making images of hd with tar

bucovaina78 · 03-13-2006, 11:19 AM

Hi

I'm trying to backup a lot of computers when they are new (never used) with knoppix. I've tried it with dd and bzip2 but it takes 4houres to backup 1pc.

I was thinking to use tar since it does not copy every single bit on the HD. But ... does tar also copy the MBR. And what about NTFS, i'm not wanting to use captive or some program like that 'cause I have to be sure it will always work without any problem (that was why I was using dd first).

Wannes

marozsas · 03-13-2006, 12:41 PM

Did you play with the dd's block size parameter (bs=) ?

haertig · 03-13-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannessmet

But ... does tar also copy the MBR.

No. tar is file-based. It cannot access anything that plain old cp cannot access. You will need dd to get at the MBR.

Quote:

And what about NTFS, i'm not wanting to use captive or some program like that 'cause I have to be sure it will always work without any problem

tar is file-based. If it can't read the files (i.e., the kernel doesn't understand the filesystem) then tar can't copy the files. The only reason you would need captive NTFS is if you intend to write to NTFS. Reading NTFS is standard on some distros, an easy addition for others.

brian_lad · 03-13-2006, 03:42 PM

Have you looked at the dump command?

usage: dump [-level#] [-acmMnqSuv] [-A file] [-B records] [-b blocksize]
[-d density] [-D file] [-e inode#,inode#,...] [-E file]
[-f file] [-h level] [-I nr errors] [-j zlevel] [-Q file]
[-s feet] [-T date] [-y] [-z zlevel] filesystem
dump [-W | -w]

Brian

bucovaina78 · 03-13-2006, 04:36 PM

Never tried that one? What does it do? I'm not a die hard linux user so your explanation does't really clear things up. How would you use it for this?

wannes

brian_lad · 03-13-2006, 04:55 PM

Here is description from the Linux Command Directory for the dump command:
http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/linux/...sp?path=d/dump

Here is another link with information:
http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l/blcmdl8_dump.htm

When your using dd via knoppix what is your backup destination...ie another hard drive?

You might also look into disk cloning software....I believe Symantecs Ghost would allow you to clone the drive.

Brian

bucovaina78 · 03-14-2006, 02:18 PM

Well, we tried ghost but it crashed when trying to load usb 2.0 drivers and with 1.1 it didn't recognize the hd, so we are trying to make an image of a full hd to an external hd on usb 2.0. It has to be fast, relyable and compatible with almost everything to be able to restore it quickly when a client asks us.