Does 'restore' really work in 0.9.2?

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Does 'restore' really work in 0.9.2?
started by: gaslightjoe

Posted by gaslightjoe on Jan. 10 2005,01:17

After downloading the syslinux iso of dsl 0.9.2, I realized that my hard disk install would not boot. I got the dreaded 'LI' when lilo tried to boot up.

So after this setback, I decided to try to use hda3 as my restore location. I followed the instructons as written in the quick start that pops up whenever you boot dsl. I diddled the settings a few times, but on each reboot the same darn desktop appears. I'm slowly concluding that restore does not work as I assume it should.

What am I doing wrong?

Posted by mikshaw on Jan. 10 2005,03:53

What are you doing?

Restore may not work as you assume it should, but it does work.
As an example, I have a small partition dedicated to DSL, hda4. On this partition I have an 'optional' directory in which I put all my extensions, except a couple I want auto-loaded, placed in the root of the partition.
Also in the root of the partition I have an archive named 'backup.tar.gz' (the name of this file is important...DSL looks for this file while booting). The archive has the same type of structure as a tar.gz extension.../opt, /home, and /tmp files with proper directory structure and ownership.
That's it as far as restore goes. Keep in mind that by default DSL will overwrite this backup file with whatever is listed in ~/filetool.lst, so you'll definitely want to either edit or remove this file before reboot/shutdown.

Posted by gaslightjoe on Jan. 10 2005,04:06

I see the backup.tar.gz on my restore partition, too,
and I've looked at the its contents which shows various
files.

"Keep in mind that by default DSL will overwrite this backup file with
whatever is listed in ~/filetool.lst." -mikshaw

So must I delete the ~/filetool.lst after each bootup and unzip the
backup.tar.gz to re-establish my configurations?

Posted by mikshaw on Jan. 10 2005,04:27

No...DSL should automatically find and extract the archive if it's located in the root of a readable partition.

If you have the same files/directories listed in filetool.lst as those in the backup.tar.gz, you'll get the same files backed up. If you want to continue using the exact same archive every time you boot you can comment out the backup line in /opt/powerdown.sh and add that file to your archive.

"various files" doesn't explain a lot...do these files have the right directory structure in the archive, and do they have appropriate ownership? Everything should be owned by root except for the files in /home/dsl and below, which should be owned by dsl.

Posted by a2d2 on Jan. 10 2005,20:04

..JOE

...did you install My-DSL's "gnu-utils.dsl".?

see my post in: "HD Install ť DLS-hd with -not detected partition-"

had some of these starting-probs while I started here these days.first with 0.9.1...

...now 0.9.2 runs quick like a fox from hd on both of my puters, just printing is a lill tricky, ..but I try day by day

Posted by Caspar_s on Jan. 11 2005,02:01

Are you specifying the restore location?
dsl restore=hda3

Posted by durbnpoisn on Jan. 15 2005,23:57

My experience... (May or may not be of help.)

I run DSL on my laptop. The second partition (D:\ in Windows) is where I back up my files to. It's called hda5 when seen from DSL.

Why? I dunno... I suppose it has to deal with what order the devices are seen from the BIOS.

In anycase... I told it to back up to that volume only once. Restored from that volume... And now, when I shut down DSL, it automatically backs up to hda5. And just recently, I set the syslinux.cfg on my boot device (floppy) to automatically run the restore at boot up (so I don't have to type it).

For all intents and purposes my laptop runs 100% as a duel boot.

Posted by gaslightjoe on Jan. 20 2005,14:40

Yes, I'm convinced: restore does work!

When I first tried the restore technique, I did not fully
understand the importance of filetool.lst to a successful
recreation of the workspace.

It's unfortunate that the default filetool.lst does not backup
ALL /home/dsl files and directories, especially .xinitrc, so
the user can see previous configuration changes at bootup.

On re-reading them, the directions on restore are complete
enough to get it working, but, for newbie users, you might want
to include a short recipe emphasizing the pre-eminence of
filetool.lst. My short recipe would be something like:

1. Load dsl restore=hda3 mydsl=hda3 --- choose your own partition
2. Edit /home/dsl/filetool.lst:
- add, at a minimum, .xinitrc so your X changes will be
remembered.
- Add any other files and directories that you want to track to
filetool.lst

3. Reboot

Thanks for everyone for your assistance on this topic.