Howto: Backup with Partimage

[wieman01]

Hi Wieman,
great tutorial, in my humble opinion better than the manual partimage.
Nevertheless, I got stuck, and was wondering if somebody can help me out. I browsed through this long long long thread, but I did not find a direct answer to my problem. First question: is there any way to make a screenshot of partimage screens, for the diagnostic?

Anyway, these are my partitions.

Disk /dev/sda: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa3b85ee4

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 1274 10233373+ 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 1275 12815 92697600 6 FAT16
/dev/sda3 12816 23897 89016165 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 23898 24322 3399680 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda5 12816 16462 29294496 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 16463 16705 1951866 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 16706 23897 57769708+ 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 300.0 GB, 300090728448 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36483 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x55b3757d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 36483 293049666 82

Now, my ubuntu Hardy resides in sda3. I can't make an image of sda3 as it is extended. Then I'll make an image of sda5 and sda7.
sda6 is swap. I want to save the image in sdb1 (external harddrive) where I prepared a partition of 100 GB (more than enough, right? I tried to resize it many times...) for my linux. Following the tutorial, everything works fine up to the step of finalizing the backup. Then I got always a message saying basically
"Error! Cannot create temp file/backup/pi25c77812.tmp/ space is not enough and dont have access rights"

Eggstreamly grateful,

Acer/Hardy Heron/Core2Duo 2GHZ/NVIDIA8600/Maxtor3200
What file format is "sdb1"? A FAT32 system?

I have never seen this error message before, but perhaps the image you are pulling is greater than 3GB and conflicts with the constraints of FAT32.

Let me know what file system "sdb1" is and how you mounted is (i.e. the command you used). See you next week!

[wieman01]

Hi there,

I'm running Ubuntu 8.04.1 x64, and have a total of 2 Partimage backups residing in my / and /home directories. Every time I try to use Brasero to burn these images into a data DVD, Brasero gives me a "The file (backup_filename_here.000) is unreadable" error. I thought this was initially a permissions problem and thus ran Brasero as root, but this would result in a segmentation error (but strangely this would only happen if there is a blank dvd already inside).

Short of using an external HD and transferring these partimage backups, is there any other way of getting these off my internal HD?

Thanks for the help in advance.
Weird.

Using an external USB storage device would be the simplest solution if you ask me. If that's not an option, you could try to change ownership of the file. Use an unprivileged user and try to burn the image once again. Really sounds like a permission/ownership problem.

[nyarlatotheph]

Hi Wieman,

What file format is "sdb1"? A FAT32 system?

I have never seen this error message before, but perhaps the image you are pulling is greater than 3GB and conflicts with the constraints of FAT32.

Let me know what file system "sdb1" is and how you mounted is (i.e. the command you used). See you next week!

I have tried to partition again sdb: here you go
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 1274 10233373+ 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 1275 12815 92697600 6 FAT16
/dev/sda3 12816 23897 89016165 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 23898 24322 3399680 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda5 12816 16462 29294496 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 16463 16705 1951866 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 16706 23897 57769708+ 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 300.0 GB, 300090728448 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36483 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x55b3757d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 7649 61440561 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 7650 15298 61440592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 15299 22947 61440592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb4 22948 34723 94590720 7 HPFS/NTFS

I had tried again to transfer my sda5 to sdb4, getting the usual cannot create temp file error. The mount command I used was:
mount /dev/sdb4 /backup
I did not use any compression and I broke the files at the suggested size.
Any idea? Thanks in advance!

[nyarlatotheph]

Ehm...bump?

[wieman01]

Hi Wieman,

I have tried to partition again sdb: here you go
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 1274 10233373+ 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda2 * 1275 12815 92697600 6 FAT16
/dev/sda3 12816 23897 89016165 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 23898 24322 3399680 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/sda5 12816 16462 29294496 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 16463 16705 1951866 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 16706 23897 57769708+ 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 300.0 GB, 300090728448 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36483 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x55b3757d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 7649 61440561 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 7650 15298 61440592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 15299 22947 61440592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb4 22948 34723 94590720 7 HPFS/NTFS

I had tried again to transfer my sda5 to sdb4, getting the usual cannot create temp file error. The mount command I used was:
mount /dev/sdb4 /backup
I did not use any compression and I broke the files at the suggested size.
Any idea? Thanks in advance!
Problem seems to be that 'sdb' is an NTFS file system. So I guess RescueCD is complaining that it cannot write to it. Do you experience the same issue when you try to write stuff on an EXT2/3
hard-disk?

[nyarlatotheph]

Problem seems to be that 'sdb' is an NTFS file system. So I guess RescueCD is complaining that it cannot write to it. Do you experience the same issue when you try to write stuff on an EXT2/3
hard-disk?

Thanks wieman and apologies for my late answer...basically my Liteon power supply for the linux box exploded (!) and I am waiting for the replacement...Cheers

[Halibutt]

One thing nobody mentioned so far. Should partimage have problems reading or finding your backup files when restoring, you should start partimage in the directory where the files are located. In my case it involved
cd /media/External_hd/ubuntu_backup
sudo partimage

And then point the program to the file located in /media/External_hd/ubuntu_backup. I spent several hours trying to figure that out, hope it helps someone.
Cheers

[SilverWave]

I had a problem with restoring from a previously saved image.
This may have had nothing to do with partimage, it could have been caused by the usb drive it was stored on or the image could have been corrupted ...but that's exactly the point.

You need to do a full restore to ensure that the image you are depending on is actually valid!

This experience caused me to investigate other solutions that do not rely on a single vulnerable file (the all your eggs in one basket problem).

The best I have came up with is rsync. The link below will get you up and running in about 5 mins if you choose to go this route.

RLB (Rsync Local Backup). An easy way to backup your system (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=5740624#post5740624)

[PunisherP]

Wow, thank you! simulation credit (simulationcredit1.com)

[rmartinus]

Thanks.. I'll give this a try on my laptop!

[Wookiee]

Well, I've hit a snag.

After running for a minute or two, it gives an error message that the volume I'm trying to save to is full. But the drive is a nearly empty 1 TB drive! However, after rebooting and looking at the drive's contents, partimage hadn't saved anything to it.

It's an NTFS drive, if that makes a difference.

Yes, I'm certain I specified that particular drive as the target.

[wieman01]

Well, I've hit a snag.

After running for a minute or two, it gives an error message that the volume I'm trying to save to is full. But the drive is a nearly empty 1 TB drive! However, after rebooting and looking at the drive's contents, partimage hadn't saved anything to it.

It's an NTFS drive, if that makes a difference.

Yes, I'm certain I specified that particular drive as the target.
It's likely you haven't correctly mounted your HD. Could you check that once again? Sounds familiar.

[colau]

Well, I've hit a snag.

After running for a minute or two, it gives an error message that the volume I'm trying to save to is full. But the drive is a nearly empty 1 TB drive! However, after rebooting and looking at the drive's contents, partimage hadn't saved anything to it.

It's an NTFS drive, if that makes a difference.

Yes, I'm certain I specified that particular drive as the target.
You did not mount your partition where you would like to save your backup.
mount /dev/sdaX /mnt/backup

X is the value where you want to save the backed up file.

Then selecting the partition which you want to back up
typing
/mnt/backup/filename in the blue dialog press F5 then continue...

[Wookiee]

Yes, I did that. It's dev/sdc1.

[wieman01]

What does...
fdisk -l
...say?

[already710]

My thoughts and prayers are with you buddy. Everything will be ok, good luck!

simulation
credit (http://simulationcredit1.com)

[already710]

My thoughts and prayers are with you buddy. Everything will be ok, good luck!

simulation
credit (http://simulationcredit1.com)

[wieman01]

My thoughts and prayers are with you buddy. Everything will be ok, good luck!

simulation
credit (http://simulationcredit1.com)
Whatever...

[already710]

:popcorn:That's great work. Thank you so much for your valuable post
simulation credit (http://simulationcredit1.com)

[tedrogers]

Hi Wieman,

I've been using partimage now on a Linux System Rescue CD for some time now, and I love it. Very reliable. Very easy, once you know the steps.

However, I have got to a stage in my ubuntu life where I have a lot of media which bloat my backup, and I want to omit / exclude certain folders from my backup.

I have looked into this but can't find an option in partimage to do this.

Is there such a function to omit / exclude specific folders, or is there another backup application that might help?

I have looked into remastersys, but it's not that clear how to restore from any live .iso it will create and the exclude folder option seems flaky.

Thanks in advance.

[wieman01]

Hi Ted,

Nice to see you around. It's been a while.

No, Partimage won't be a good choice in this case. You could look into 'rsync' if you want to back up media and stuff like that. Used it before? I sort of prefer that to Partimage for non-system backups.

[tedrogers]

Hi Ted,

Nice to see you around. It's been a while.

No, Partimage won't be a good choice in this case. You could look into 'rsync' if you want to back up media and stuff like that. Used it before? I sort of prefer that to Partimage for non-system backups.

Hi wieman, it has been a while...guess I'm getting better these days! :) A sad fact about about needing less help is that you lose touch I guess. :(

I am glad to see you're still around though, serving the community and building your beans! LOL :D

No, I think you misunderstand me, I don't want to backup my media...I want to omit those folders and just backup my raw OS and applications, custom settings etc. My fault for not making it clearer.

I'd like partimage to be able to exclude folders like MUSIC, PICTURES, VIDEO and DOCUMENTS in the HOME directory.

So I guess it won't huh?

I will look into rsync though, but don't think it will do what I need.

[wieman01]

Hi wieman, it has been a while...guess I'm getting better these days! :) A sad fact about about needing less help is that you lose touch I guess. :(

I am glad to see you're still around though, serving the community and building your beans! LOL :D

No, I think you misunderstand me, I don't want to backup my media...I want to omit those folders and just backup my raw OS and applications, custom settings etc. My fault for not making it clearer.

I'd like partimage to be able to exclude folders like MUSIC, PICTURES, VIDEO and DOCUMENTS in the HOME directory.

So I guess it won't huh?

I will look into rsync though, but don't think it will do what I need.
I am sorry, Ted. It's late so I misread your post.

Partimage cannot do that afaik. However, you could create a separate partition for your media. That's what I do, so when I run Partimage it only backs up my system/home partitions. My actual data does not reside in /home but on a separate data partition.

Would that make sense?

Yeah, beans been going up, have to say I still enjoy my time in here. Would be nice to see you around a bit more. :-)

[tedrogers]

I am sorry, Ted. It's late so I misread your post.

Partimage cannot do that afaik. However, you could create a separate partition for your media. That's what I do, so when I run Partimage it only backs up my system/home partitions. My actual data does not reside in /home but on a separate data partition.

Would that make sense?

Yeah, beans been going up, have to say I still enjoy my time in here. Would be nice to see you around a bit more. :-)

Maybe I'll do that then Wieman...I'll need to spend some time with my friend gparted...but it should be possible. :)

Cheers bud!

[Nyken]

Just want to say thank you a billion times for this thread and for it letting me know this application exists! Been wanting a "Ghost" program for a long long looooong time, so major kudos to the Open Source community for thinking of this. If I can get EverQuest to really run with nothing but GNU apps, I will never have to go back to Windows again.

[wieman01]

I tried this method but my backup image got corrupted. How can I secure image?
Mmm... You mean recover your image? I am afraid I don't know a solution here.

[viking_maniac]

First of all, you don't need a rescue-CD. Just use your Ubuntu install-CD/DVD (Live).
I have a second partition (/misc), on there I put partimage and made a new folder for the images themselves.
I booted with the Ubuntu install disc and mounted the second partition. Note: do not mount the partition (main SDA1) that you're going to backup/restore.
Then i run /misc/pi/partimage from the terminal as sudo.
The GUI is simple and effective.
I did use the default compression without any problems during this test. No errors and things work well as far as I've tried to now.

It looks great and it will save you a lot of time. What I do miss, is a "verify volume" option like you have on Partition Magic and Norton Ghost for Windows. Though, of all the zillion times I've created and restored partitions on Windows, the verify never failed. But it would've given me more piece of mind--unless I'm missing something here.

I downloaded "partimage 0.6.7" from the package manager.

:)

[Mo (Beginner)]

Is it possible to burn DVD's with partimage?
I've made a backup of my main partition and I've saved it to an external hard drive, but if my computer crashes, isn't there a big chance this hard drive crashes also? I'm searching for a safe way to save the backup file, any other options are welcome too. :)