Partimage backup a Mini Howto for linux. (I am using ubuntu 7.04 and kde) :-) Back to Main Page
This is a very short version, and if you want to know more, go to the Internet etc.
This howto is without any guarantee, and you may use it on your own responsibility only.
There may be errors, but I do not want to use too much time to write this howto.
To check specific words you may try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (search).
Index Of Page:
best to use SystemRescueCd live cd
use an external usb harddisk to backup to
usb device
When restoring a backup
easy way to partition a harddisk
to backup partition hda5 do following
"partimage" - enter
To restore a backup
Partimage is a program for making backup's of whole partitions.
I find it best to use SystemRescueCd live cd, which among other tools
also has the Partimage program installed, so you need to get this
downloaded and burned to a live cd - see my "download_iso_howto".
I use an external usb harddisk to backup to - and prefer to have only
one big partition on this, as it is easier to use for newbies.
If you only have one usb device active at a time (means connected and
switched on), it will always be /dev/sda1 (always connect directly to
the
usb port, without using any divider hub, as the speed can decrease considerably).
When restoring a backup with Partimage, the partition to restore to
must be of the same size as backup partition, even if only a smaller
part
contains data (e.g. a partition of 20 GiB with 6 GiB of data) - this means the restore partition must also be 20 GiB.
An easy way to partition a harddisk is to use "gparted" (see my "gparted_howto").
In order to backup partition hda5 do following
(just examples):
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Start computer - after beep press "Pause" button (top right of
keyboard) - open cd slot - insert SystemRescueCd - close cd slot -
enter.
At boot prompt "boot:" press enter (F1 - F4 gives various help screens).
At "Load key maps" insert your country's 2 key code as shown: e.g.
for US just press enter, or for Denmark insert dk (or 11) -
enter, etc.
At /root % "su" enter (login as "su" user).
At # "startx" enter (starts graphics mode).
Opens up an xterm (shell konsole).
Connect -and switch on the external usb harddisk (wait a little while then):
In xterm write "mkdir /media" - enter (means make directory "/media" - or create a folder by the name /media):
# means su (super user)
Then further in the xterm write following lines one at a time (do not write the " signs:
"df -h" - enter (shows the device name of the external harddisk "sda1" among others)
"mount /dev/sda1 /media" - enter (mount the "/dev/sda1" device on the "/media folder")
"cd /media" - enter (change directory to the "/media" folder)
"pwd" - enter (present working directory - just for
information)
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"ls" - enter (lists the folders on the external harddisk - just for your information)
Now to make a folder by the name partimages on the external harddisk write:
"mkdir /media/partimages" - enter (means make a folder by the name "partimages" in the /media folder)
"ls" - enter (list contents of present folder - for information only)
"partimage" - enter (starts the paritimage program:
Partition to save: hda5 (the name of the partition to backup, selected
with the "arrow keys" - tab)
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Image file to create: /media/partimages/name_of_image_file ("name_of_image_file" file saved into the "/media/partimages folder"
Others leave as is - then press "F5":
Compression level: None (option selected with the "space" key - you move between options with the "tab" key).
When you use the option "None" the backup data will not be compressed,
but in return the backup will be very fast (7 GiB ~ 7 minutes)
Note that the image file will be split in bits of 2037 MiB each, if file is bigger than this (can be changed if you like)
Other leave as is - and then press "F5" (Continue):
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Here you can insert some descriptive text about the image file (some sample text inserted) - then tab - "OK" - enter
Then the backup will be calculated and made ready:
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Above is a sample (from some other backup) just to show.
When you press enter, the backup begins:
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The backup is going on (an example from another backup, just to show), and when finished you get a result window:
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(An example only).
If the backup was split, the names of the files would end in .000 for
the first split file, .001 for the second split file etc.
To restore a backup,
the procedure is the same, except when using
partimage.
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First you must have a partition of the same size as the backuped
partition (if the backuped partition was 20 GiB and the data 7 GiB, the
partition to backup to should be 20 GiB).
When Partimage is started you first must select the partition to
restore to ("Partition to save/restore") "hda5" (or another partition
of the
proper size, e.g. the above mentioned 20 GiB).
"Image file to create/use" should in the above backup example be
"/media/partimages/name_of_image_file.000 (the one with the
extension .000) - "Action to be done" choose "Restore partition from an
image file" - other options do not change - then press the "F5" button.
Compression level "None" (same as used at the backup) - other options do not change - then press the "F5" button.
The last dialogs just check, and confirm with "OK" - enter
(please use your common sense), and then the restore should begin.
Normal use would be to restore to same partition as the one the backup was done from.
Note: When a newbie, it is most safe only to use hda1, hda2, hda3 and
hda4 for installations - in mentioned order, and all as primary
partitions (see my gparted_howto).
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8/2007