How can I create a full system image backup within ubuntu ?

[ahmadka]

Hi all ... Well I've decided to move all my data from one VPS to another, and I wanted to know if there was a way from within Ubuntu to make a full system image backup, which I can then just transfer to the new Ubuntu VPS, and restore it there ...

Unfortunately my VPS control does not have any working backup option right now, so I can only make the backup manually from within Ubuntu, if there is a way to do it ...

So does someone know who can I do this from within Ubuntu ?

 

[ahmadka]

Need help guys ...

 

[cowboyup910]

Ghost for Linux?

 

[ahmadka]

^^ Can Ghost create the system image from within Ubuntu while its running .. ?

For example, I know CloneZilla requires that the partition whose backup is to be made must be unmounted ... I cannot do this as I don't have physical access to the VPS, and whatever backup I have to make, has to be done from within Ubuntu ..

 

[HH-Brian]

You should create a tar archive of your data files and folders and move the tar to your new server, extract it over the top of an installation of the same OS distro and version and then reboot.

To create the tar backup run the following command:
tar cvpzf backup.tgz --exclude=/proc --exclude=/lost+found --exclude=/backup.tgz --exclude=/mnt --exclude=/sys /

After a while, you will end up with a file named backup.tgz sitting in the / folder.

ftp or rsync this file to your new server and place it in /

then run the following to extract it and overwrite the existing data on the server:
tar xvpfz backup.tgz -C /
After the extraction completes, reboot the server and your new server will function as a copy of your old one. Your old root pass, SSH port, etc will now work on the new server.

You can also perform a rsync migration to clone one server to another but that's a bit too complex for a forum post, IMO.