When I try to do a backup using yast2 backup, it always fails saying that the target disk can’t hold 256Terabytes of backup… Which is really odd since there is only 44G total on my system. Trying to backup to an external 1T drive with 995G free. I’m letting it exclude my /mnt and /media mount points that have 300G+ stored.
Has anyone seen or heard of this issue?
Honestly, I never use the Yast backup. Can’t see the point.
So, what’s your tool(s) of choice?
If you are familiar with partition/disk imaging as a backup mode, then try Clonezilla Live CD (it is similar to Norton Ghost/Acronis TrueImage, but much more powerful).
Radified Community Forums - Clonezilla Live CD - an OS (Open-Source) Imaging & Clone tool
If you are more comfortable with GUI-based utility, then go for ‘Back in time’ (Back In Time) or lucky backup / fwbackups.
However,image backups offer a more complete method since they can backup the MBR (Master Boot Record) & Master File Table (Partition Table) as well. This can be useful if you mess-up your GRUB, for example.
I don’t do this kind of backup.
All my /home is backed up, synched to a external backup.
And some of my root config files for things like ssh.
That’s all I need. If I had a need to restore my system, it would be a re-install. Much quicker - I’d be back to normal within the hour.
The Yast backup is a good idea in theory: you don’t need to backup everything that’s part of the openSUSE installation (and official updates) but only that which was altered since installation, so really it achieves much the same as caf4926’s strategy. Unfortunately, it’s all theory as I never managed to get it to work: it pretends to make a backup and then doesn’t, with no error messages.
Using Back in Time now.
What is the partition type of that external drive ?
All partitions are EXT3
Hi, I just installed opensuse on my laptop to test it.
I’m satisfied and I’d like to create an image to keep all the setting and the software installed.
I need an image of the system that can be installed like a new linux (I think it’s possibile to do this with remastersys, but only on Ubuntu), but I have to install on a computer with already Windows Xp and Vista installed (I have a triple-boot).
Can I use clonezilla live cd to make it? Or can you advice me with another software?
Thank you very much.
@Shaikailash
I have been doing image backups for about 4-5 years now (an excellent PC backup strategy](http://ghost.radified.com/) irrespective of what others may think) - earlier with Win XP & now with Windows XP + Linux; and have used Norton Ghost 2003, Acronis TrueImage and Clonezilla Live CD so far. Of these three, I have found Clonezilla-Live to be the best image backup utility, which also happens to be ‘free’ (as in “beer” + “freedom”), since it is FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software).
Based on my experience, I can give a hearty two thumbs-up (possibly more, but have to restrict for anatomical reasons) to Clonezilla-Live CD. My experience w/ the Clonezilla Live CD are at the thread here alngwith links to further info:
Radified Community Forums - Clonezilla Live CD - an OS (Open-Source) Imaging & Clone tool
You might also want to read the review of Clonezilla posted at the link above.
Before proceeding w/ Clonezilla, for a new user, it would be good to read the Quick-Reference Card (available in .odt and .pdf formats)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/clonezilla/files/clonezilla_live_doc/QuickReference%20Card%20v.0.9.4/ClonezillaLiveRefCard_EN_0.9.4.odt/download, because the interface is rather plain (only keyboard can be used to select and navigate through the menus) unlike Norton Ghost or True Image, which allow use of mouse-clicks.
PS
http://ghost.radified.com/
Radified Guide to Backup via Hard Drive Imaging + Disk Cloning
Since you mention that the Linux image is for deployment on a new system, it might/might not be compatible w/ the new PC (though probably the former since the kernel will auto-adjust to the hardware
) depending on whether the new hardware config is same/different than the earlier one.
Be sure to backup essential data before proceeding with imaging.
Clonezilla will do the job. But honestly, on a Linux Desktop Box it’s not really necessary or practical to do as you intend.