UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Thanks,

I will remove the MAILMSG part and try that.

Here is a copy of the original section from the original script:

This does work to a tape unit but not a file.

datestamp "output of AIX command 'w' follows ..."
echo "${line}" >> $MAILMSG
w >> $MAILMSG 2>&1
echo "${line}" >> $MAILMSG
#
# do the actual backup
#
datestamp "actual 'backup' command begins ..."
echo "${line}" >> $MAILMSG
cd $STARTDIR
find . ! -fstype nfs ! -type s -print | sort | \
/etc/backup -ipqf$TAPEDRIVE -b800 >>$MAILMSG 2>&1
echo "${line}" >> $MAILMSG
#
# re-mount /dev/cd0
#
if [ "$cd0flag" = "yes" ]
then
mount /dev/cd0
datestamp "re-mounted CD-ROM /dev/cd0 ..."
fi
#
# enable the ttys again
#
datestamp "enabling ports (pstart -a) ..."

must be differences with the commands and talking to a device vs talking to a file

It's cpio vs backup. cpio simply writes to stdout while backup takes the device as an argument and opens it itself.

Do you just want errors mailed? If so use "2>> $MAILMSG".

And it not be obvious, but if you use "2 >> $MAILMSG", you do not want to do a 2&>1. In fact, you never want to do a 2>&1 with cpio. That would deposit any error messages in your archive file, thus corrupting it.

And one last remark, /mavesbu/backup.cpio might be a better filename. That gives folks a clue as to how to read it.

Thanks Perderabo your reply fixed the issue and your other comments are duly noted.

Now just to get the backup down from the 5+ hours it takes.