Handling partition backup archives
Using ntfsclone...
Create compressed archive:
sudo ntfsclone --save-image -o - /dev/sdXn | gzip -c > /path/to/archive/backup.img.tgz
Notes: Source device should not be mounted, destination path must point to another mounted device.
Restoring from backup above:
gunzip -c backup.img.gz | ntfsclone --restore-image --overwrite /dev/hda1 -
Notes: See notes just above... same status recommended. Also target partition
must be large enough to hold the unzipped data content.
Using dd...
Create compressed archive:
sudo dd if=/dev/sdXN | gzip -c > /path/to/backup/filename_img.tgz
Notes: source device should not be mounted, destination path must point to another mounted device.
Restoring from backup above:
sudo gunzip -c /path/to/backup/filename_img.tgz | dd of=/dev/sdXNNotes: See notes just above... same status recommended. Also the targetpartition must be large enough to hold all unzipped data content.Ultimate Solution... Automate
Now that my home tree resides on a mounted separate partition from my SSD bootdevice, I can now backup my data Using a shell script envoked by cron to keep my data securely backed up without human intervention.#!/bin/sh
#
# shell script to run as root via cron scheduling which will keep my home
# directory backed up to device:
# bd52d6a2-176c-482b-8c6b-164599a59882 (usb 3.0 ext. drive-500mb)
#
# rsync ${SWITCH} ${srcPath} ${dstPath} >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log
#
# (See static data settings below for required switches to efficiently sync
# my backup copy and remove deleted files etc.)
#
# I have added "power on/power off" commands to the external USB device before
# and after the backup rsync commands respectively to minimize the power on
# time incurred on that backup device. It, the device, is a 500GB 2.5" Western
# Digital HDD that has spent an unknown number of power on hours in a laptop
# computer in its unknown past.
# I may replace current backup device with a SSD eventually.
# Here is the crontab entry I employ to backup my home directory. Once a week
# currently (11pm on Sunday):
# 0 23 * * 0 /home/tim/bin/auto_home_backup.sh > /dev/null 2>&1
# Note the "SHELLYPLUGIP" (ipaddress below) must match network address of device: In my case its a 4th generation Shelly plug device. Of course your mileage may vary here if you use another type of device for power switching.
# static data
CMD="/usr/bin/rsync "
SWITCHLIVE="-avW --progress --delete "
SWITCHTEST="-avnW --progress --delete "
TIMESTAMP=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M:%S")
SRCPATH=/home/tim/
DSTPATH=/media/tim/bd52d6a2-176c-482b-8c6b-164599a59882/home/tim
LOGPATH=/var/log/timbo/
SHELLYPLUGIP=192.168.1.123
# 1. Output startup timestamp to log file.
echo -n "Backup beginning at " > ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
date >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
# 2. Send external drive power on command.
curl -X POST -d '{"id":1, "method":"Switch.Set", "params":{"id":0, "on":true}}' http://${SHELLYPLUGIP}/rpc
# Optional: Add error checking for above curl command
#if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
# echo "Command sent successfully."
#else
# echo "Failed to send command."
#fi
# I probably won't care about this testing.
# 3. Wait 10 seconds for disk power up and auto mounting of external drive.
sleep 10
# 4. Show command structure to be used in log file.
echo "Running this command: ${CMD}${SWITCHLIVE}${SRCPATH} ${DSTPATH} >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log" >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
# 5. Test if mount point exists
if test -d "${DSTPATH}" ; then
# 6a. Backup live command !!!!
${CMD}${SWITCHLIVE}${SRCPATH} ${DSTPATH} >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
else
# 6b. Skip and notify rsync problem to log file.
echo "Destination path not mounted rsync skipped!" >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
fi
# 7. Wait 5 seconds before power down for external drive.
sleep 5
# 8. Send external drive power down command.
curl -X POST -d '{"id":1, "method":"Switch.Set", "params":{"id":0, "on":false}}' http://${SHELLYPLUGIP}/rpc
# 9. Output shutdown timestamp to end of log file.
echo -n "Backup ending at " >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
date >> ${LOGPATH}backup${TIMESTAMP}.log 2>&1
