update_indexes - clean indexes from erased tapes

update_indexes [ -v ] [ -c <configuration-file> ] [ -h <backuphosts> ] [ -P <backup-ports> ] [ -I <indexfile-part> ] [ -V <var-directory> ] [ -k <encryption-key-file> ] [ -W <identity> ] [ -z <process-cmd> <unprocess-cmd> ] [ -Z <built-in-compress-level> ]

This command asks all the servers, which tapes are considered precious for the client, it is run on. If the server will tell fewer tapes than the client has in mind, then the tapes, that the server omitted, have been erased on the server side. Now those entries will be removed from the client's indexes, who list the erased tapes as backup location. This command may be installed setuid root, so normal users can start it. As it performs just a defined update operation and nothing else, there should not be a security problem. It might be a good idea to run this command before some user restore program (e.g. xafrestore) is started, so only those entries are listed to the user, that really exist on backup media and can be restored. When started by a normal user, all arguments will be ignored and only the configuration file is evaluated.

-c <configfile>

Use the given file for configuration information

-h <hostname>

Use the given list of hosts as backup servers. The hostnames in this list can be separated by whitespace and/or commas

-I <idx-prefix>

The first part of the filename, the names of the stored files and directories can be found. The current total backup number is appended (that increments each start of a full backup). If these files undergo processing, .z is appended

-k <file>

Use the contents of the given file as encryption key for authenticating to the server, where the source or target cartridge is handled, respectively

-P <portnum>

The list of port numbers for the backup servers either configured in the parameter file or supplied with the -h option. The port numbers in this list can be separated by whitespace and/or commas

-V <var-dir>

The directory, where varying files are put

-v

Verbose option, tell more about what is going on

-W <id>

Identify as <id> to the server. This is needed by the server to tell the client the correct information about tapes, that are considered crucial for this client for restore

-z <z> <uz>

The commands to use for process and unprocess. If a command comprises of several words, it must be put in quotes

-Z <level>

If built-in compression should be used, the level can be supplied here. If commands to process and unprocess are also supplied with option -z, then data is first processed by the process command, then by built-in compression. During uncompress it works the other way round

/etc/afbackup/client.conf

Client configuration file

/var/log/afbackup

The directory for logging the client backups

/var/lib/afbackup

Some internal state information of the client backups.

afclientconfig(8), xafclientconfig(8), full_backup(8), incr_backup(8), afverify(8), afrestore(8), xafrestore(8), update_indexes(8), copy_tape(8), afclient.conf(8), afserver(8), afmserver(8), afserver.conf(8), tar(1)

afbackup was written by Albert Fluegel (af@muc.de)