Creating bootable loopmounted backups using Bubakup

[KubuntuKilledMe]

Is there a way to restore an archived backup straight to a partition without restoring it to the loopmounted bootable state first?

[tuxcantfly]

Is there a way to restore an archived backup straight to a partition without restoring it to the loopmounted bootable state first?

At the moment, no (the archives are simply the folder of the loopmounted bootable disk images compressed with 7z), though it could probably be done manually for now (loopmount the disk image, mount the target filesystem, rsync over, remove loopmounting patches, regenerate initrd), I'll try to get it implemented properly soon.

[donald7777]

I created the backup, and it added the loopback to grub so i can boot from it. However when i select it the first one does not work. So i go to the second selection and i see the ubuntu splashscreen then it stalls. please any help. Ill post my grub menu.

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
color green/black blink-light-green/black

#A splash image for the menu
splashimage=(hd0,3)/boot/grub/splashimages/matrix001.xpm.gz

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
## password --md5 $1$GyRO7$nz90opwBcrackZ8RIJ2Ff0/
# password topsecret
password --md5 $1$GyRO7$nz90opwBcrackZ8RIJ2Ff0
#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=349dc5ef-0e06-4b32-ba0a-45ff4459db7e ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,3)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=true

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=splash vga=791

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=1

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=349dc5ef-0e06-4b32-ba0a-45ff4459db7e ro splash vga=791
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic (recovery mode)
lock
root (hd0,3)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=349dc5ef-0e06-4b32-ba0a-45ff4459db7e ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,3)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Windows Vista
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


title Bubakup-20070830 # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
root (hd0,1) # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
configfile /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830


title Bubakup-20070830 # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
root (hd0,5) # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
configfile /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830


oh the partition the the bukakup is restored to is hda6 so im wondering if this is the problem


title Bubakup-20070830 # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
root (hd0,1) # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
configfile /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830


title Bubakup-20070830 # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
root (hd0,5) # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830
configfile /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst # This line contains information for Bubakup-20070830

[tuxcantfly]

hmm real strange that it created 2 menu entries, and the first one appears to point to the wrong place... (exactly what does data and filesystem does partition 2 of your hard drive contain anyhow, and where is it mounted? that menu entry isn't supposed to be there) the second one is right though (in grub numbering partition first partition is 0)

anyhow, I'd suggest removing the "splash" portion of the menu.lst on the grub configfile at /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst on /dev/hda6 (it'll be at the end of the kernel /bbk... etc... line), and trying booting it again that'll give some more useful info, if that still doesn't give anything, then also remove the "quiet" portion as well (in the same menu.lst file at /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst), and post whatever output it gives...

also could you post /bbk20070830/boot/grub/menu.lst on /dev/hda6 (mount it first if it isn't mounted yet), it might also be borked...

[donald7777]

ok ill try that. ill post what happens. thankyou

[donald7777]

ok here is my bubakup grub menu.lst


# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 0

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 //
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/hda6 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,5)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu
root (hd0,5)
kernel /bbk20070830/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic find=/bbk20070830/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic ro
initrd /bbk20070830/boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.

title Ubuntu (Original Kernel)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /bbk20070830/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic find=/bbk20070830/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic ro
initrd /bbk20070830/boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
boot

[donald7777]

ok it stalled out at detecting the usb hub (internal) than it continnued and ended up with this:

Check root= bootarg cat /proc/cmdline
or missing modules, devices: cat proc/modules ls /dev
ALERT! does not exist. Dropping to a shell!

BusyBox v1.1.3 (Debian 1:1.1.3-3ubuntu3) Built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built in commands.

/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off
(initramfs)

[tuxcantfly]

hmm that's strange, the menu.lst looks fine, so it can't be that, are you by any chance using RAID (setups using RAID are really problematic to get working properly with this)? and did you need to use any particular hacks (noapic, noacpi, etc.) to get your original ubuntu install working normally?

anyhow, I'm kind of running out of ideas here, maybe it might have been some issue during the backup generation, maybe just delete your backup using the "delete backup" option, and create a new backup, only when doing so, run bubakup from the command line (gksudo bubakup) rather than from the menu, and post the output it gives on the terminal while generating the backup?

[donald7777]

ok ill scrap it and remake it. thanks for your help.

[skyttan]

This look interesting!

I have always liked live systems you can boot up on more then one computer. Right now I am using PuppyLinux on my 1GB Corsair USB memory (and I'm pretty happy with that btw). If I have understood this right, can I use Bubakup to "copy" my system on a USB hard drive and boot from it on my computer with exactly the same enviroment? (only slower I understand)
And what's more interesting, is this inplented in Ubuntu 7.10 ?! That would be awesome.... Stabile desktop-effects and "coopy-your-system-to-another-device-and-boot-from-it" !