Linux install and configure an AMANDA backup client

Q. We have central AMANDA backup server configured for tape backup. How do I add new client to AMANDA server? How do I configure CentOS Linux as an AMANDA backup client?

A.The Amanda-client package should be installed on any machine that will be backed up by AMANDA (including the server if it also needs to be backed up). You will also need to install the amanda package on each AMANDA client machine.

Install amanda client

Use yum command, to install amanda-client package:
# yum install amanda-client
Output:

Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Install Process
Setting up repositories
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Parsing package install arguments
Resolving Dependencies
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Downloading header for amanda-client to pack into transaction set.
amanda-client-2.5.0p2-4.i 100% |=========================|  16 kB    00:00
---> Package amanda-client.i386 0:2.5.0p2-4 set to be updated
--> Running transaction check

Dependencies Resolved

=============================================================================
 Package                 Arch       Version          Repository        Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
 amanda-client           i386       2.5.0p2-4        base              121 k

Transaction Summary
=============================================================================
Install      1 Package(s)
Update       0 Package(s)
Remove       0 Package(s)         

Total download size: 121 k
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/1): amanda-client-2.5. 100% |=========================| 121 kB    00:00
Running Transaction Test
Finished Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing: amanda-client                ######################### [1/1] 

Installed: amanda-client.i386 0:2.5.0p2-4
Complete!

Configure Amanda Backup Client

The /var/lib/amanda/.amandahosts file used to specify Amanda server location, open the same:
# vi /var/lib/amanda/.amandahosts
If your server name is backup.nas.nixcraft.in, enter:
backup.nas.nixcraft.in amanda
Save and close the file.
Where,

• backup.nas.nixcraft.in : Amanda server name
• amanda : User name

Please note that you can also create a file named .amandahosts in the home directory of the Amanda user on the client. The syntax is similar to that of a .rhosts file. It should contain an entry with the hostname of the Amanda server and the Amanda user on the server as explained above.

Just start amanda client:
# chkconfig amanda on && chkconfig xinetd on
# /etc/init.d/xinetd restart

Amanda Server Configuration

I'm sssuming that your central serer is up and running. The file /var/lib/amanda/.amandahosts must contain entries with the hostname of each AMANDA client that is allowed to use the amrecover command (amrecover must be run as root). The syntax of the file is similar to that of a .rhosts file. Below is a sample .amandahosts file that allows centos.nixcraft.in client computer to use amrecover:
centos.nixcraft.in root

Recommended readings:

=> Amanda Quick Start Guide