revision 2004-DEC-13

Recovering Files from Tape Backups

In Unix, a file deleted is a file lost. However, we can offer the following service for recovering files from tape backups.

A file in the /home directory can usually be recovered to its state at 3:05-3:20 a.m. on any day in the last approximately 120 days.

Parts of a file which have been created and then accidentally deleted within a few hours can not be recovered.

Recovery of deleted files takes some significant effort on the part of system administrators and should not be taken for granted. Users are requested to take steps to kept file recovery requests to a minimum. A fee may be charged.

To request file recovery

Send e-mail to "sysadmin" with subject heading "REQUEST FILE RECOVERY". Give full particulars:

• Full path name of file(s) date and time when file was OK
• date and time when file was presumed damaged
• reason file was damaged
• reason why file is important enough to recover
• contact information (phone number(s))

Pay particular attention to the 3 a.m. cutoff mentioned above.

Recovered files

Recovered files may appear in a special subdirectory called "recover" or something similar in your home directory. Contact sysadmin for details.