Resolved Have some questions on partioning a backup drive

Another thought. I want to have a backup drive in the event anything happens I can just clone or copy the backup and I'm up and running again w/ no data loss.

 

none of the partitions on my 4 (internal disks) are the same, it has never been an issue.

cloning the whole disk, say weekly is a very limited way of doing a backup.

1. it's space consuming
2. you are left with current files only, nothing from "before" unless you have "old version of files on your disk, then end up with duplicates of "old" files.
3. it's time consuming as well, back-up software will run in the background, not cloning of the whole drive.

System__@date is a name parameter for the backup file, where @date is the current date, @time the current time... for example System__10-24-09 for a system backup, Files__11-05-09 for a files backup, etc.

Ubuntu is a free Linux based Operating System.

I personally think that having different partitions for personal data is complicated, limiting and unnecessary; but each their own.

this is why you have the alternate system on the backup drive from which you can boot from and restore your system on to the main drive from the most recent backup you feel will work.

 

Talk me through this again.
You're saying I should hook both drives up, and do a backup using Files__11-05-09 for a files backup.
And this will backup all the files that have been modified since the previous backup? Or in this case it would be backed up to my orig drive that contains a backup that was probably done through windows - I'm not really sure, though I don't think that's relevant.
Will this also add the new music and photos that's on the drive, as that's what changes. The rest of it is pretty consistent.

 

Ok.

originaly you made a clone of your drive as a way to quickly back up your whole drive just the way it was. follow me so far?

2. feeling secure with everything backed-up, you changed the size of your partitions, just the way You like it. still with me?

3. Now you have a choice: cloning the whole disk or

3a. you can use back-up software (your Seagate Utility will do) to "compress" your data to a back-up partition on you back-up drive.

do you understand?

 

Got it.

Here's the deal...
Pete, who's a staffer here (WindowsBBS) suggested having a backup drive that is identical to my main drive and doing incremental backups to stay current. That way if my drive fails I have another copy and I'm good.

I'm not sure what you originally suggested is really that different, though I apparently don't have the software for doing incrementals and I'm not familiar w/ the (Files__11-05-09 for a files backup) command you've suggested.

What's the easiest, most practical, way to accomplish the task?

 

Files__11-05-09 is just an example of how to name a file (when creating a back-up) so it's easy to remember what it is.

Ask Pete how he would do this incremental back-up of your drive.

but like I said: updating each partition to it's own copy is one way to go about it, and I still think it's time consuming, space inefficient and incomplete. But hey don't take my word for it, what do I know!

 

Sounds like you know quite a bit more than me, which is why I'm asking.
I was referencing what Pete said, as opposed to suggesting that it's gospel.
I'm not sure how to do what you're suggesting. I understand the naming of the file, but what is the command to do the backup, and/or what software do I use.
I'd like you to walk me through it. I'm clueless right now.

 

I'm using Acronis, but here is a good free app you can use:

http://download.cnet.com/Macrium-Reflect-Free-Edition/3000-2242_4-10845728.html

It does not do incremental, I have a feeling you would have to pay for that (it might be worth it for you to invest for that feauture). It's fast (makes a 6Gb backup in under 2 minutes), I haven't done a restore with it. It is very easy to use and comes with a tutorial (click "tutorial" before finishing the install). you can backup all your partitions in one swoop (or just one or as many as you want to choose from) into one backup file. Then restore from this file only the partitions you want to choose (again just one or all or as many as you wish, just choose). Ounce you have a full backup file you can then add only the ones that you feel have change and need backing up. You can choose the compression level, the higher the slower. You can also create a schedule for automatic backups.

Enjoy.

Ps if you make your back-up disk (let's call it disk 2) into 2 partitions (system 60-80 Gb and data) , you will have lots of space to create numerous full backup.

It's just been the 2 of us going on here like a chatter box, I hope the admins don't mind us taking up all this space on the server.

 

Sounds like this might be the ticket.
If you had to go hunting for it - Thx, I appreciate it.
As I said most of my files don't change, only the photos and music - 2 partitions.
I'm planning on making my orig HD the backup that will be in an external enclosure (when I get to that part). Have the enclosure, but that's the next bit.
Question, do you know if I do a backup of the 2 partitions in a single backup?

 

That's no problem, as chances are others are watching and learning, which is what it's all about. That's why us chatting offline isn't encouraged. This way the entire community benefits, or at least those who are interested.

I have my (orig HD) as my backup, so I would just keep backing up the 2 partitions as they change to that same drive, yes?
At least that's what I'm shooting for.

 

My backup already has 5 partitions (it's the orig HD).

 

Glad to be of help!

Yes, you can back-up both partition at ounce. Let's say in a week from now you know you only added Music; you can then backup only the one partition; if your not sure do both. You can also backup the system partition and any other partition you think may have changed at the same time (same file [the current backup, different file than previous backups] you know what I mean, right: in a month from now you'll a 4 files; one a week).
When you start to run low on space you then delete file # 2, then make back-up # x, then (a week later) delete backup # 3 to create backup # x+1, and so on.

Ya I remember; It's a good idea, give the old drive a rest!

 

so then keep the first partition intact (system) and delete all other partitions, then create a new partition that uses all the newly unallocated space on the drive to use to create your backups.

 

Sounds like I just need to look at the software and familiarise myself w/ it.
Probably won't have time until Fri.
I'll report my findings then.
So Happy Thanksgiving.
Yeah I know, you already had Thanksgiving, now didn't you?
Then have a good Thursday!

 

Now this sounds scary!
Delete all my backup data?
How about if I leave it intact and slide the backup(s) into a partition that has space?
Or repartition so there's a new partition for backups.

 

The odds of your new drive dying in the 10-15 min it takes to do that is none to slim! but if you want to play it safe:

- make a [compressed] back-up file of everything on your largest partition [on disk 2 (the old HDD, the "backup ")]
- then delete all other partitions [except, of course the system one] and the [uncompressed] data on the partition with [next to, but not] the backup file;
- then add this newly created space to the backup partition (the one with the [compressed] backup file).

You can now go on your business as usual feeling safe and secure and adding a compressed back-up file to your collection on a regular basis.

Brainstorm: keep this in mind: a partition is like another drive to the system. when you move a file to a different folder it seems to be moving to the new location and gone from where it was, where in fact it "physically" stayed right where it was but is now allocated to the new folder where it appears. but if you move this same file to another partition it has to physically been copied to the new location as if to another drive and deleted from the old location.

 

Unless I'm reading it wrong, Acronis (The Seagate ver) will backup specific partitions. Do you know if it's any better/worse, easier/more difficult than Macriun?
Gotta crash.
Talk Fri.

 

Sorry I don't remember for sure, I know it only works on Seagate drives and it's quite minimal. I can't install it to look cause it won't install along side of the full version.

try them both see which is easier/ better for you.

 

Any reason not to clone the clone (new main drive) at this point?
I figure this is a good start, as then the partitions on the 2 drives will match.

 

There is no harm in doing that, if that's what you prefer.

Like I said, mine are all different, and partitions were created to separate OS from data (documents), back-up files (compressed) and recorded TV (not backed-up). So each partition is sized according to the OS in it and to it's purpose, this is what works best for me, but we are all different.

I uploaded pictures of 2 views of the partitions at:

http://s1003.photobucket.com/albums/af160/jcinvan/

There are 4 more drives (USB) not visible.