Administration Reference

butc

Purpose

Initializes the Tape Coordinator process

Synopsis

butc [-port <port offset>]  [-debuglevel < 0 | 1 | 2 >]  
     [-cell <cell name>]  [-noautoquery]  
     [-localauth]  [-help]
        
butc [-p <port offset>]  [-d < 0 | 1 | 2 >]  
     [-c <cell name>]  [-n]  [-l]  [-h]

Description

The butc command initializes a Tape Coordinator process on a Tape Coordinator machine, enabling an operator to direct Backup System requests to the associated tape device or backup data file. (The Tape Coordinator controls a backup data file if the FILE YES instruction appears in the /usr/afs/backup/CFG_device_name file that corresponds to the Tape Coordinator's entry in the /usr/afs/backup/tapeconfig file. For the sake of simplicity, the following discusses tape devices only.)

It is conventional to start and run the Tape Coordinator in the foreground. In this case, it runs on its own connection, which is unavailable for any other use and must remain open the entire time the Tape Coordinator is to accept backup requests and while it is executing them. (When using a window manager, the connection corresponds to a separate command shell window.) The Tape Coordinator can run in the background if the CFG_device_name file is configured to eliminate any need for the Tape Coordinator to prompt the operator. In both the foreground and background, the Tape Coordinator writes operation traces and other output to the standard output stream on the connection over which it was started. Use the -debuglevel argument to control the amount of information that appears. The Tape Coordinator also writes traces and error messages to two files in the local /usr/afs/backup directory:

The TE_device_name file records problems that the Tape Coordinator encounters as it executes backup operations.
The TL_device_name file records a trace of operations as well as the same errors written to the TE_device_name file.

The Tape Coordinator creates the files automatically as it initializes. If there are existing files, the Tape Coordinator renames them with a .old extension, overwriting the existing .old files if they exist. It derives the device_name part of the file names by stripping off the device name's /dev/ prefix and replacing any other slashes with underscores. For example, the files are called TE_rmt_4m and TL_rmt_4m for a device called /dev/rmt/4m.

By default, at the beginning of each operation the Tape Coordinator prompts for the operator to insert the first tape into the drive and press <Return>. To suppress this prompt, include the -noautoquery flag on the command line or the instruction AUTOQUERY NO in the /usr/afs/backup/CFG_device_name file. When the prompt is suppressed, the first required tape must be in the drive before a backup command is issued. For subsequent tapes, the Tape Coordinator uses its normal tape acquisition routine: if the /usr/afs/backup/CFG_device_name file includes a MOUNT instruction, the Tape Coordinator invokes the indicated command; otherwise, it prompts the operator for the next tape.

To stop the Tape Coordinator process, enter an interrupt signal such as <Ctrl-c> over the dedicated connection (in the command shell window).

To cancel a backup operation that involves a tape before it begins (assuming the initial tape prompt has not been suppressed), enter the letter a (for abort) and press <Return> at the Tape Coordinator's prompt for the first tape.

Tape Coordinator operation depends on the correct configuration of certain files, as described in the following list:

The local /usr/afs/backup/tapeconfig file must include an entry for the Tape Coordinator that specifies its device name and port offset number, among other information; for details, see the tapeconfig reference page.
The port offset number recorded in the Tape Coordinator's entry in the Backup Database must match the one in the tapeconfig file. Create the Backup Database entry by using the backup addhost command.
The optional /usr/afs/backup/CFG_device_name file can contain instructions for mounting and unmounting tapes automatically (when using a tape stacker or jukebox, for instance) or automating other aspects of the backup process. The device_name part of the name is derived as described previously for the TE_device_name and TL_device_name files.

Cautions

If the Tape Coordinator machine is an AIX machine, use the SMIT utility to set the device's block size to 0 (zero), indicating variable block size. Otherwise, tape devices attached to machines running other operating systems sometimes cannot read tapes written on AIX machines. For instructions, see the IBM AFS Administration Guide chapter about configuring the Backup System.

Options

-port

Specifies the port offset number of the Tape Coordinator to initialize.

-debuglevel

Controls the amount and type of messages the Tape Coordinator displays on the standard output stream. Provide one of three acceptable values:

0 to display the minimum level of detail required to describe Tape Coordinator operations, including prompts for tapes, messages that indicate the beginning and end of operations, and error messages. This is the default value.
1 to display the names of the volumes being dumped or restored as well as the information displayed at level 0.
2 to display all messages also being written to the TL_device_name log file.

-cell

Names the cell in which the Tape Coordinator operates (the cell to which the file server machines that house affected volumes belong). If this argument is omitted, the Tape Coordinator runs in the local cell as defined in the local /usr/vice/etc/ThisCell file. Do not combine this flag with the -localauth argument.

-noautoquery

Suppresses the Tape Coordinator's prompt for insertion of the first tape needed for an operation. The operator must insert the tape into the drive before issuing the backup command that initializes the operation.

-localauth

Constructs a server ticket using the server encryption key with the highest key version number in the local /usr/afs/etc/KeyFile. The butc command interpreter presents the ticket, which never expires, to the Volume Server and Volume Location Server to use in mutual authentication.

Do not combine this argument with the -cell flag, and use it only when logged on to a server machine as the local superuser root; client machines do not have /usr/afs/etc/KeyFile file.

-help

Prints the online help for this command. All other valid options are ignored.

Examples

The following command starts the Tape Coordinator with port offset 7 at debug level 1, meaning the Tape Coordinator reports the names of volumes it is dumping or restoring.

   % butc -port 7 -debuglevel 1

Privilege Required

The issuer must be listed in the /usr/afs/etc/UserList file on every machine where the Backup Server or Volume Location (VL) Server is running, and on every file server machine that houses a volume to be backed up. If the -localauth flag is included, the issuer must instead be logged on to the Tape Coordinator machine as the local superuser root. In addition, the issuer must be able to read and write to the log and configuration files in the local /usr/afs/backup directory.

Related Information

CFG_device_name

KeyFile

TE_device_name

ThisCell (client version)