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Re: [Xen-users] Xen backups using LVM Snapshots

Kevin Fox wrote:
If there is such a connection between the LVM snapshotter and the file
system, I could see it not working properly if the LVM snapshotter is in
dom0 and the file system in domU. Perhaps a xen extension could be added
to support that?
There is indeed such a connection within the same OS and yes, if you want to take a back up of the guest's file system you need to enlist its cooperation to get the file system into a consistent state before you take the snapshot and, of course, to let it go afterwards. In general, you'll also need the cooperation of any applications that are running as well.

In the end, though you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. For example, someone, somewhere mentioned running mysqlhotbackup in the guest and putting the files somewhere that dom0 could see them. Is it quicker, in the end, to recover the OS data from a backup or just run a kickstart installation to rebuild it? Chances are that if you're backing up an entire system by, basically, photocopying the disk, you're backing up a load of stuff you don't need to.

There are hardware configurations where dom0 driven backups are better, but to make them as good as bare-metal backups then you really need the cooperation and, in many cases, active help from the domU.

jch

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