Slackware backup boot dvd

[GekkeGwuido]

Hi,

I have installed a PIII - 733MHz as a Slackware server for my project in school. It's a database, ftp server with db4o that supports the data and all common files that are used in a java customer application. That's just some intro...

My question now: the whole application and server is developed for a social organisation and they don't have any financial resources for hiring a IT expert or whatever. But like all technologie a server can go down, and it's not my intention to go and fix that server everytime it fails. So I want to create a backup dvd (iso) that can be put in by a member of the organisation and when the system reboots, the entire system will be reloaded exactly the same configurations as it has now...

Is this possible? And if it is, is there any step by step tutorial? I'm not an expert in linux but also certainly not a beginner...

Thx in advance
GekkeGwuido

[bidi]

Sounds like you want a LiveCD making tool! Check Linux-Live... It's the same scripts used to make SLAX, so it should help.

[littledrop]

You can do disk imaging.

either make an image of whole hdd or the partition.
so if you are not good in fixing stuff and want to restore if server goes down then simply restore the image back.

Try this
SourceForge.net: G4L

You need to do few times to understand.

[GekkeGwuido]

You can do disk imaging.

either make an image of whole hdd or the partition.
so if you are not good in fixing stuff and want to restore if server goes down then simply restore the image back.

Try this
SourceForge.net: G4L

You need to do few times to understand.

Can I do it also with the dd command? I have a bootable slack 11 dvd; if i copy its content to a local dir and then make a sort of backup of my hd in that same folder; and then create a new iso of that entire folder and burn it to a dvd; will it be possible to boot from the dvd and restore my dd backup?

[littledrop]

dd if=/dev/hdxx of=/tmp/cdimg.iso

dont know how to restore
just a guess
dd if=/tmp/cdimg.iso of=/dev/hdxx

try in virtual system so that you don't lose anything


Mout an ISO image if you need:
mount -o loop -t iso9660 filename.iso /mnt/iso


You can do these steps from a live cd.

What you are asking is to create a custom live cd which I don't know about it.

[GekkeGwuido]

dd if=/dev/hdxx of=/tmp/cdimg.iso

dont know how to restore
just a guess
dd if=/tmp/cdimg.iso of=/dev/hdxx

try in virtual system so that you don't lose anything


Mout an ISO image if you need:
mount -o loop -t iso9660 filename.iso /mnt/iso


You can do these steps from a live cd.

What you are asking is to create a custom live cd which I don't know about it.

I've done it like this:

dd if=/dev/hda | gzip > /home/backup/image.gz

That's to create the backup, I then place it in a folder which contains the content of a bootable slackware dvd; I'm going to create a new iso from it and burn it to a dvd (but not tested it yet)
To restore the old system I will do the following

gzip -dc /home/backup/image.gz | dd of=/dev/hda

Off course the paths adapted to the dvd etc...

[GekkeGwuido]

I've managed to make a .iso file, but now it's way to big (6.7 Gb) to burn on a dvd. With dd I've created a .gz file that is approx 3.6 Gb... How can I burn this to a dvd? Or waht can i delete from the original slackware iso???

[GekkeGwuido]

Thx all for your suggestions
It works!
For someone who has (or cill have) the same problem, what have I done?
* I mad a clean install of my slackware server with all the applications and my needs installed and running
* Then I made an entire copy (or clone) of my disk with

dd if=/dev/hda | gzip > /home/backup/server/serverimage.gz

Off course u have to adapt the paths to your own system (the /home/backup is a second HD in the server used for backups)
* Then I burned the directory vacserver to a dvd with the program k3b (in the directory extra at your slackware dvd or cd)
* I made a live cd using Slax Frodo
* I booted with the live cd and gave in following commands

loadkeys be-latin1.map (to change to azerty)
mkdir /mnt/dvd
mount /dev/hdd /mnt/dvd (mount the dvd)
gzip -dc /mnt/dvd/vacserver/serverimage.gz | dd of=/dev/hda
reboot

After all this the system starts up like a charm and most important with exactly the same settings as before...

Again, thx all for the help
GekkeGwuido