[SOLVED] Clonezilla question

Mr. Alex · 11-30-2010, 10:23 AM

Hi.
I need to make an image of an ext4 partition which has some free space and then restore it to a smaller partition. Let's say I have 50 GB partition. It contains 20 GB of used space. I need to create an image, reformat HDD and restore this image to a 40 GB ext4 partition (not 50 GB as it was before). Is it possible with Clonezilla?

markush · 11-30-2010, 10:59 AM

Hi,

I would at first use gparted to decrease the partition and afterwards use Clonezilla. But I did work with Clonezilla only one time and don't have as much experience.
One important limitation of Clonezilla is, that the partition where the image is stored must be at least as big as the original partition. So it seems necessary to decrease the partition before building an image of it.

Markus

TobiSGD · 11-30-2010, 11:04 AM

If you have the space to save an image of the partition, wouldn't it be easier to rsync your files to that space, then repartition and then rsync your files back?

TobiSGD · 11-30-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markush

Hi,

I would at first use gparted to decrease the partition and afterwards use Clonezilla. But I did work with Clonezilla only one time and don't have as much experience.
One important limitation of Clonezilla is, that the partition where the image is stored must be at least as big as the original partition. So it seems necessary to decrease the partition before building an image of it.

Markus

Decreasing the partition can in rare cases lead to data loss, so I would backup first. And if you have succesfully decreased the size of the partition, why would you use clonezilla afterwards?

markush · 11-30-2010, 12:16 PM

Hello,

@TobiSGD: well, you're right, in fact only copying is necessary. My intention was to answer the question about Clonezilla....

Quote:

And if you have succesfully decreased the size of the partition, why would you use clonezilla afterwards?

this is only necessary when the partitiontable is changed in whole. If the startblock of the partition remains the same one would only resize the partition.

Markus