Quick guide to file recovery on Zoo...

or "Doh! I didn't mean that file!

The recover command is available on Zoo to retrieve back-up copies of files. The online manual page is available by typing man recover at a Zoo prompt. The following instructions are provided as a "quick and easy guide" to recovering a single file. If your needs are more complex, please read the full documentation.

Scenario: the file important.stuff was fine last Thursday, but you now realize got munged at some point on Friday. It is now Monday. What do you do? Follow these steps:

Note: remember that you'll need to substitute your own filenames and dates. Our example is fictitious.

1. Windows Computers: Use SSH to zoo and log in

   you need a zoo prompt to be able to recover files. See the UVM Software archive to download ssh if you don't have it.

   Macintosh Computers: Use Finder, to locate your Utilities folder, then Terminal application, open Terminal. then type
   ssh netid@zoo.uvm.edu , then enter your UVM email password and enter

2. at your zoo prompt, type recover

   you will now see the recover prompt. typing help will give you a list of available commands

3. type changetime last Thursday

   it's a time machine! Change the recover browser's index to the date/time of the good copy of the file you want to recover

4. type cd directory

   change to the directory that contains the file

5. type add important.stuff

   adds the file important.stuff to the list of file to be recovered. You can add multiple files, from various locations

6. type list

   an optional step, but comforting. It lists the files that will be recovered.

7. type recover

   sit back and watch. Your files will be recovered. When it says "This may take a while..." it means it.

8. type exit
9. check the file(s) and make sure that they were restored

There are many more options available in the recover program. Type "man recover" at the Zoo command prompt for the full documentation.

If you have questions about this process, please contact the ETS Help Line at helpline@uvm.edu or call 656-2604.

Last modified October 27 2009 10:47 AM