[Discuss] How do you backup "/" with rsync?

[John Blomfield]

I have just thought of another option, instead of changing the BIOS to 
boot the correct HD. Create a Linux boot CD and copy /boot directory to 
the CD, with grub configured to show a menu that boots from the internal 
or external HD.

John

John Blomfield wrote:
> I've just done a small test with a computer that has a Fedora / 
> installation in one partition and a Ubuntu / installation on another 
> partition. If you boot with a Fedora Rescue disk it lists the two 
> partitions e.g. sda1 and sdb1, and asks if you want it to mount the 
> Fedora / on /mnt/sysimage. It won't automatically mount the Ubuntu / 
> so just select the "skip" option, which takes to a shell.  Then you 
> can manually
>
> #mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/sysimage
> and as below #chroot /mnt/sysimage etc.
>
> John Blomfield
>
>
> John Blomfield wrote:
>> I am not sure if this is what your looking for but I mentioned this 
>> before when talking about recovering a damaged MBR.  I am assuming 
>> here that you have backed up your /boot directory containing grub 
>> onto your external HD along with everything else.  Then you need to 
>> recreate the MBR on the external HD, so boot the system with a 
>> "Rescue CD" containing the usual Linux utilities, which will find 
>> your two Linux installations, one on your internal HD and one on your 
>> external HD. Then:
>>
>> # chroot /mnt/sysimage   - this gives you access to your installation 
>> image, this name could be different with different distributions.( 
>> Fedora in this case, the Fedora rescue disc works with any distribution)
>>
>> Then do the following:
>>   # login
>>    login: root
>>   passwd: ******
>>   # cd /boot
>>   /boot# grub
>>   grub > find /boot/grub/stage1
>>   "response will be something like " (hd0, 0) (hd1, 0)
>>   -what this tells you is that stage1 of grub has been found in two 
>> partitions, one of which is the partition (hd0, 0) or sda1 your 
>> internal HD, and the other partition (hd1, 0) or sdb1 your external 
>> HD.  Now type, ( note the > is the Grub prompt)
>>    > root (hd1, 0)
>>   > setup (hd1)
>>   > quit
>>
>> This will make your external HD bootable with a grub menu, as well as 
>> your internal HD.  Now all you have to do is to change the BIOS to 
>> choose which one you want to boot from.
>>
>> John Blomfield
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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