Problems backing up system with DD

[AlliumPorrum]

Ok, trying to make a backup to sdb, but fsarchiver just gives an error message:

:~$ sudo fsarchiver -v -jn -zn -a -A savefs /dev/sdb1/xubuntu_backup.fsa /dev/sda1

fsarchiver.c#202,process_cmdline(): [n] is not a valid number of jobs. Must be between 1 and 32
====> fsarchiver version 0.6.17 (2013-02-25) - http://www.fsarchiver.org <====

What's wrong with my command now..? Tried to google it, but no hits.

[sudodus]

I think the easiest alternative is to buy a new pendrive with more memory than the source (several GB more), and use dd as you did originally. That is likely to work, as long as you check and re-check that there are no typing errors. Do not let dd act as 'disk destroyer'

Boot from one drive. Copy from a second drive (the source) to a third drive (the target).

[Iowan]

Another source of information on fsarchiver might be http://www.fsarchiver.org/forums/
(Not that you can't seek help here... )

[AlliumPorrum]

Ok, discussion is now continued here: http://www.fsarchiver.org/forums/vie...7&p=4362#p4362. Previous problem solved, and then to next one.

Damn I just can't use these OS's without a mouse, it seems that EVERYTHING is made really difficult for a newbie...

[oldfred]

If new partition, you need to take owership & give yourself permissions.

#if not known to list partitions, change sda5 to your data partition or create multiples with different mount points
# is comment, do not type
sudo parted -l
sudo mkdir /mnt/data
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/data
#where sda5 needs to be your drive, partition
sudo chmod -R a+rwX,o-w /mnt/data
# Note that the -R is recursion and everything is changed, do NOT run on any system partitions.
#All directories will be 775.
#All files will be 664 except those that were set as executable to begin with.
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /mnt/data


https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FilePermissions

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/mountlinux
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mount/

[AlliumPorrum]

Thanks oldfred, but it did not help:

~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/data
~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data
~$ sudo chmod -R a+rwX,o-w /mnt/data
~$ sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /mnt/data
~$ sudo fsarchiver -v -j4 -a -A savefs /dev/sdb1/xubuntu_backup.fsa /dev/sda1
[errno=20, Not a directory]: archwriter.c#116,archwriter_create(): cannot create archive /dev/sdb1/xubuntu_backup.fsa

[oldfred]

I do not know fsarchiver, but your /dev/sda1 is a device not a mount point.
Try using the mount you just created or /mnt/data.

sudo fsarchiver -v -j4 -a -A savefs /dev/sdb1/xubuntu_backup.fsa /dev/sda1

sudo fsarchiver -v -j4 -a -A savefs /dev/sdb1/xubuntu_backup.fsa /mnt/data

[AlliumPorrum]

But the mounting point I made according the instructions was for the destination, not for the source:

~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data

Sorry but I really have no idea about these "mounting points" or "devices", I just did what was suggested above. How can I find out what should I put for the destination and for the source?

[oldfred]

It looks like the first command must be a mount but the second can be a device.
http://www.fsarchiver.org/QuickStart
fsarchiver savefs /mnt/backup/gentoo-rootfs.fsa /dev/sda1

[monkeybrain20122]

Ok, trying to make a backup to sdb, but fsarchiver just gives an error message:

:~$ sudo fsarchiver -v -jn -zn -a -A savefs /dev/sdb1/xubuntu_backup.fsa /dev/sda1

fsarchiver.c#202,process_cmdline(): [n] is not a valid number of jobs. Must be between 1 and 32
====> fsarchiver version 0.6.17 (2013-02-25) - http://www.fsarchiver.org <====

What's wrong with my command now..? Tried to google it, but no hits.

Note you have to specify n, jn would be like j4 for 4 threads, zn would be something like z3 but you can ignore it since your file is small the lowest level of compression is ok. It is like x is algebra.