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Old 11-17-2012, 09:42 AM   #1
sunveer
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Backup Entire OS


I have installed linux on a machine. Now I want to take a complete backup of all linux using tar or rsync tool.

Then, I want to create ext4 partitions on another system with parted magic and transfer the backup contents to that new partitions instead of re-installing the complete linux again.

Is it possible?
 
Old 11-17-2012, 11:11 AM   #2
malekmustaq
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Quote:
Is it possible?
Possible.

But there is no need to move into ext4 yet, unless maybe you are trying to overcome size limitation or fsck speed The potential loss of data is higher if you are exposed to sudden power outage without power backup due to its delayed allocation mechanism. Unless you are running a mega structure, or that your storage is measured in exabytes I think ext4 is not yet a matter of need.
 
Old 11-17-2012, 03:25 PM   #3
Lennie
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I just wrote about it here.
I have used ext4 the last 2 years and I wouldn't even consider using anything else...
 
Old 11-17-2012, 04:48 PM   #4
TB0ne
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sunveer View Post
I have installed linux on a machine. Now I want to take a complete backup of all linux using tar or rsync tool.

Then, I want to create ext4 partitions on another system with parted magic and transfer the backup contents to that new partitions instead of re-installing the complete linux again.

Is it possible?
Possible, and pointless.

Use mondoarchive, systemimager, or mkcdrec. Mondoarchive, especially...since you can 'snapshot' a running system, and have an image you can boot from over the network, which will recover the entire system, from partitions on up. Those are just three bare-metal system recovery tools. There are some commercial options as well.
 
Old 11-17-2012, 10:51 PM   #5
catkin
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Why only tar or rsync? They are for file level backups. If you want to copy a whole file system, including anything in it's boot record, the simplest way is to use dd on the partition's device file (example /dev/sda6) when the file system is not mounted.

To minimise the size of the backup, while the file system is mounted run, for example
Code:
dd if=/dev/zero of=/delete_this_file; rm /delete_this_file
For file systems other than / the /delete_this_file must be replace with a path on the file system. If /var is a file system mount point it could be /var/delete_this_file

That fills all the unused space with zeroes which are easily compressed. Then, with the file system unmounted (for example by booting another Linux), run, for example
Code:
dd if=/dev/sda6 conv=sync,noerror | gzip > /<path to where you want it>/sda6.dd.gz
Change sda6 as required.
 
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