Complete System Backup?

surrealdumbo · 05-24-2004, 08:26 PM

How do I create a CD of my running image "as is", so if I can use it as a complete system backup?

LavaDevil94 · 05-24-2004, 08:42 PM

Your entire Linux system? Thats pretty big... Anyway, try this script, it makes an ISO 9660 image from a directory. The syntax is: makeiso your_directory_here (probably / for you).
Heres the script:

Code:

#! /bin/sh
# $Id$
# build an ISO from a directory - mew 2003-01-04 2003-05-23

if [ $# -ne 1 ] ; then
    echo "usage: $0 rootdir"
    exit 1
fi

if [ ${UID} -ne 0 ] ; then
    echo "Dude!  You're just not cool enough!"
    exit 10
fi

ROOTDIR=$1
TITLE=${ROOTDIR}
OUTFILE=${ROOTDIR}.iso

mkisofs \
    -rational-rock \
    -joliet \
    -full-iso9660-filenames \
    -allow-leading-dots \
    -disable-deep-relocation \
    -volid ${TITLE} \
    -output ${OUTFILE} \
    ${ROOTDIR}

#EOF

You need to be root to make the image.

quatsch · 05-24-2004, 11:31 PM

you won't be able to do it while you're running it. The backup files (like the iso image from the above script) will change the system while you're running it and eventually the backup file will have to backup itself while it's backing up - which is bad.

But you can do it if you have a separate installation or use a liveCD distro like knoppix. You'd still need a free partition I think or be able to save it somewhere remotely on the network. I would recomment partimage. It creates image files of partitions so you can create exact backups. There's also a liveCd version of it. Just google for it.

Lleb_KCir · 05-24-2004, 11:51 PM

LavaDevil94, what specificaly would i edit to that script to get it to backup /var/www/html and burn it out to cdrecord?

sorry, but scripting just goes way over my head. also could i convience you into spelling out what all of that code means please.

Swift&Smart · 05-25-2004, 12:07 AM

My successful story,using mondo as my backup solution.You have to install related software to backup your system.Then,it creates several ISO for you to burn to CD.

colin.mca · 05-25-2004, 03:52 AM

Wouldn't symantec ghost or powerquest drive image do the trick?

I've often wondered, but not actually tried it..

Swift&Smart · 05-28-2004, 10:14 AM

I knew that Ghost/Drive image can also backup your drive.However,I have an unsuccessful story that I can't use Ghost to backup my Linux server on HP,which is an old PC (PII 300 96MB RAM 4GB Hard drive).I found many program like partimage...But they are complicated to use.After I used Mondo,it fulfills my needs.Schedule backup,backup to iso file.

Ghost/Drive image can backup,but they can't perform schedule backup,as far as I know.