partimage for backup

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: partimage for backup
started by: robiwan

Posted by robiwan on Sep. 08 2005,07:45

Hi all Developers!

I resently noticed the "toram" option of DSL - and was suprised to miss the < Partimage > tool . I know that DSL is a Desktop-Dist. - but this tool is so small an essential to Desktop-Users too, that it should be a default app of DSL...

thanks

robiwan

Posted by green on Sep. 08 2005,14:44

qtparted is in the DSL repository, it may do what you are looking to do, and installs with just a click.

Posted by robiwan on Sep. 12 2005,10:54

Sorry, but qtparted ist a frontend to parted - a tool to change partitiontable. partimage is a backuptool. It can backup/restore alle data of a partition into one file (or to/from another partition)...

;-) robiwan

Posted by NotTheMama on Sep. 12 2005,12:06

A way to get it started is via < debian packages >. I sometime try software by downloading .deb files. In this case from the unstable tree. extract files via < 7zip > and try to run the program. If needed also download related packages. These are shown on the debian package page. In the case of partimage you probably need partimage, libslang2 and libstdc++6.

HTH.,

Remco

ps: To test is without putting libs in /usr/lib you can use the LD_LIBRARY_PATH enviroment (example: export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/tmp:/usr/lib if you put the slang and libstdc++ lib in /tmp) But be carefull! Read: < Why LD_LIBRARY_PATH is BAD! >

Posted by robiwan on Sep. 12 2005,12:52

thanks for the hint. But i don't want to fiddle about with deb files - just make a backup of my HD-partition to DVD-R/CD-R.

Never the less - thanks for the hint.

An easier way is to use the rescue.dsl from < http://www.adebenham.com/dsl/ > - but it is quite old and i need to make backups without connection to a network...

;-) robiwan

Posted by dmizzel on Sep. 14 2005,07:51

I think this might be as easy as it gets. It doesn't get you all the way to a backup burned on dvd, but that should be one more easy step from here.

< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....+fedora >

Good Luck!

Posted by Onyarian on Sep. 15 2005,07:08

robiwan,

I love partimage for the backups of my HDD's, there is a long time that I utilize it with other distributions like Suse.
For DSL I install it, the executable (no need of other libs), in /home/dsl/partimage, so it goes in the backup/restore file of DSL, and every time I launch DSL from my USB pendrive, I have it to make backups or to restore, like a rescue tool, of my desktopPC HDD's.
It's a little but essential program for me.

Perhaps is useful in this form for other people :;):

Onyarian.

Posted by robiwan on Sep. 15 2005,13:41

Hi (Onyarian)

thanks for you usefull posting. it is a real great idea for people which use DSL from a RW medium i.a. USB stick.

But i often start DSL on (old) PC's which cannot boot from USB but it can boot from CD-ROM. So i used to run DSL from a checkcard-CD-RW - small enough to have always with me.

In that case i have NO backup-tool to store i.a. a windows partition on a CD-R bevor i install DSL on this disc.

The easyest way is, that the maintainer of DSL include the partimage binary (just 1MB!!!) to the distro. As Onyarian said: no need of other libs

it would be gread if partimage in in version 1.6 available...

;-) robertwan

Posted by cbagger01 on Sep. 16 2005,03:57

Why not just add the partimage binary to your ISO file and then reburn the CD?

Or add the partimage binary to your USB drive or even floppy disk.

That is the purpose of the myDSL system.

It lets you customize your DSL livecd to run additional applications as needed, while keeping the base distro under 50MB in size.

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Sep. 16 2005,04:27

Use bzip2. It's better than partimage anyway.

# bzip2 -1c < /dev/hda > mybackup.img.bz2

creates the image

# bzip2 -dc < mybackup.img.bz2 > /dev/hda

restores it.

Copies it bit for bit, then compresses, so it works regardless of filesystem.

-J.P.

Posted by robiwan on Sep. 19 2005,13:29

Hi cbagger01...

Sorry for my question - but how can i add a binary to a ISO image. If i mount it with the loop device, i only can access RO to it....

;-) robiwan

Posted by cbagger01 on Sep. 19 2005,16:36

If you are using a USB or frugal install, the myDSL file location is at the root of the boot device, NOT inside the KNOPPIX compressed ISO image file.

Now if you wish to modify an livecd *.iso file and turn it into a customized myfile.iso, try using the mkmydsl script to do this.

Open an xterminal window and type:

sudo su
mkmydsl

and then follow the instructions.

If you wish to view the script contents, it is located at /usr/sbin/mkmydsl

Posted by -jl- on Sep. 22 2005,13:35

Quote (robiwan @ Sep. 08 2005,03:45)

Hi all Developers!

Yes, we REALLY need parimage. This tool is excelent..

-jl-

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Sep. 22 2005,14:26

Greetings~

Please read the < FAQ entry regarding requests for adding apps to the base ISO >!

Is Partimage small?

No, it's over a megabyte. Kinda chunky.

Does it add functionality that is not already possible with DSL's included tools?

Nope. Using bzip2 or even gzip, which are included in DSL, you can achieve the same effect. Sure, it's not nearly as sexy as partimage, but it is already included in DSL, easier to use with other distros you might find yourself working with in rescue situations (such as tomsrtbt), and gets the job done.

Besides, DSL is a desktop-oriented distro, not really a rescue distro, though it is used very often for that. More commonly used stuff gets priority, ya know.

-J.P.

Posted by cbagger01 on Sep. 23 2005,04:51

If you want a DSL-like livecd that is specifically aimed for the purpose of computer rescue, give

INSERT

a try. It is also a good project and is the right tool for the job.