Old Sco server looking to back up or virtualize

Post by Dana Eckel
Hello,
I work for a company who recently aquired a smaller company. They
have all their old accounting records on a IBM server with SCO unix on
it. The only thing it is used for is looking up records for whatever
reason. They interface to the server with software called facetwin.
They don't back it up at all, which could be a problem.
However me, and the rest of the IT staff isn't very familiar with
Unix, and we are wondering what we should do with it. The best idea we
have had is to set up a hyper-v session and somehow image the whole
thing onto another server, but I don't know where to begin.
Can somebody give me some pointers?
Dana

Dana,

We need more details. Try to answer some questions for us.

* Can you login as root?

* Type and enter the following command, then report the resulting
string. Remember, this is all case sensitive.
uname -X

* Is there a functioning backup device, such as a tape drive, on the
system? Provide details.

* Is networking available? Type and enter:
netconfig
If it runs you have a working network. Exit the program without
changing anything.

* What software is installed? Type and enter:
custom
Use the Tab, F10 and arrow keys to navigate the screen.
What you're looking for is some program like Lone-Tar, C-Tar or Backup
Edge.

* What is the application? The name and version might be helpful, if
might be easier to migrate and upgrade than to nurse this system along
forever.

Mark

Dana Eckel

2011-03-16 18:56:33 UTC

We need more details. Try to answer some questions for us.
* Can you login as root? yes
* Type and enter the following command, then report the resulting
string. Remember, this is all case sensitive.
uname -X

System = SCO_SC
Node = Hancock1
Release = 3.2v5.07
KernelID = 2003-02-18
Machine = i80386
BusType = ISA
Serial = 3MG002106
Users = 5
OEM# =0
Orgin# = 1
NumCPU = 1

* Is there a functioning backup device, such as a tape drive, on the
system? Provide details. NO!!!
netconfig
If it runs you have a working network. Exit the program without
changing anything. YES!
custom
Use the Tab, F10 and arrow keys to navigate the screen.
What you're looking for is some program like Lone-Tar, C-Tar or Backup
Edge.
* What is the application? The name and version might be helpful, if
might be easier to migrate and upgrade than to nurse this system along
forever.

Intel(r) PRO/1000 Network Drivers (ver 1.5.2)
SCO OpenServer Enterprise System (ver 5.07Hw)
OSS656B - OpenServer Licensing Update (ver 1.0.1a)

Mark

After I talked to their accountant, I basicly learned the software
isn't a database, and it was custom made.

Abid Khan

2011-03-17 03:42:25 UTC

System = SCO_SC
Node = Hancock1
Release = 3.2v5.07
KernelID = 2003-02-18
Machine = i80386
BusType = ISA
Serial = 3MG002106
Users = 5
OEM# =0
Orgin# = 1
NumCPU = 1

Intel(r) PRO/1000 Network Drivers (ver 1.5.2)
SCO OpenServer Enterprise System (ver 5.07Hw)
OSS656B - OpenServer Licensing Update (ver 1.0.1a)

Mark

After I talked to their accountant, I basicly learned the software
isn't a database, and it was custom made.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

You can use one fthe backup software, i.e. Lonetar, Backup Edge, or
add second hard drive and make a exact copy, if it is on the local
network, you can atleast back important data/programs, all depands
what you want to do.

Abid

mbennett

2011-03-17 15:02:41 UTC

System = SCO_SC
Node = Hancock1
Release = 3.2v5.07
KernelID = 2003-02-18
Machine = i80386
BusType = ISA
Serial = 3MG002106
Users = 5
OEM# =0
Orgin# = 1
NumCPU = 1

Intel(r) PRO/1000 Network Drivers (ver 1.5.2)
SCO OpenServer Enterprise System (ver 5.07Hw)
OSS656B - OpenServer Licensing Update (ver 1.0.1a)

Mark

After I talked to their accountant, I basicly learned the software
isn't a database, and it was custom made.

Dana,

You might try finding the original programmer or system analyst who
designed the program. You never know, might still be around and
willing to help for a price.

The version of operating system you have is relatively recent, and
therefore has fairly good support. It's a major plus that you have
network support, and you can use netconfig to change it if necessary.
If you change anything on the network, don't forget to edit /etc/hosts
to keep it current. You may also need to make other manual edits, so
don't change it if you don't have to.

Go to http://www.microlite.com/ and buy the most recent version of
BackupEdge. If you have a NAS on the system that supports FTP. If
you don't have one, get one. Configure Edge to backup to a url.
There are plenty of instructions in their docs. Make a master backup,
then do whatever comes naturally as far as future schedules. Make a
Recoveredge CD so you can recover and restore in the event of a
catastrophic failure.

There's a whitepaper about using NAS devices on Microlite's site.
Read it before you try the setup or buy one. The user guide also has
a chapter. Calling their support line and describing the situation
should elicit some good advice.

I'm not dissing Lone-Tar or C-Tar, their products and support are
probably equivalent, I'm just going with what I'm familiar with.

I have not yet tried to move a SCO system completely to a virtual
machine, but I would personally place precedence on getting some
backups before any more time passes. Come back to this forum and ask
for more advice when you get to that point.

If the patches you list are the only ones installed you are badly
behind. There are major service packs which should have been
installed long ago, as well as a bunch of lesser patches to get
current. Get some backups first.

Mark

Steve M. Fabac, Jr.

2011-03-17 15:21:40 UTC

Post by mbennett
We need more details. Try to answer some questions for us.
* Can you login as root? yes
* Type and enter the following command, then report the resulting
string. Remember, this is all case sensitive.
uname -X

System = SCO_SC
Node = Hancock1
Release = 3.2v5.07
KernelID = 2003-02-18
Machine = i80386
BusType = ISA
Serial = 3MG002106
Users = 5
OEM# =0
Orgin# = 1
NumCPU = 1

Post by mbennett
* Is there a functioning backup device, such as a tape drive, on the
system? Provide details. NO!!!
netconfig
If it runs you have a working network. Exit the program without
changing anything. YES!
custom
Use the Tab, F10 and arrow keys to navigate the screen.
What you're looking for is some program like Lone-Tar, C-Tar or Backup
Edge.
* What is the application? The name and version might be helpful, if
might be easier to migrate and upgrade than to nurse this system along
forever.

Intel(r) PRO/1000 Network Drivers (ver 1.5.2)
SCO OpenServer Enterprise System (ver 5.07Hw)
OSS656B - OpenServer Licensing Update (ver 1.0.1a)

Dana,

Looks like you have a basic installation.

My recommendation is that you find someone locally that can help you.
Without a full system backup, you have no way to recover from any
problems that you might cause by a misstep.

1) You have no backup software listed above so you may be at risk
in anything you do following my or anyone's suggestions from this
point on.

2) The system installation is not complete as no maintenance patches
have been installed (if the list above is complete).
You should install the latest maintenance pack (MP5) on the system.
*WARNING* Before installing MP5 you must remove OSS656B using the
software manager. I found this out the hard way.

3) MP5 has cdrecord (and mkisofs) with which you could create an ISO
image file of specified directories. you could then ftp the ISO
file to a Windows system for writing to CD or DVD media.
If the UNIX box has a CD or DVD writer, you can use cdrecord to
write the ISO directly to CDR or DVD-R media.

E.g.:

mkisofs -V "507 usr_lib_drivers" -R -J /usr/lib/drivers > /ISOimages/507lib.isof

cdrecord -v -v fs=6m driveropts=burnfree speed=12 dev=2,0,0 \
/ISOimages/507lib.isof | tee /tmp/logcd 2>&1

Cdrecord is not a suitable backup substitute as products like Backup
Edge and Lonetar will backup the entire system and restore to a bare
hard disk. Using cd record as suggested above is only a safety
measure to preserve the application data while working on your original
request.

Option: You can install 5.0.7 on a suitable old windows system with
a DVD writer (should be PATA not SATA for the hard disk and DVD drive
then pull the hard disk and install a new disk) and practice with it.

Remove OSS656B (installed automatically by the initial installation)
and download and install MP5. Don't use the license used on the old
system but install in 60 day demo mode.

Once you have the demo system up, you can copy directories across the
network from the running system to the demo system. (If you go this
way, post back and we'll help with the commands.)

Get the application working on the demo system then download and install
BackupEdge in 60 day demo mode and get familiar with using it to
backup the demo system. At that point you will be knowledgeable enough
to decide how to add a backup device to the live system with all
necessary software and SCO patches.

Post by mbennett
Mark

After I talked to their accountant, I basicly learned the software
isn't a database, and it was custom made.

Custom made software may be compiled C code or COBOL or anything else.

Since your list of software did not include a C development system, it
is likely to be something other then C. Be aware that COBOL and other
runtime software will live in system directories (/bin or /usr/bin) and
not in the application directory. The will likely be configuration files
in /etc as well. This becomes germaine if you go the route of setting up
a demo system and copying the application and user accounts to the demo
system for safety/testing.

--
Steve Fabac
S.M. Fabac & Associates
816/765-1670

Abid Khan

2011-03-17 17:22:11 UTC

Post by Steve M. Fabac, Jr.

System = SCO_SC
Node = Hancock1
Release = 3.2v5.07
KernelID = 2003-02-18
Machine = i80386
BusType = ISA
Serial = 3MG002106
Users = 5
OEM# =0
Orgin# = 1
NumCPU = 1

Intel(r) PRO/1000 Network Drivers (ver 1.5.2)
SCO OpenServer Enterprise System (ver 5.07Hw)
OSS656B - OpenServer Licensing Update (ver 1.0.1a)

Dana,
Looks like you have a basic installation.
My recommendation is that you find someone locally that can help you.
Without a full system backup, you have no way to recover from any
problems that you might cause by a misstep.
1) You have no backup software listed above so you may be at risk
in anything you do following my or anyone's suggestions from this
point on.
2) The system installation is not complete as no maintenance patches
have been installed (if the list above is complete).
You should install the latest maintenance pack (MP5) on the system.
*WARNING* Before installing MP5 you must remove OSS656B using the
software manager. I found this out the hard way.
3) MP5 has cdrecord (and mkisofs) with which you could create an ISO
image file of specified directories. you could then ftp the ISO
file to a Windows system for writing to CD or DVD media.
If the UNIX box has a CD or DVD writer, you can use cdrecord to
write the ISO directly to CDR or DVD-R media.
mkisofs -V "507 usr_lib_drivers" -R -J /usr/lib/drivers > /ISOimages/507lib.isof
cdrecord -v -v fs=6m driveropts=burnfree speed=12 dev=2,0,0 \
/ISOimages/507lib.isof | tee /tmp/logcd 2>&1
Cdrecord is not a suitable backup substitute as products like Backup
Edge and Lonetar will backup the entire system and restore to a bare
hard disk. Using cd record as suggested above is only a safety
measure to preserve the application data while working on your original
request.
Option: You can install 5.0.7 on a suitable old windows system with
a DVD writer (should be PATA not SATA for the hard disk and DVD drive
then pull the hard disk and install a new disk) and practice with it.
Remove OSS656B (installed automatically by the initial installation)
and download and install MP5. Don't use the license used on the old
system but install in 60 day demo mode.
Once you have the demo system up, you can copy directories across the
network from the running system to the demo system. (If you go this
way, post back and we'll help with the commands.)
Get the application working on the demo system then download and install
BackupEdge in 60 day demo mode and get familiar with using it to
backup the demo system. At that point you will be knowledgeable enough
to decide how to add a backup device to the live system with all
necessary software and SCO patches.

Mark

After I talked to their accountant, I basicly learned the software
isn't a database, and it was custom made.

Custom made software may be compiled C code or COBOL or anything else.
Since your list of software did not include a C development system, it
is likely to be something other then C. Be aware that COBOL and other
runtime software will live in system directories (/bin or /usr/bin) and
not in the application directory. The will likely be configuration files
in /etc as well. This becomes germaine if you go the route of setting up
a demo system and copying the application and user accounts to the demo
system for safety/testing.
--
Steve Fabac
S.M. Fabac & Associates
816/765-1670- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

I agree with Steve, find someone who has expertise in SCO Unix, if it
is custom program there might be utilities laying all over, you will
need all of them to replicate, been there done it. Where are yu
located?

Abid

DAW

2011-03-18 07:38:19 UTC

It would make sense for you to tell us where the system is located.
There might be someone with Open Server experience nearby.

DAW

RedGrittyBrick

2011-03-22 16:25:45 UTC

Post by Dana Eckel
I work for a company who recently aquired a smaller company. They
have all their old accounting records on a IBM server with SCO unix on
it. The only thing it is used for is looking up records for whatever
reason. They interface to the server with software called facetwin.
They don't back it up at all, which could be a problem.
However me, and the rest of the IT staff isn't very familiar with
Unix, and we are wondering what we should do with it. The best idea we
have had is to set up a hyper-v session and somehow image the whole
thing onto another server, but I don't know where to begin.
Can somebody give me some pointers?

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/jsbarber/2010/06/18/sco-openserver-507-p2v

I've Virtualized OpenServer 5.0.6 on VMware Server (recently
discontinued) and I found it remarkably straightforward.

In general, when virtualizing OpenServer, there's more experience around
for doing so on VMware products.

--
RGB

s***@gmail.com

2013-01-10 16:16:56 UTC

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/jsbarber/2010/06/18/sco-openserver-507-p2v
I've Virtualized OpenServer 5.0.6 on VMware Server (recently
discontinued) and I found it remarkably straightforward.
In general, when virtualizing OpenServer, there's more experience around
for doing so on VMware products.
--
RGB

Hi, we have an old sco 5.0.6 machine which we would like to virtualize to hyper-v, but we don't where to start.

Would you pls help us with the procces ?

Thanks in advance

Billyb97113

2013-01-11 05:15:57 UTC

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/jsbarber/2010/06/18/sco-openserver-507-p2v
I've Virtualized OpenServer 5.0.6 on VMware Server (recently
discontinued) and I found it remarkably straightforward.
In general, when virtualizing OpenServer, there's more experience around
for doing so on VMware products.
--
RGB

BobD

2013-01-16 00:32:18 UTC

On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:15:57 -0800, "Billyb97113"

Post by s***@gmail.com

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/jsbarber/2010/06/18/sco-openserver-507-p2v
I've Virtualized OpenServer 5.0.6 on VMware Server (recently
discontinued) and I found it remarkably straightforward.
In general, when virtualizing OpenServer, there's more experience around
for doing so on VMware products.
--
RGB

HI,

Please find attached the instruction I wrote for my staff when I
virtualised our old 5.0.7 machine. I will be trying to virtualise a
5.0.5 system in the next few days. I don't see any reason why these
instructions cannt be used as a basis for virtualising a 5.0.6
machine.

They are provided with absolutely no warranty, and are to be used
entirely at your own risk.

BobD
PCI Systems Ltd.
U.K.

Steve M. Fabac, Jr.

2013-01-23 18:50:51 UTC

begin 644 257.pdf
M("]&;&%T941E8V]D93X^"G-T<F5A;0IXG-U=28\=1W*&2?8RW8WFHA:':FII

...

M0S(Q1C$S1C%!/CPW-#!%.#!%.#$P,S0X1$%",3$Y,D$P04,R,48Q,T8Q03Y=
`
end

BobD did not give instructions for this file.

What you need to do:

Save the e-mail as a file to your unix system.

Edit the file and delete everything from the start to the
line "begin 644 257.pdf."
Delete everyting from the line after "end" below.

Save the file as 247.pdf.dos
Execute: "dtox 257.pdf.dos > 257.pdf.uu"
Execute "uudecode 257.pdf.uu"

Creating a Virtual Machine from a Physical Machine SN 257
This support note deals with creating an image of a Physical Machine that can be used to
import as a Virtual Machine on a VM platform.
The first step is to create a DVD containing a program that will capture 1. an image of
the Physical Machine. This program is called dc3dd and was created by the
Defence Cyber Crime Centre. It can be downloaded from the following URL

--
Steve Fabac
S.M. Fabac & Associates
816/765-1670

Robert T. Repko

2013-01-22 20:32:35 UTC

-----Original Message-----
From: Jean-Pierre Radley [mailto:***@jpr.com] On Behalf Of BobD
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 7:32 PM
To: ***@jpr.com
Subject: Re: Old Sco server looking to back up or virtualize - 257.pdf (0/1)

On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:15:57 -0800, "Billyb97113"

Post by s***@gmail.com