Creating a Linux Boot disk that would share the drive for backup via network to other
 

A Graphical linux version called RedoBackup from RedoBackup.org makes backups and is supposed to be able to find all shared disks on a network for backup.

I would like to be able to insert a CD or USB drive into other computers so the computer comes up with the drives shared so it can be backed up via network.

The issue is some copier print controllers are Linux and have no monitor or keyboard or backup method, restoring from original program disk is required but then any custom print settings, and jobs archived on controller are lost - Being able to boot with a USB or CD to a small linux version that shared the drive would allow a backup using a different computers monitor, keyboard and attached storage.

I can see where this might actually be a useful method of backing up all the workstation computers as well as Gigabit and SATA drives should be faster than USB2.

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Ken

I might be misunderstanding the issue.

Almost any linux distro can boot a system and then use the network to find shares and use local storage.

I tend to use G4U on some real old computer but it is really just dd over ftp compressed. You can do that on any distro.

Almost limitless ways to boot bare metal and restore but why not use their product.


It you are thinking of booting some machine and then connecting into some other system it may or may not work. We'd have to know more about that device.

Correct, but to find a share the other computer has to have shared the disk which isn't normally done for security reasons.

I would like to be able to pop a CD into a computer (in this case a dedicated printer RIP) so it boots and shares the disk without keyboard or monitor required.

Then using either redobackup.org or clonezilla.org software cloning software to backup that disk from another computer which will thus also backup its patches and stored settings.

In DOS terms I need the equivalent of a autoexec.bat added to a boot disk. I assume it might work better though if done in a small Linux.

Thanks

Ken Graham

I get it now. You want to make a custom bootable cd or flash that has generic scripts to find and mount the drives to some nfs share or samba share. I'd look at any of the custom live cd maker and then add in some scripts at boot if you want to do it that way. Otherwise you can boot the system that has any sort of ssh or telnet open to then remote to it that way and find/setup drive to then be mounted nfs.

Might look at nc also while you are at it.

You were right but I found out redobackup.org software doesn't appear to backup other network shares, only backs up to other network shares. Therefore it looks like I require some sort of telnet or ssh capability with either redobackup.org software or clonezilla.org software, or a different cloning software or a script that causes one of the previous to automatically find the harddrive(s) and forward clones to a IP chosen in advance.

Thanks, Ken

Redo may have telnet or other default access in it. I guess you could fool with it but really all you want is to choose this before you go farther.

Choose how you want the live cd to act. The choice is boot completely on it's own and do what you want. The other choice is to boot to some linux/bsd that can then be commanded remotely. (almost all can do that default or be made to do that)

see fog (free open ghost) is a cloning utility onces installed in a server can take backup automaticaly when the system starts up.It use network booting method.

I don't see how it can work, it would require changing the BIOS settings, as these printer controllers have no monitor or keyboard they can't be changed, the install CD boots and installs, after that patches are added remotely via the print queue and settings are saved via print driver or a limited print monitoring program. When something goes wrong such as a patch being interrupted during install the only solution is to re-install from CD and reapply patches.

I figure a ghosting software will autoboot but it needs to install network drivers and whatever to telnet or ssh in as well. My initial understanding was that the cloning packages could remotely retrieve the data but that doesn't seem to be the case when a machine is booted via CD.

Thanks, Ken