Backup of MX Linux

[MadMax]

We've seen reports here of folk using MX-Snapshot to create an ISO image of their complete system as large as 700-800GB in size, and verified them to be a workable full-recovery solution.

That's pretty cool. MX-Snapshot is really one of the gems of the MX-Tools suite.

I'd recommend backing up data (especially in the 100s of GBs) separately from the system, though

[CharlesV]

Is the backup of MX-snapshot an image of your PC?

No MX Snapshot is not "an image" of your machine. It IS a a bootable, installable, type of backup, that backs up your system install, config and your home data.

HOWEVER... there can be an issue with size. If your ~/home contains hundreds or gigabytes like Mad Max indicated. (ie your ISO maybe so large that you cannot boot from it or it will not fit on your pocket drive, and you *may* have to exclude some data to make it all work.

Timeshift, does not backup user files by default - only the system. And as indicated by users in previous posts here, it is like a "system restore" and does not help restore data. ( unless you specifically set it to back up data - and that can be dangerous!)

To truly backup you need to use a real backup program. ( Lucky Backup, Back In Time ( my favorite) , etc. )

Think of it all like this: An MX Snapshot can get your machine back up and running pretty quickly / easily. And ... depending up on how much data you have in your ~/home folder, you probably will then need to restore from a backup.

If you want a TRUE image of your computer, then you need to use something like CloneZilla or Gparted to create an image of your system.

[richb]

Is the backup of MX-snapshot an image of your PC?

No MX Snapshot is not "an image" of your machine. It IS a a bootable, installable, type of backup, that backs up your system install, config and your home data.
etc.

Note that the iso itself is not bootable. You use it to make a bootable USB stick with Live uSB Maker.

[Nokkaelaein]

Note that the iso itself is not bootable. You use it to make a bootable USB stick with Live uSB Maker.

To clarify, the ISO itself is also bootable, i.e. you can for example insert it into a virtual optical drive and boot a virtual machine directly from it (use it as a live DVD), without making something else using that ISO first. (Size limitations of the medium apply, but there isn't anything inherently "not bootable" in an ISO made with MX-Snapshot, you can even make a genuine physical live DVD with it by just burning it onto a disc.)

[richb]

Note that the iso itself is not bootable. You use it to make a bootable USB stick with Live uSB Maker.

To clarify, the ISO itself is also bootable, i.e. you can for example insert it into a virtual optical drive and boot a virtual machine directly from it (use it as a live DVD), without making something else using that ISO first.

Thanks for the clarification. I should have said not directly bootable without other steps.

[sisqonrw]

is Redo Backup also like Clonezilla? do both an image of a partition?

[CharlesV]

is Redo Backup also like Clonezilla? do both an image of a partition?

Yes, my understanding of Redo Backup (Redo Rescue) is that it is a bare metal restore.

[ryks]

use hirenboot or macrium reflect or clonezilla can do the job done .You can make a backup (clone of your data without free space and with good compression to save space )I use ventoy on a usb with all iso needed -in this case hirensboot hbcd-15.2-Restored-V1.1-dvd-proteus

[tascoast]

I keep most files on a 'Data' partition and recently made a snapshot of my current system to add to another machine.

I created the snapshot, ensuring I didn't include a lot of unwanted files, then used Live USB Maker to create a bootable version of my operating system (with persistence too).

I then booted up a new machine and installed my current system, with personal settings, to the partition I'd prepared and away I go, effectively cloning a system, but in a simple way that adjusts to hardware and drives, rather than doing something more complicated, to achieve the same outcome.

[CharlesV]

This is also how I run my machines and I find it to be far superior for my use. This is also an amazingly good way to change to a new major version and although you have to adjust the configs, it is MUCH easier.