[Info-vax] Backup restore system disk

[geze...@rlgsc.com]

On Monday, August 17, 2020 at 11:57:57 AM UTC-4, randyand... at gmail.com wrote:
> I'm having issues with my VAX/VMS v6.0 system that I suspect may be related to fragmentation. I want to do a "backup restore" but am concerned about the system disk. 
> 
> Can I just do the straight forward -- 
> 
> backup muc1:dia0.bkp/rewind disk0$dia0:[*...] 
> 
> or, do I need to add some other parameters to the backup command? 
> 
> Since the system is up-and-running, I'm concerned about causing major problems when trying to restore the system disk. Not worried about the other "data" disks. 
> 
> Thanks in advance!!! Randy
Randy,

I concur with Dan. 

To be safe, one should use standalone BACKUP to do an image backup and restore of the system disk. For safety, I normally try to restore to a different disk, even if it means purchasing a replacement disk. This allows me to remove the original and put it in safe storage. This gives me a path of retreat against the possibility that something goes awry during the restore. 

Barring a replacement disk, I would endeavor to make a disk-resident image backup of the system disk, to guard against a damaged tape.

- Bob Gezelter,  hjttp://www.rlgsc.com