1. Ensure all daemons/services do not run at single user mode
(run level 1)
# chkconfig --list <servicename>
2. Shutdown to single user mode (run level 1)
# init 1
3. Set the tape to correct density first eg. for DDS-3
# mt -f /dev/st0 densities
Note density parameter for DDS-3
# mt -f /dev/st0 setdensity 0x25
3. Perform dump
# dump -0uf /dev/st0 -b 64 -B 187500
b = block size in KB per record
B = num of records ?
4. Reboot or init back to multi user
# reboot or # init 3
Example
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Assume backup to the first SCSI tape device
# dump -0uf /dev/st0 /
0 = Level 0 (zero) backup, ensure entire file system is backed up
u = update /etc/dumpdates after the backup
f = to specify the target device file eg. /dev/st0