cloning a harddisk on Linux
 

Dear all,

I have a great trouble on cloning a disk on Linux.

Actually, I need to do what "Norton Ghost" job.
Some people suggested me to use the command "dd".

But I bring me some questions:

1. I have only used 3GB on my 60GB harddisk. If I used "dd" to clone the whole 60GB, I don't know how time I will waste. Is there any method for me to clone quickly?

2. The "dd" command has some options to copy portion of a disk. However, if I just copy 3GB of my harddisk. Will there be some hidden data (file indices?) beyond the 3GB that won't be cloned?

3. Is there any free tools that can do the similar job as "Norton Ghost" on Linux?

Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!

I use Mondo to backup my systems, to CD-R. You can also backup to another hard drive, over nfs or to tape.

When backing up to CD-R, the first disk is a bootable resotore image, using "Mindi" - a small bootable Linux that can even use your kernel! You must of course have loop and memfs enabled in your kernel for this to work, otherwise Mondo will use it's own "failsafe" kernel.

Check it out here: http://www.microwerks.net/~hugo/

Mondo allows you to restore an entire filesystem or just particular paths, and the target partition does not have to be the same size as the source. This is great for migrating to larger disks, typical backup/recovery stategies etc.

Here's an article that may be of some use to you...its written by a fellow forum member, Aussie:

http://www.p-two.net/modules.php?op=...article&sid=12

Thanks a lot

Something else worth looking at also, is this:-

http://www.systemimager.org/

dnar -

You say you use mondo and backup to cdr. I noticed you use the rh8.0 distro (among others...) Do you use mondo to backup red hat 8.0 file systems and data? If so, do you have any (pre)advice for someone who plans on doing just that... the site for mondo mentions that red hat 8.0 and mandrake 9.0 can be problematic, what's your experience?

Anyone else have input on this?

Thanks
:D

Cloning is sure a hot topic. I think the President of the US in his speech talked about cloning. And now you... :D

;)

Cool

Sorry to bother but I think you are mistaken :
"this" President speaks mainly about clowning, not cloning :D

you can check out PartImage.. I belive this has all the fetures that NG has.. I have not tried this.. but it is on my list of things to look at... when ever I get time..

http://www.partimage.org/index.php3

Partimage seems to rock !

They event offer a RH8.0 RPM ready to install/use.

I say : Thanks !

These days, I tried the suggestions from members of this forum.

I found something, but I also got a lot of troubles.

Here, let me share something and ask some questions.

***************************************
I have tried the method of "direct copying" which posted on
http://www.p-two.net/modules.php?op=...article&sid=12

This method is raw but the idea is very simple. Create filesystem->copy all the data to the new drive->make a correct boot loader on the new drive -> reboot -> fiinish

However, I get error on it. When I boot the cloned disk, the system told me "Couldn't find matching filesystem: LABEL=/ "
I don't know why. I have totally followed the steps on that website.

*****************************************
I have tried to use "PartImage". It is a very cool tool. (that can challenge the leading position of Norton Ghost).
Actually, my original system has two kernels, one is the default kernel 2.4.18-3 which comes together with RedHat 7.3. The second one is my customized 2.4.20

But when I boot the restored disk. The kernel 2.4.18-3 works fine. But I can't load the 2.4.20. When I selected 2.4.20 in LILO, nothing can be loaded(even no error message) and the computer "RESET" itself. Big trouble??????

*****************************************
I have tried the Norton Ghost, I found that Ghost 2003 also work for kernel 2.4.18-3. (even Ghost said to create ext2 for me, but it also work, strange!?)

My new kernel 2.4.20---not work. Quite strange that the error situation is same as the "Partimage", nothing can be load and RESET computer itself.

********************************************

My head get crashed............Can any of you help me...........

I was in the same proces as you, although I used a different way to transfer the system. I stumbled on the same error message.

I did a search with Google and came up with this:

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...t3-create.html

Then I understood I had to set the label to match with the one in my /etc/fstab file.

So after the error was displayed my rh7.3 system asked me for the root password, and went in some kind of rescue mode.

then I did this:

/sbin/e2label /dev/hda1 /

Rebooted and all was good!

But I don't know if the setting it to / will help for you. I think (but am no expert) it has to be the same as on your old disk. If you still have your old disk and can boot it you can do:

/sbin/e2label /dev/hdxx
(fill in the right letter and number for the x's) to see how the label is set.

Hope this helps you.

Cheers

yes, Gahan, your method can solve the problem.

Instead, I also try to edit the fstab by myself.
I find that originally, the fstab map my "/" to "/".(very strange)

LABEL=/ / ext3 defaults 1 2

Then, I edit it to
/dev/hda1 / ext3 defaults 1 2

Then, all things get correct.

I think the problem is totally come from the incorrect mapping of "/", so that the system can't locate the root system.

Thanks,
Barry

Please advise me. I use SuSE OpenXchange 4.
 

Hi,

I visited the page :study: http://www.p-two.net/modules.php?op-...article&sid=12 (it's about Slackware. Can it do the same way in SuSE OpenXchange?


Thank you so much,

Clicking your link gave: "Sorry, you can't access this file directly...". What is SuSe OpenXchange?