Clonezilla partition clone and backup tool
Reanimation
To restore an image, simply go through the whole procedure in reverse order. That is, you need to select the following menu items in the order Start_Clonezilla | device-image | local_dev and attach the medium with the image, if applicable; then, select the image, specify the directory containing the image, and opt for Beginner mode. Because you will be restoring a partition to disk, restoreparts is the correct mode to choose. Clonezilla should now show you the image or images to restore – if not, you might have chosen the wrong medium in a previous step.
Next you must decide on a partition to which Clonezilla will restore the image. Again, this will destroy any existing data on the partition; consider your decision carefully. The target partition must be exactly the same size as the original partition; if it is larger, you are just wasting space.
In some special cases, you can modify the system in the image to match its new home environment, but this requires the Expert mode with the use of the -r parameter.
Next, you need to confirm the command line shown in green and check the summary once more. After confirming the settings by pressing y, Clonezilla will prompt you once again, just to be sure. Do not interrupt the write process unless you really do want a partition that is full of junk data.
Removal Helpers
To clone a partition or a hard disk, select device-device from the menu shown in Figure 3 and then opt for Beginner mode. The next screen gives you the option of transferring the whole disk to another local disk (disk_to_local_disk), to transfer the whole disk over the wire (disk_to_remote_disk), to clone a single partition on a local disk (part_to_local_part), or to send a single partition across the network. If your old disk is running out of space, you can simply install a second disk, launch Clonezilla, and then select the first option. At this point, you should be careful because you must select the Source from the list shown to you (that is, the partition or disk you would like to clone).
Next select the Target, which is the partition on the new disk that Clonezilla will overwrite with the copy, thus destroying any data you have on the target medium. Finally, check all the settings once more and press y to confirm.
Conclusions
Clonezilla Live, which was developed at the NCHC (National Center for High Performance Computing [2]) in Taiwan, is a fast, free, and user-friendly tool for backing up complete disks. Although Clonezilla uses compression, full backups can be fairly large, and the tool does not offer incremental backups at the time of this writing. For these reasons, Clonezilla should be considered as something to supplement your daily backup routine.
Another thing Clonezilla does not offer is partitioning. Live CDs by third parties have found a solution to this failing. For example, GParted-Clonezilla includes the GParted [3] partitioning program. You will also find Clonezilla on a variety of rescue CDs, such as Parted Magic 4.2 [4], which was released in June 2009.
Infos
- Clonezilla project: http://clonezilla.org
- Clonezilla at NCHC: http://www.nchc.org.tw/en/collaborative_research/fsl/
- GParted-Clonezilla Live CD: http://gpartedclonz.tuxfamily.org
- Parted Magic: http://partedmagic.com
« Previous 1 2 3
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Gnome 47.1 Released with a Few Fixes
The latest release of the Gnome desktop is all about fixing a few nagging issues and not about bringing new features into the mix.
-
System76 Unveils an Ampere-Powered Thelio Desktop
If you're looking for a new desktop system for developing autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle solutions. System76 has you covered.
-
VirtualBox 7.1.4 Includes Initial Support for Linux kernel 6.12
The latest version of VirtualBox has arrived and it not only adds initial support for kernel 6.12 but another feature that will make using the virtual machine tool much easier.
-
New Slimbook EVO with Raw AMD Ryzen Power
If you're looking for serious power in a 14" ultrabook that is powered by Linux, Slimbook has just the thing for you.
-
The Gnome Foundation Struggling to Stay Afloat
The foundation behind the Gnome desktop environment is having to go through some serious belt-tightening due to continued financial problems.
-
Thousands of Linux Servers Infected with Stealth Malware Since 2021
Perfctl is capable of remaining undetected, which makes it dangerous and hard to mitigate.
-
Halcyon Creates Anti-Ransomware Protection for Linux
As more Linux systems are targeted by ransomware, Halcyon is stepping up its protection.
-
Valve and Arch Linux Announce Collaboration
Valve and Arch have come together for two projects that will have a serious impact on the Linux distribution.
-
Hacker Successfully Runs Linux on a CPU from the Early ‘70s
From the office of "Look what I can do," Dmitry Grinberg was able to get Linux running on a processor that was created in 1971.
-
OSI and LPI Form Strategic Alliance
With a goal of strengthening Linux and open source communities, this new alliance aims to nurture the growth of more highly skilled professionals.