Backup and Restore Operating System and/or files

Backup Operating System and/or files

1. Clonezilla
-used as a live cd "Linux"
-Its like the free version of Norton Ghost
download the live cd/usb/pxe or ethernet boot on http://www.clonezilla.org/download/sourceforge/

Clonezilla Server Edition
Clonezilla server edition is used to clone many computers simultaneously. It is an extremely useful tool, however, it does have several limitations. In order to use it, you must first prepare a DRBL server AND the machine to be cloned must boot from a network (e.g. PXE/Etherboot)



GParted-Clonezilla LiveCD
-Clonezilla and GParted combined in one live CD. This means that you don't have to have Linux installed on your computer in order to use either one.
-this won’t be updated anymore (2007)
-http://download.tuxfamily.org/gpartedclonz/


DRBL (Diskless Remote Boot in Linux) is a free software, open source solution to managing the deployment of the GNU/Linux operating system across many clients. Imagine the time required to install GNU/Linux on 40, 30, or even 10 client machines individually! DRBL allows for the configuration all of your client computers by installing just one server machine.
[http://drbl.sourceforge.net/]

http://partedmagic.com/
The Parted Magic OS employs core programs of GParted and Parted to handle partitioning tasks with ease, while featuring other useful programs (e.g. Partimage, TestDisk, Truecrypt, G4L, SuperGrubDisk, ddrescue, etc...) and an excellent set of documentation to benefit the user. An extensive collection of file system tools are also included, as Parted Magic supports the following: ext2, ext3, ext4, fat16, fat32, hfs, hfs+, jfs, linux-swap, ntfs, reiserfs, reiser4, and xfs.

Features

* Format internal and external hard drives.
* Move, copy, create, delete, expand & shrink hard drive partitions.
* Clone your hard drive, to create a full backup.
* Test hard drives for impending failure.
* Test memory for bad sectors.
* Benchmark your computer for a performace rating.
* Securely erase your entire hard drive, wiping it clean from all data.
* Gives access to non-booting systems allowing you to rescue important data.
* Runs from the CD, no install required.


2.DriveImage XML V2.13
Windows XP, 2003, Vista, or Windows 7

Its like the Norton Ghost from Symantec! But this one is free for home use.

"need a complicated boot CD or expensive software to create a restorable system disk image for your PC: free utility DriveImage XML can save a full, working snapshot of your Windows hard drive while you work on it. (That's hot.) When your PC crashes and burns or just slows down over time, the best insurance you can have is a mirror image of your operating system, complete with drivers, user settings, software applications, and documents in one place."

For the stpe by step procedure please visit lifehacker.com article
Thanks to Runtime Software and lifehacker.com!


ADV: Free
DIS: Slow?* 12GB of used space took about 35 minutes to image
Cannot backup only OS like Norton Ghost

SOLUTION: Backup immediately after installing and configuring a new server, So videos and mp3 won't be backup. Since we can backup our own videos and mp3 on our own and also in a faster way using our cd/dvd burner.

3. Copy and Paste your Entire Hard Drive with Two Clicks with GParted

4. From a reader of lifehacker
"Lately, however, I have been using a free Microsoft solution, ImageX. Loaded on a WinPE 2.0 boot CD and coupled with a USB drive (USB 2.0 preferred due to transfer speeds) I can often capture an image in 5-10 minutes and restore in in just about the same time" -Claus Valca

ImageX


"The "gotchas" with ImageX are that you must first format the partition before applying the image (otherwise it will over-copy files), you can only capture partitions at a time (not an entire volume), and it is (generally) command-line based."

5. Free Imaging Solution List

Thanks grandstreamdreams.blogspot.com

another list