What is best app. for cloning or ghosting a HDD used to recover OS

JDebianV · 12-04-2010, 10:35 PM

Running Debian Lenny 2.6.26 with xfce4 desktop and as I install packages and build up the system, I want to create a clone/ ghost image to be used to restore system if necessary. Linux Ghost, partimage or clonezilla, or ? something I can apt-get would be awesome. End result would be to boot from an external USB HDD to install/restore image. What is the best app. for this purpose?

hilyard · 12-04-2010, 11:57 PM

Don't know about "best," but it's what I use:
Clonezilla

Mr. Alex · 12-05-2010, 08:33 AM

I agree. Clonezilla does the thing pretty good.

teebones · 12-05-2010, 08:42 AM

what about "DD"?

Mr. Alex · 12-05-2010, 08:46 AM

dd copies the whole disk space while Clonezilla - only used space which makes the image file a lot smaller.

stress_junkie · 12-05-2010, 08:49 AM

I use partimage all the time. I use it when I first install an operating system. Then I make tar backups of the system from time to time. I use partimage because it is on the System Rescue CD so that the system isn't running when I make the original backup. (Partimage will not back up a mounted partition.)

I haven't tried Clonezilla. I wonder if it incorporates partimage. It sounds like the result is very similar.

jefro · 12-06-2010, 05:14 PM

I like G4U but it basically a dd with a choice of gzip over network but can be used over local.