How to update the SnapAPI module in Linux

Introduction

The SnapAPI module is in charge of all I/O operations on the hard disk of Acronis software. By default, SnapAPI module is updated automatically during the product update. 

Below is the description of how to update the SnapAPI module in Linux when a custom rpm is provided.

Solution

To install custom SnapAPI module in Linux, do the following:

1. Open terminal (console);
2. Stop Acronis processes:

   # /etc/init.d/acronis_mms stop  (alternatively, use # systemctl stop acronis_mms)

3. Remove SnapAPI module from the kernel:

   # rmmod snapapi26

4. Check SnapAPI version in the dkms tree:

   # dkms status

   => check for the "snapapi" entry similar to:

   snapapi26, 0.7.51, 2.6.31-gentoo-r6, x86_64: installed

   (0.7.51 is the version of the SnapAPI module in this example)

5. Remove SnapAPI from the dkms tree using the respective version:

   # dkms remove -m snapapi26 -v [VERSION] --all

   where [VERSION] is the version of SnapAPI found out in step 4., e.g.: # dkms remove -m snapapi26 -v 0.7.51 --all

   # rm -rf /usr/src/snapapi*

6. Install SnapAPI from rpm package

   # rpm -Uhv snapapi26_modules-[VERSION]-1.noarch.rpm --nodeps

7. Add tarball to the dkms tree:

   # dkms ldtarball /usr/lib/Acronis/kernel_modules/snapapi26-[VERSION]-all.tar.gz

8. Build and install SnapAPI module:

   # dkms build -m snapapi26 -v [VERSION]
# dkms install -m snapapi26 -v [VERSION]

9. Load the snapapi26 kernel module:

   #sudo modprobe snapapi26 

10. Start Acronis processes:

    # systemctl start acronis_mms