. • Microsoft Products require product CD to patch.

Questions • 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

Backups, Reimages, and Drive Fitness Tests