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Linux disk image software

I currently use Symantec (previously PowerQuest) Drive Image, to take regular images from my C: partition. In order to make the imaging process faster, I have installed Drive Image on a second OS which is only used for taking the image from the first OS of that machine.
I am about to install Linux on that machine. I would like to know if there is a software for linux capable of creating images from a NTFS drive, and restoring images to it.
Please advise
Huji

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Heem14

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rindi

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huji

ASKER

Where should I find it in Knoppix? (I have its CD)

rindi

It's a commandline tool, so you need to open a terminal and then just enter partimage, Maybe you need to be root, so you'd first have to make a root password then su to root:

sudo passwd root

enter the password you want twice, then

su

huji

ASKER

I think I need more information on how to use it, for example, how to restore the image and so. I believe you can help me in this regard as well. Meanwhile, I will be considering PartImage as well.
Thanks

rindi

Check the documentation on heem's link for how to use it. there are pictures you can view there, it is probably a better documentation than how I could explain:

http://www.partimage.org/Partimage-manual_Usage

huji

ASKER

>> Meanwhile, I will be considering PartImage as well. <<
I meant considering a visit to its web site! :-)
Well I checked it, and there are two limitations when it is about NTFS: Fragmentation of data, and its being compressed. My C:\ on that machine will usually suffer from both. :( Any other options??

rindi

I'd still try it, I've used it on compressed drives and it worked. As far as fragmentation is concerned, just defrag the drive before using partimage.

Otherwise on the ubcd of my earlier link there is also g4u you could try.

huji

ASKER

>> just defrag the drive before using partimage.
It will take more than one hour for me! I'm checking UBCD

Heem14

remember, partimage is the same program you will use whether you are using knoppix or not. knoppix just gives you an easy path to get to it.

huji

ASKER

I think I understand it Heem14. Thanks for notification though. :) And the UBCD and UBCD 4 Windows are things I really need some time to look into. I will tell you later about the results.
Thanks to all
Huji

rindi

I'd just look into the ubcd (full) first. The UBCD4Win first needs setting up with a Windows install CD... Anyway, the UBCD i think is an essential tool for troubleshooting etc, as it includes all the tools you could think of.

huji

ASKER

Thanks for your recommendation.

Gastone Canali

only for complete the thread (knoppix is wonderfull but SystemRescueCd is better for manage HD ):
http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page
Description: SystemRescueCd is a linux system on a bootable cdrom for repairing your system and your data after a crash. It also aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the partitions of the hard disk. It contains a lot of system utilities (parted, partimage, fstools, ...) and basic ones (editors, midnight commander, network tools). It aims to be very easy to use: just boot from the cdrom, and you can do everything. The kernel of the system supports most important file systems (ext2/ext3, reiserfs, reiser4, xfs, jfs, vfat, ntfs, iso9660), and network ones (samba and nfs).

Here are the main system tools:
GNU Parted is the best tool for editing your disk partitions under linux
QtParted is a Partition Magic clone for Linux.
Partimage is a Ghost/Drive-image clone for Linux
File systems tools (e2fsprogs, reiserfsprogs, reiser4progs, xfsprogs, jfsutils, ntfsprogs, dosfstools): they allow you to format, resize, debug an existing partition of your hard disk
Sfdisk allows you to backup and restore your partition table

huji

ASKER

Thanks.

ico2

dd if=/dev/hda | bzip2 -c > backup.img