Image of hard drive using rdiff-backup
Spicer, Kevin
Kevin.Spicer@bmrb.co.uk
Wed, 4 Sep 2002 15:19:53 +0100
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>Thanks for your e-mail message and feedback. My question is whether
>rdiff-backup itself can be used to perform an image of a hard drive?
>I would like to make an image once, then only perform incremental updates
on
>the image files (backuping up a complete image file to CD is a major
>mission).
Not with rdiff backup - rdiff-backup actually modifies the originally backed
up files and the increments indicate how these changes are made. In other
words rdiff-backup produces a directory which is a mirror image of your
current directory and in addition stores increments which allow you to
restore a file or files to one of their previous versions. (actually you
can make rdiff-backup mirror only, but you don't get seperate incrementals,
and rsync is faster)
If you just want to keep the image up to date by actually changing your
image drive why not try something like rsync?
>A second question would be if it is possible to backup FAT and
>NTFS file systems in a similar way (so they are also bootable)?
I guess you could do it with FAT by mirroring the entire partition then
using dd to copy over the Master Boot Record (if you're using Windows as
your primary boot loader). I can't remember the exact command, but a bit of
Googling should find it. You could probably do something similar with NTFS
- BUT as far as I know you can't write to (only read from) an NTFS partition
under Linux/Unix - so its probably not an effective way to backup as you
won't be able to restore!!
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that.
BMRB International
http://www.bmrb.co.uk +44 (0)20 8566 5000
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<TITLE>RE: Image of hard drive using rdiff-backup</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>>Thanks for your e-mail message and feedback. My =
question is whether </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>>rdiff-backup itself can be used to perform an =
image of a hard drive?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>>I would like to make an image once, then only =
perform incremental updates on </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>>the image files (backuping up a complete image =
file to CD is a major </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>>mission).</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Not with rdiff backup - rdiff-backup actually =
modifies the originally backed up files and the increments indicate how =
these changes are made. In other words rdiff-backup produces a =
directory which is a mirror image of your current directory and in =
addition stores increments which allow you to restore a file or files =
to one of their previous versions. (actually you can make =
rdiff-backup mirror only, but you don't get seperate incrementals, and =
rsync is faster)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>If you just want to keep the image up to date by =
actually changing your image drive why not try something like =
rsync?</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>>A second question would be if it is possible to =
backup FAT and </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>>NTFS file systems in a similar way (so they are =
also bootable)?</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I guess you could do it with FAT by mirroring the =
entire partition then using dd to copy over the Master Boot Record (if =
you're using Windows as your primary boot loader). I can't =
remember the exact command, but a bit of Googling should find it. =
You could probably do something similar with NTFS - BUT as far as I =
know you can't write to (only read from) an NTFS partition under =
Linux/Unix - so its probably not an effective way to backup as you =
won't be able to restore!!</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong on =
that.</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>BMRB International </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><A HREF=3D"http://www.bmrb.co.uk" =
TARGET=3D"_blank">http://www.bmrb.co.uk</A> +44 (0)20 8566 5000 </FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT =
SIZE=3D2>____________________________________________________________ =
</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>This message (and any attachment) is intended only =
for the recipient and may contain confidential and/or privileged =
material. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender =
and delete this message immediately. Disclosure, copying or other =
action taken in respect of this email or in reliance on it is =
prohibited. BMRB International Limited accepts no liability in relation =
to any personal emails, or content of any email which does not directly =
relate to our business.</FONT></P>
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