Restoring a Linux client with network boot
Note:
Review the secure communication compatibility support matrix for BMR table to know more about the supported master, boot server, client, and SRT versions for Linux, Windows, Solaris, AIX, and HP-UX environments. See Secure communication compatibility matrices for BMR for NetBackup 8.1.1 and later releases.
Note:
If NetBackup access control management is used in your environment, you must provide the appropriate credentials when prompted so that NetBackup can restore the client files.
To network boot Linux clients, BMR requires the following:
PXE
DHCP
TFTP
NFS
During the prepare-to-restore operation all the information is gathered that is required for a Linux network boot. For Linux client network based recovery, you need to make sure above listed services are configured on the BMR boot server and are running. You need to require to do any client specific settings in these services configuration files. BMR handles the required network boot services configuration for the selected client during prepare-to-restore operation. To know more on the required network services configuration,
See Network services configurations on BMR boot Server.
After the prepare-to-restore, boot the client to start the restore.
To network boot a Linux client
- Prepare to restore the client.
- Ensure that no other DHCP service except the one running on BMR Boot server is running in the same subnet. Otherwise the client DHCP boot request may go to un-intended DHCP server and PXE network boot may fail.
Note:
This is the limitation with PXE, DHCP boot protocols where first DHCP reply failure stops network boot process. Hence recommendation is to keep only Linux DHCP service on the boot server running.
- Boot the client to restore.
- PXE Boot the client according to the hardware vendor instructions.
On some systems, the BIOS displays a message that indicates that you can press a key to force a PXE Boot . On others, you may have to modify the settings in the BIOS to add the network card to the default boot order. Consult your hardware documentation for details.
Due to the automatic recovery parameter set during prepare to restore, the restore operation attempts to retrieve the host-ID based certificate and validate the Certificate Authority (CA) certificate. This recovery is time bound. For more information about the automatic recovery during prepare to restore, See Preparing a client for restore.
Note:
If you abort the restore operation or if the restore operation fails, either run the prepare to restore operation again to restart the automatic recovery or manually set the Allow Auto Reissue Certificate option using the NetBackup Administration Console or command-line interface.
For more information about manually setting the Allow Auto Reissue Certificate option, see Allowing automatic reissue of a certificate section within the NetBackup Security and Encryption Guide
- When you are prompted, either press the Enter key or wait until the system boots.
The system boots and the restore begins with no further user intervention required.
- Upon successful client recovery, BMR automatically cleans up any network boot settings added for the client in DHCP configuration during prepare-to-restore operation.
After a successful completion of restore, the host ID-based certificate is copied on the client that is restored. The automatic recovery parameter is reset. For more information about the automatic recovery, See Preparing a client for restore.
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