This section discusses the method of backing up system disks with the GDS Snapshot function and creating an alternative boot environment by use of the backup copies, and the method of restoring the system disks through the alternative boot environment.
GDS Snapshot can collect snapshots of system disks (replications at a certain point) in the disk areas for backup (proxy volumes) during the system operation. You can configure an alternative boot environment to allow the system to be booted through such a proxy volume in order that the system operates in the alternative boot environment even if the system cannot be booted normally due to a failed system disk or damaged data. After switching to the alternative boot environment, you can also restore the original boot environment simply by restoring backup disk data to the original system disks and rebooting the system.
In this manner, operation down time while backing up and restoring system disks and time required for recovery from a system disk failure can be reduced drastically.
Note
The procedure which this chapter explains is for a UFS boot environment. For an alternative boot environment cannot be created in a ZFS boot environment. For backing up and restoring of a system disk in a ZFS boot environment, see "6.2 Backing Up and Restoring a System Disk in a ZFS Boot Environment."
