On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 8:41 PM, David Christensen < dpchr...@holgerdanske.com> wrote:
> On 01/15/2015 07:19 PM, Kevin O'Gorman wrote: > >> I'm trying to develop a reliable backup method that does not use >> proprietary tools or formats, and is free as in beer. I thought I had it, >> but i just tried a restore, and it's a miserable failure. I wonder if >> anyone here can point out the error of my ways. >> >> I have a tar backup of the entire system, excluding /sys, /proc and /dev. >> I have a tar backup of a bind-mount of /dev. >> These were taken while the system was running, but quiet. I did it this >> way because I cannot get the system to boot into single user mode. >> Putting >> "single" on the end of the "linux" like results in a black screen. >> >> I restored these, created /sys and /proc, and tried to boot the resulting >> partition. It boots, but X does not come up, or even seem to try. I can >> do a console login to my usual account, and stuff is there. >> >> I'm quite clueless as to why this is happening. I could sure use some >> help. >> > > There are two basic kinds of "backups": > > 1. File system -- e.g. a copy of the files and directories on an mounted > and operating drive. > > 2. Raw binary image -- e.g. a copy of the bytes on a drive taken when the > drive is powered, but the partitions, volumes, file systems, etc., are not > mounted. > > > For system drives, the former won't work; you need the later. I connect a > large hard drive (to hold the images), boot Debian installation media into > rescue mode, and use 'dd' to backup/ restore system drive raw binary images. > > I was hoping for some details on why this won't work on system drives, or conditions under which it just might. Another user has suggested I read https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem/TAR which suggests that it actually should work. > > HTH, > > David > -- Kevin O'Gorman #define QUESTION ((bb) || (!bb)) /* Shakespeare */ Please consider the environment before printing this email.
