Make restore cds(dvds)

[David Havery]

See, I know with dd (I've not used partimage) that when you create an 
image, you get a file the size of the partition (empty space and all), 
that's no good for a couple of reasons...

1)  if I have a 300g drive with a 10g install, I want to be able to use 
a cheap 10g to back up to rather than fork over the premium for a 300g
2) in the case of an array, the space may very well be bigger than 
available drives.

system imager btw, is a pretty good solution, it will backup filespace 
(vs drivespace), however, to do this with a bootable distro and span 
multiple dvd's is beyond my ability presently.  Sadly, this is exactly 
what mkCDrec claims to do but since I can't get it installed and can't 
get support from them, it's moot.

I think in the long run, what we're going to end up doing is providing 
an install with systemimager on a smaller drive.  This would allow for 
booting and instructions to run a bash script that will allow for 
reimaging. 

thanks for all the advice and help

-------------------------
David Havery
dhavery at psslabs.com
http://www.pssclabs.com
(949) 380-7288
-------------------------




STYMA, ROBERT E (ROBERT) wrote:

>>when restoring, will this recreate partitions or will it just 
>>restore an 
>>image to a partition that's already made?
>>
>>Making the images would all happen in house, it when they need to be 
>>restored that the process needs to be as automated and simple as 
>>possible.  I've never used partimaged, I will look into it, 
>>but based on 
>>your description I'm assuming the restore process does not 
>>need a second 
>>machine, or am I wrong?
>>
>>    
>>
>You have to create a partition the same size as the original to restore
>into.  That is unfortunate as I don't always remember the size needed
>if I forget to write it down.  I asked on the parimage if there is a way
>of reading the required size from the file but have not gotten a response
>in a month.  I have started poking around in the code to see what I could
>find.  I am hoping it is held in the backup somewhere as the restore tells
> you when you don't have enough  space.
>
>I usually restore across the network just like I created the backup.
>To restore with one machine, you have to get the backup file somewhere the
>target machine can read it and the rescue CD is already occupying the
>CDROM. 
>
>  
>