Backing up and restoring extended attribute files and named data streams

NetBackup can back up and restore the following file attributes:

Extended attribute files of the Solaris UNIX file system (UFS) and temporary file system (TMPFS)
Named data streams of the VxFS file system

NetBackup backs up extended attribute files and named data streams as part of normal file system backups.

Extended attribute files and named data streams are normal files contained in a hidden attribute directory that relate to a particular base file. The hidden directory is stored within the file system, but can be accessed only by the base file to which it is related. To view which files have extended attributes on Solaris 9 (or greater) systems, enter: ls -@

Neither extended attribute files nor named data streams can be backed up or restored individually. Rather, the files are backed up and restored all at once along with the base file.

The presence of a large number of extended attribute files or named data streams can cause some degradation in backup and restore speed. The speed is affected since the base file and all associated files are backed up.

The speed is especially affected in the case of incremental backups, during which NetBackup checks the mtime or ctime of each file individually.

To back up or restore named data streams and extended attributes, the client, media server, and master server must run the following versions:

NetBackup clients
- HP 11.23 running VxFS 4.1 or greater.
  
  Note:
  
  Access Control Lists (ACLs) are not backed up unless running VxFS 5.0 or greater.
- AIX running VxFS 4.0 or greater.
  
  Note:
  
  ACLs are not backed up unless running VxFS 5.0 or greater.
- Solaris 10 running VxFS 5.0 or greater
- Solaris SPARC 9, 10 running VxFS 4.0 or greater
- Linux running VxFS 5.0 or greater.
A NetBackup master server

A NetBackup master server of any version can back up and restore named data streams and Solaris extended attributes.

Restored attribute files and named data streams can replace existing files if Overwrite existing files is selected in the Backup, Archive, and Restore client interface.

If an attempt is made to restore the following items, an error message appears in the Restore Monitor to inform the user that the extended attributes or named data streams are not restored.

The extended attribute files to any non-Solaris 9 client (or greater), or
Named data streams to any non-VxFS 4.0 client,

NetBackup then continues with the restore job.

To disable the restore of extended attribute files and named data streams, add an empty file to the client. Name the file IGNORE_XATTR and place it in the following directory:

/usr/openv/netbackup/

The addition affects only Solaris 9 or VxFS 4.0 clients.

File IGNORE_XATTR was formerly known as IGNORE_XATTR_SOLARIS.

Note:

Extended attributes and named data streams cannot be compressed.