backup all pclos 2012 [resolved but still accept idea]

[rise82]

Hi..... im using pclinuxos-lxde-2012.01 from the start then i update all need to be update until now... so much different in appearance, the widgets much change etc... (looks comfortable ). Now the question... is there a software to backup all your system & repro? So incase my hard drive crash i can bring back my OS without download the old update. (Like on windows OS you can create ghost image & bring it back). So any advice for this ?
Thanks before...

[OldGuy]

How about making a remaster?  That's what I do, every so often.  So if my computer is down I can reload after fixing.  Or I just want to take my current system (remaster to a DVD) and load it on my laptop without any loss of data, or setups.

[rise82]

Is it like create image file or using some software? im still noobs here if u dont mind give me some guide to do it from 1st till the end   (I learn linux all from forum none from book or teacher  )
Thanks before...

[horusfalcon]

For a backup of your base operating system, OldGuy is right about making a remaster. so long as your hardware supports media with enough capacity (*cough* double-layer *cough*).  It's a great way to back a system up because you can even boot from it to check that it works.

[EDIT:]  Some good info on remastering may be found here.

If you're more comfortable making an image backup, Clonezilla Live or Redo Backup are both excellent - Redo is a bit easier for the beginner, but Clonezilla is more versatile.  Both are Linux live CDs that act as front ends of a sort to Parted oops, I meant partclone, and create disk images (Clonezilla can also do separate images of partitions, too.)  I use Clonezilla Live at work to backup a Windows Server 2008 installation - it works great.  Very fast, very reliable.  Redo is equally reliable (uses the same backend technology) but images made with Clonezilla and Redo are not directly interchangeable - I suspect some minor renaming would do the trick but I haven't take the time to experiment with it yet.

If multi-cast is something you need, look at Clonezilla SE.  You have to set up a DRBL server, but I believe PCLinuxOS will support this from the repos.  (Full disclosure:  I haven't tried this yet...)

Whichever way you decide to go, you've taken an excellent first step:  knowing you need to backup is half the battle.

Later On,
D

  

[rise82]

thanks for the fast reply   wow new info about remastering... new knowledge to learn 
ill try clonezilla since its already on repos... hmmm ill try experiment using redo backup too after i success using clonezilla

Anyways thanks for the advice 

[johnmart]

Hey rise82,
Don't be scared off of remastering using mylivecd too quickly.
It runs with a simple one line command & will give you an iso image you can keep as a backup, or burn a cd/dvd to make a livecd from your updated, tweaked system, or make a bootable usb.
My only warning is that is is very addictive. 

[horusfalcon]

Hey rise82,
Don't be scared off of remastering using mylivecd too quickly.
It runs with a simple one line command & will give you an iso image you can keep as a backup, or burn a cd/dvd to make a livecd from your updated, tweaked system, or make a bootable usb.
My only warning is that is is very addictive. 

Let me +10 this.  Knowing how to use mylivecd is a valuable skill for a PCLinuxOS user.  It doesn't seem all that addictive to me, though, since I primarily use it for just backing up a base "reference" install on a new system once all the post-install customizations are done.  Having a live disk that runs and looks and feels just like your regular desktop environment can be a real comfort in a data recovery situation.  Something I've been exploring lately is using a live USB external hard drive to boot laptops at work for data recovery.  I'll jot back when I know more about that, but it does look promising.

Huh... I'm wondering if the Clonezilla package in the repos is Server Edition (looks like it).  Definitely try Live first - there's no setup since it boots the target machine from a CD, and doesn't require a DRBL server.  You'd be well served, in any case, to go to the Clonezilla site and do some light reading, as Clonezilla is quite versatile and powerful.  There are different flavors of Live supporting different hardware, everything from an i486 on up to an amd64.  (The amd64 release also supports intel core architectures such as CoreDuo, Core2Duo, Core2Quad, i3, i5, and i7.)  If you just want something really generic, try the i686 release, as it works with everything post-486 (but it won't use multi-core optimizations).  Live-generated images work with Server Edition, from what I understand.  (Haven't had to try that yet.)

Having a wider array of tools in your box is a good thing.  It gives you more than one way to skin any particular cat, and also gives you something to do (learn how to use new tools) when you're bored and have some free time.  Win-win.

Later On,
D

[johnmart]

It doesn't seem all that addictive to me, though, since I primarily use it for just backing up a base "reference" install on a new system once all the post-install customizations are done.

Same for me, plus I use my mylivecd remastered iso's to make LiveUSB flash disks. I suppose that is the addicting part. I make multi-boot disks with other pclinuxos iso's. LXDE, XFCE etc. Mostly for testing & play.
Though I long ago found that mylivecd fit my backup needs fine & never tried anything else.  

[horusfalcon]

It doesn't seem all that addictive to me, though, since I primarily use it for just backing up a base "reference" install on a new system once all the post-install customizations are done.

Same for me, plus I use my mylivecd remastered iso's to make LiveUSB flash disks. I suppose that is the addicting part. I make multi-boot disks with other pclinuxos iso's. LXDE, XFCE etc. Mostly for testing & play.
Though I long ago found that mylivecd fit my backup needs fine & never tried anything else.  

Not to hijack the thread, but it sounds like you and I need to talk for a bit.  You have experience to bring off a project I've been wanting to do for a while now and not had time to pursue - I wanted to produce a multi-boot Live DVD with all the flavors of PCLinuxOS on it (well, as many as will fit, anyhow) as a promotional tool for use at installfests and LUG meetings.  Shoot me a PM if you're interested in schoolin' me some, please.

Later On,
D

[Xenaflux]

If you do, I can possibly help testing, if needed

[rise82]

wow clonezilla from pclos repos (Clonezilla SE i think) need some configuration from DRBL server which i dont know how to do it/lack knowledge, and for remastering im still study about it and still scared to use it 
Now im try redo backup (still in download progress) since my DL speed so suck (214mb for 6 hour) i have to wait in long time 
For clonezilla live, if my spec acer AO 722 amd dual core c60 which file should i use? clonezilla-live-1.2.12-10-amd64.iso or clonezilla-live-1.2.12-10-i486.iso or clonezilla-live-1.2.12-10-i686-pae.iso both are bigger file for me at least....
Btw should i add solved to my subject title ?
Thanks before...

[Xenaflux]

know how to do it/lack knowledge

For Clonezilla there are numerous tutorials on the web .
Use google to find them.
The tutorials are very clear , detailed and picturized.

If you can't find them, give me a shout, I'll dig them up for you

[Just17]

....
 I wanted to produce a multi-boot Live DVD with all the flavors of PCLinuxOS on it (well, as many as will fit, anyhow) as a promotional tool for use at installfests and LUG meetings.  Shoot me a PM if you're interested in schoolin' me some, please.

Later On,
D

PCLinuxos-LiveUSB Creator does it for you on removable drives .....  you just keep adding new flavours of PCLOS until you run out of room or out of flavours.

It can be done manually for optical media .....

[djohnston]

wow clonezilla from pclos repos (Clonezilla SE i think) need some configuration from DRBL server which i dont know how to do it/lack knowledge, and for remastering im still study about it and still scared to use it 

rise82,

Clonezilla from the repos can run in live mode or multicast (from a server). You don't need a separate server to use the repo package. Here's the pertinent Synaptic description:

Two types of Clonezilla are available, Clonezilla live and Clonezilla SE (Server Edition). Clonezilla live is suitable for single machine backup and restore.

You run either version by starting with a single command, which must be run as user root:

/opt/drbl/sbin/clonezilla

You can get an overall idea of the program's operation from the following two screenshots. (NOTE: start the terminal in full screen to see all of the content in the dialog boxes.)






I would suggest a two-pronged approach. Consider your system files as one part of a backup plan and your data files as the second part. For backing up your system, I highly recommend the PCLinuxOS mylivecd program or the PCLinuxOS LiveUSB creator program. Both can be used to create bootable mediums that can be used to completely restore your system with configuration files and extra installed programs all intact. Both are easy to learn and use.

Learning all the clonezilla options, along with what works and what doesn't, can be a daunting task. In addition, with clonezilla, you have to do a full restore of a backup in order to determine if everything's working and set up right. With both mylivecd and liveusbcreator, you can test boot from the CD or USB immediately after you have created it to verify it's working. Neither method requires a restore to verify a working backup. If the medium boots, you can use it to restore your tweaked system.

You can backup all your data files (not required by the system) by using a point and click GUI like LuckyBackup, which is a front end for rsync. The data files can be stored on external medium, such as a local disk drive. You can even backup and restore to and from network drives. You can also do incremental backups of your data, which only adds to the backup that which is new or changed since the last backup. There are other backup programs available besides LuckyBackup. I've just found it the easiest to use. And, it has lots of documentation.

[horusfalcon]

Wow... this is what I love about this bunch.  I'm glad to know the version of Clonezilla in the repos will run in local unicast mode, too.  Should have been obvious if I had stopped to think about it.

@rise82:  From this, and from your specs, it sounds like your best bet is to try the repo version (if you have it installed already) unless you need the ability to image other systems, too.  The most generic Live CD (that covers the widest hardware range) is the i686.  The amd64 only covers 64-bit hardware, and the only advantage it has is the multi-core optimizations make it a bit faster.  Personally, I haven't played with the AMD C-Series processors at all, so, if bandwidth is at a premium, go with the i686.  What you lose in speed you will gain in versatility (everything Pentium Pro and later should run it equally well). i486 is only for older 32-bit hardware.

Redo Backup is a good, simple tool, and I think will do everything you're needing unless you need multi-cast.  In that case, hit the Server Edition documentation at clonezilla.org and do the configuration work to get DRBL up and running (there is a DRBL package in the repos that should have installed and been already working, though, when you installed Clonezilla... hmm.)

If you decide to do the Live CD thing with Clonezilla, the docs are here.  Plenty of screenshots, and good detail on getting started.  Remember i686.

As so many have already said, learning to use mylivecd is worth doing.  I've only used it for basic stuff as I explained earlier, but it can be quite useful and versatile.

Talk to all y'all...

Later On,
D