As a DMA, you'd like to backup Stroge Cells as well as a part of your backup process. Though, when it comes to Cell backup necessary things to be backed up are pretty much limited. Because Exadata does most of the work automatically for you using an embedded USB called CELLBOOT USB flash drive. Latest successfully working system image is stored in CELLBOOT USB. You can find versions of both active system and CELLBOOT USB by running the command as seen below:

$ imageinfo

Kernel version: 2.6.18-194.3.1.0.4.el5 #1 SMP Sat Feb 19 03:38:37 EST 2011 x86_64
Cell version: OSS_11.2.0.3.0_LINUX.X64_110520
Cell rpm version: cell-11.2.2.3.2_LINUX.X64_110520-1

Active image version: 11.2.2.3.2.110520
Active image activated: 2011-06-24 00:04:28 -0700
Active image status: success
Active system partition on device: /dev/md5
Active software partition on device: /dev/md7

In partition rollback: Impossible

Cell boot usb partition: /dev/sdm1
Cell boot usb version: 11.2.2.3.2.110520

Inactive image version: undefined
Rollback to the inactive partitions: Impossible

What is left for you to back up is just a couple files listed below:

1. /etc/hosts
2. /etc/modprobe.conf
3. /etc/sysconfig/network
4. /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/*

Exadata also provides a way for you to create your own CELLBOOT USB. All you have to is plug-in a USB disk which should be at least 1 GB and run the tool:

$ /opt/oracle.SupportTools/make_cellboot_usb

Exadata turns your USB disk into a bootable disk of active image of your system.