My question is about backing up a linux system in detail. For example, I have worked very hard to achieve a certain look and feel with my current distro (things such as tweaking the gui's to look the way I want them too, clearing off unused applications, and adding in my own configurations and software).

Now, how would I go about backing up the system in case of disaster? Are there a certain set of files that I could back up, so that if I have to reload the distro I could just insert those files and revamp the system back to the way I had it before the disaster? As apposed to having to go through it all again?

Backup /etc: all system configs are there.
Backup /home: users files and preferences are there.
Backup /boot: if you've done some kernel config (that's not on the install cd/dvd), tweaked the bootloader, made a new initrd, etc, you will want to keep those.
If you've done some kernel work, you should also backup the /lib/modules directory that goes with the kernel you recompiled (they won't be on the install media either).
Perhaps look through /var to see if there's anything there you want to keep. Everything else should come from the install media.

If all hell breaks loose and you have to re-install, you can then restore the backups and be back in business in the shortest possible time.

Buy thine self a DVD burner!! Back up the whole bloody system and then upgrade your box to FC4! I have FC4 and I love it. It's significantly faster than fc3 too, put good use to those 504 mb ram!

-Peter

bigrig, nice post thanks! I've bought myself an old cheap computer to use as a test bed for these things so I'll test this out.

worldgnat..........lol! Actually Im not running fedora anymore. I do have a friend who loves core 4 though. Thanks for the post.

Scrounge yourself a 2nd hard disk that is the exact same model as your current disk, or a different model but larger than your current disk. You want the usable space to be the same or larger than what you have.

Assuming your IDE, plug in the 2nd disk as a primary channel slave.

Then dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/hdb.

Your 2nd disk will be an exact clone that you can remove and tuck away for safe keeping, or boot from if the original goes poof.