How to backup my linux

CobraMagic · 09-13-2002, 06:09 AM

I have an SUSE 8.0 installation on one of my company servers (the webserver and later the database server).
This machine came preinstalled from the shop. I would like to backup the preinstalled installation and the newely build installation.
I know there are several methods into doing this but what is the simplest method (Someone with less knowledge of linux has to do the backups when i'm not at work).

Maybe someone can provide me with his point of view.

crashmeister · 09-13-2002, 06:52 AM

Check with Suse - they might have a tool for this.
I know there is one for debian and gentoo to make a live cd that can also be copied to hd as OS.

CobraMagic · 09-13-2002, 09:06 AM

There is indeed a backup module available in Yast2 but this one does backup on files, to my opinion it would be better to do a backup at partition level. Although the server must be off line for this method(or am i wrong here).

crashmeister · 09-13-2002, 10:11 AM

I am lost there.Last time I used Suse was with 7.3 and all I used there was Yast1.I quit Suse when they took that out.Debian got an utility than basically copies /bin /var /etc /sbin /home and some more stuff on a cd that can be used as live cd or to restore the system.

Hko · 09-13-2002, 11:08 AM

A commercial tool to make parition-backup's is 'ghost' from symantec, but there are others too.

The only open source alternative I know of is "PartImage".
See: http://www.partimage.org/
I've never tried it myself though.