.TH VGCFGRESTORE 8 "LVM TOOLS #VERSION#" "Sistina Software UK" \" -*- nroff -*-
.SH NAME
vgcfgrestore \- restore volume group descriptor area
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B vgcfgrestore
.RB [ \-d | \-\-debug ]
.RB [ \-f | \-\-file
.RI < filename >]
.RB [ \-\-force ]
.RB [ \-l [ l ]| \-\-list ]
.RB [ \-h | \-\-help ]
.RB [ \-M | \-\-metadatatype
.IR 1 | 2 ]
.RB [ \-t | \-\-test ]
.RB [ \-v | \-\-verbose ]
.RI \fIVolumeGroupName\fP
.SH DESCRIPTION
vgcfgrestore allows you to restore the metadata of \fIVolumeGroupName\fP
from a text backup file produced by \fBvgcfgbackup\fP.
You can specify a backup file with \fB\-\-file\fP.
If no backup file is specified, the most recent
one is used.  Use \fB\-\-list\fP for a list of the available
backup and archive files of \fIVolumeGroupName\fP.
.SH OPTIONS
See \fBlvm\fP(8) for common options.
.TP
.BR \-l ", " \-\-list\fP
List files pertaining to \fIVolumeGroupName\fP
List metadata backup and archive files pertaining to \fIVolumeGroupName\fP.
May be used with the \fB\-f\fP option.  Does not restore \fIVolumeGroupName\fP.
.TP
.BR \-f ", " \-\-file " " \fIfilename
Name of LVM metadata backup file
Specifies a metadata backup or archive file to be used for restoring 
VolumeGroupName.  Often this file has been created with \fBvgcfgbackup\fP.
.TP
.B \-\-force
Necessary to restore metadata with thin pool volumes.
.br
\fBWARNING: Use with extreme caution.
Most changes to thin metadata cannot be reverted.
You may lose data if you restore metadata that does not match the thin pool
kernel metadata precisely.\fP
.SH REPLACING PHYSICAL VOLUMES
\fBvgdisplay \-\-partial \-\-verbose\fP will show you the UUIDs and sizes of
any PVs that are no longer present.
If a PV in the VG is lost and you wish to substitute 
another of the same size, use 
\fBpvcreate \-\-restorefile filename \-\-uuid uuid\fP (plus additional 
arguments as appropriate) to initialise it with the same UUID as 
the missing PV.  Repeat for all other missing PVs in the VG. 
Then use \fBvgcfgrestore \-\-file filename\fP to restore the volume
group's metadata.
.SH SEE ALSO
.BR lvm (8),
.BR vgcreate (8)