How do I recover lost files on Shell?

Question

How do I recover lost files on Shell (shell.uoregon.edu)?

Solution

Files stored on shell.uoregon.edu are backed up periodically using "snapshots". In case of data loss, you can restore files from these snapshots if you have a working knowledge of UNIX.

1. Login via SSH to shell.uoregon.edu
2. Go to the directory where you want to restore files.
3. List all of the files to restore within all of the available snapshot directories.
4. Identify the version that you want and copy it to the desired destination.

Opening the directory where the file is stored:

cd <desired-path>

Viewing the different versions of the file that are available in the snapshots:

ls -Alt .snapshot/*/<file-to-restore>

Example: viewing the different available versions of the file "trace.txt"

ls -Alt .snapshot/*/trace.txt

Actually restoring a file by copying a snapshot version of it back:

% cp -p .snapshot/<version>/<file-to-restore> <new-file>

Example: restoring "trace.txt" to a new file name "new_trace.txt"

cp -p .snapshot/4hour.2017-01-01_0000/trace.txt new_trace.txt

For assistance restoring files please contact the Technology Service Desk.