backup in linux/ubuntu

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chris789
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:12 am

backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by chris789 »

I installed TeraByte Image for Linux and am unable to select a drive to backup other than creating a virtual drive. Is there a way to backup while running linux like you can in Windows or must I boot with a linux CD. I'm using Ubuntu 11.10.

Thanks,
Chris
TeraByte Support(TP)
Posts: 305
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:22 pm

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by TeraByte Support(TP) »

On 04/10/2012 10:05 PM, chris789 wrote:
> I installed TeraByte Image for Linux and am unable to select a drive
> to backup other than creating a virtual drive. Is there a way to
> backup while running linux like you can in Windows or must I boot
> with a linux CD. I'm using Ubuntu 11.10.
>
> Thanks, Chris
>
>

IFL is only intended to be used to back up drives/partitions that aren't
mounted (because files will be changing during the backup), so it is
recommended to boot from IFL boot media to image a distro such as Ubuntu.

The problem you're having with not being able to select a drive is a
separate issue, and most likely because you are running IFL as a user,
and that user is not a member of the 'disk' group. You can resolve that
a couple of ways:

1. Run IFL with the sudo command: 'sudo ./imagel', from a terminal from
the directory that you extracted IFL to.

2. Add the user to the 'disk' group. You can do that by editing the file
/etc/group with the command 'sudo nano /etc/group', adding the user name
to the end of the 'disk' line (e.g. disk:x:6:username), saving the file,
and then logging the user out and back in again for the change to take
affect.


--
Tom Pfeifer
TeraByte Support
chris789
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:12 am

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by chris789 »

In windows I can run Image Backup while the drives are mounted. How am I able to do this if Linux drives need to be unmounted?

Thanks,
Chris
TeraByte Support(TP)
Posts: 305
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:22 pm

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by TeraByte Support(TP) »

On 04/11/2012 01:52 PM, chris789 wrote:
> In windows I can run Image Backup while the drives are mounted. How
> am I able to do this if Linux drives need to be unmounted?
>
> Thanks, Chris
>
>

In order to get a reliable image backup of your Ubuntu partition(s),
you'll need to run IFL from the IFL boot media (CD/DVD or UFD).

If you do it with IFL from the running Ubuntu system, the Ubuntu
partitions will be in use and mounted (unavoidably), and files will
change during the backup that IFL will not be aware of. IFL is not
designed for that situation.

Also note that in addition to doing it from IFL boot media, you could
also do it with IFW if you have IFW installed in Windows on that same
system. It doesn't necessarily have to be done with IFL.

All of the Image programs (IFL, IFD, IFW) are able to back up and
restore all of the major partition types, such as Linux ext2/3/4, NTFS,
FAT, FAT32, etc. So you could use any of the 3 programs to back up your
Ubuntu partitions (as well as your Windows partitions).


--
Tom Pfeifer
TeraByte Support
TeraByte Support
Posts: 3598
Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 10:37 pm

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by TeraByte Support »

Also see http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=354


"chris789" wrote in message news:2002@public.image...

In windows I can run Image Backup while the drives are mounted. How am I
able to do this if Linux drives need to be unmounted?

Thanks,
Chris

peleus
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:00 pm

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by peleus »

Has anyone ever reported that this is possible in Ubuntu? I can't recall. My instinct is telling me no.
whmitty
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:42 am

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by whmitty »

I just purchased the full bundle with version 2.80 of Image for Linux. I am running Ubuntu 12.04LTS (64bit) and cannot backup any type of partition TO a linux partition whether from within a running Ubuntu system or when using the bootable CD made using Image for Linux. It simply will not mount a Linux partion or access an already mounted Linux partion either on a drive within the computer or to an external drive. I get the message "Unable to mount file system" when I try to save the backup to ANY type of Linux partition. It will, on the other hand, backup any partition to a Windows NTFS partition. When I purchased the bundle it was my understanding that I could back up TO any type of partion not just Windows partions. I have installed the proper drivers as specified here: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=566.

I have gathered that one cannot do a backup of a mounted Linux partition based on all the other forum posts I've reviewed in trying to solve this problem.

Can someone please advise as to what I might be doing wrong?

Thank you.
whmitty
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:42 am

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by whmitty »

I answered my own question by, of all things, copiously reading the manual. Anyway, for anyone else who shuns manuals on Pg.37 of the Image for Linux PDF file (ifl_en_manual.pdf) it describes how to use the "File (OS)" option when writing backups to Linux drives. I fooled myself because having not read the manual I "assumed" that the default directory shown was the only directory to which I could save a backup. It turns out that after selecting the "File (OS)" option the next displayed screen titled "Select a filename for the backup" has two dots ".." at the top of the large screen just below the space for "Name:" representing the parent directory. If you keep double clicking on those two dots ".." you eventually end up at your root directory and can then, using standard Linux navigation methods, navigate down to any mounted media to which you want to save the backup.

The moral to this story is READ THE FREAKIN' MANUAL! :oops:
timg11
Posts: 262
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 4:31 pm

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by timg11 »

TeraByte Support wrote:
> Also see http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=354

The KB article linked to above explains how to add IFL to your Linux distribution's Grub boot menu.

Since it refers to IFL 2.83, it may be a few years old. Would this process and KB still be correct for a desktop system running Ubuntu 16.04 LTS?

Also, to clarify the question asked a few times earlier in this thread, I'm assuming that a capability like PHYLOCK or VSS has not been created for Linux yet, and therefore IFL cannot be run from within the Ubuntu environment.
Brian K
Posts: 2214
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:11 am
Location: NSW, Australia

Re: backup in linux/ubuntu

Post by Brian K »

timg11,

You can install IFL into its own partition and boot either IFL or Ubuntu from BIBM.
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