Arch Linux

karbon

Member

Registered: 2010-06-29

Posts: 17

Back up the headers or metadata for LVM volumes on top of a LUKS vol?

Hello guys there. I recently lost all my data in a Debian installation for the installer ruined the header of my LUKS partition. After that I'm wondering how to back up the header or metadata of the volumes.

I have LVM volumes on top of a LUKS partition, which makes the start part of the disk a little bit complex.... I read the wiki <https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … ryptheader>, but I don't know how to back up LVM volumes' header.

Is there a solution for my situation? Any reply will be appreciated, and TIA.

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: Back up the headers or metadata for LVM volumes on top of a LUKS vol?

I just keep a backup of /etc/lvm somewhere outside the VG - worked fine for me the one time I broke it.

mangust

Member

From: nomad

Registered: 2010-09-18

Posts: 31

Re: Back up the headers or metadata for LVM volumes on top of a LUKS vol?

In addition to what tomk said, you might find snapshots as a good workaround (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Lvm#Snapshots). Also, have a look at this: http://blog.adamsbros.org/2009/05/30/re … t-backups/

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"I hate computers, why didn't I become a street musician?" - phrakture

karbon

Member

Registered: 2010-06-29

Posts: 17

Re: Back up the headers or metadata for LVM volumes on top of a LUKS vol?

I just keep a backup of /etc/lvm somewhere outside the VG - worked fine for me the one time I broke it.

Thanks tomk, but is it really enough? I mean, in some cases the header of my LVM PVs/LVs corrupted, then what should I do to rescue the data in those volumes?

In addition to what tomk said, you might find snapshots as a good workaround (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Lvm#Snapshots). Also, have a look at this: http://blog.adamsbros.org/2009/05/30/re … t-backups/

Thanks mangust, perhaps I'll need some more intensive researches on LVM:)