How to copy partition everyday to a image

miros84 · 09-01-2009, 09:28 AM

Hello
I have 2 partitions on my hard disk
1. sda1 is ext3 partitoins with MINT linux
2. sda2 ntfs partitions with my files and movies

I want to copy, make backup of my sda1 partitions and store it to file (image) in some folder in sda2.
In windows I have made that many times with Acronis and ghost, but I dont know how to make it in MINT.
I want to make a backup from sda1 to file in sda2 every 3 nights.
Is there some manual that explain that. I am very new to Linux

ongte · 09-01-2009, 09:46 AM

I suggest using partimage to do the imaging. Crontab for scheduling.

nuwen52 · 09-01-2009, 10:17 AM

One thing that worries me is that you are writing to a Windows drive. I checked the partimage website, and they do say how to do it, but caution you against it. If you have to write to the windows partition, I'd continue using ghost in Windows. Just my 2 cents worth.

If the purpose is to get backups of your partitions, I'd probably use an external hard drive anyway. Format it with ext2/3 and you can store the images there. You can even use that to backup your windows partition(s) also.

ongte · 09-01-2009, 06:28 PM

Fortunately partimage works fine writing to an NTFS partition. I've used it quite alot myself.

miros84 · 09-02-2009, 12:38 PM

Yes, but with partimage you cannot schedule it, right?
I want to be automaticly

mdg · 09-02-2009, 12:50 PM

I use rsnapshot, it takes a bit of work to set up, but once it's done you can forget about it.

From rsnapshot site:

Quote:

rsnapshot is a filesystem backup utility based on rsync. Using rsnapshot, it is possible to take snapshots of your filesystems at different points in time. Using hard links, rsnapshot creates the illusion of multiple full backups, while only taking up the space of one full backup plus differences. When coupled with ssh, it is possible to take snapshots of remote filesystems as well. This document is a tutorial in the installation and configuration of rsnapshot.

miros84 · 09-02-2009, 01:06 PM

Hello mdg
Does this program can do backup during you use (run) Linux as ghost or acronis?

mdg · 09-02-2009, 01:09 PM

If you mean does it run in the background, then yes it does.

The scheduling part is handled by cron. I set mine to run in the small hours of the morning, as my system tends to slow down a bit when the backup runs.

miros84 · 09-02-2009, 01:21 PM

No, I mean, if I have linux running in sda1, can I do backup from sda1 to sda2 running Linux? Can I backup currently partition?

mdg · 09-02-2009, 01:31 PM

Yes , you can. Keep in mind there are some things you don't want to back up in a currently running system, eg: /dev, /mnt.

edit:after reading your question again, for the sake of clarity, if sda2 is part of the same system that is running on sda1, I'm not sure that would work. I assumed sda2 was a partition which was not active at the same time as sda1.

If you're doing this to backup data, it doesn't make sense to backup to the same drive. If your drive breaks, it takes your backup with it.

miros84 · 09-02-2009, 01:42 PM

And if I have some image done, and I cannot run Linux, can I copy then this image, so I can restore my Linux?

mdg · 09-02-2009, 01:51 PM

I use it to backup data that is important to me. I don't know if it could be used to re-install (as a mirror image). Take a look at their website.

If my system was so broken that I had no way of fixing it, I would prefer to re-install from the install disk, rather than trust a backup of system files that would probably contain all the errors that collapsed the system originally.

miros84 · 09-02-2009, 01:53 PM

I installed it, but I dont know how to run it.
Can you tell me how can I open it?

mdg · 09-02-2009, 02:01 PM

The rsnapshot how-to will tell you what you need to know. It takes some configuring to get it set up. Read up on what needs to be done and post any specific questions you may have.