Eric Brackenbury wrote:
This interests me too.
I have just got my toes wet with Linux, with a huge amount of help
from various people.
And at the moment I have dual boot and use Acronis in the other system
(MSW)
My take on this issue is that I am glad I have dual boot with a
complete mirror of the whole drive as the problems I am encountering
with setting up Linux is more than I am currently capable of without
help.
So a simple backup drive from Ghost or Acronis is a godsend to me.
I think some of the comments about just saving data and then rebuild
the OS are a little bit inconsiderate of total newbies like myself.
Not very encouraging to for people to in fact use Linux OS.
Actually Eric, folks were being very considerate of you and other newbies.
Linux and Unix in general is quite good at separating programs from
data, so your data is portable in a way that you may not yet
appreciate. Much data in the Windows world is critically tied to
specific applications and versions of applications in inextricable and
convoluted ways, hence the need to re-establish EVERYTHING in exactly
the same way it was prior to a disaster. I completely understand the
mindset that the Windows operating system, programs, service packs and
patches need to be applied exactly in the same sequence or the whole
house of cards tumbles into a non-functional mess.
Linux is generally kinder. Instead of a single huge binary format
"registry" upon which the whole house of cards depends, Linux uses
simple, individual, people-readable text files for configuring
everything (these files reside in /etc). Easily backup-able, easily
duplicated, and each one can't destroy total system function the way the
Windows registry can if it is trashed.
In Linux, you can install a completely new system, add programs and
restore old data quicker and more reliably than trying to duplicate a
complete functioning Windows system, including all updates and registry
settings. You've obviously been burned badly by how things work with
what you are used to, but that isn't the case in more mature operating
systems.
Quite a few of the problems you will encounter while getting used to
Linux are the direct result of trying to apply your experiences with
Windows to solve Linux issues. Unlearning a lot of your Windows
hocus-pocus and necessary ritual sacrifices and Redmond-centric tribal
dances is hard.
You've obviously learned the most important lesson already - ask
questions! Use the OCLUG list and Google, and I guarantee you will
quickly adapt and things will get easier. Your life will be a lot
easier of you've chosen a distribution like Ubuntu - it makes life very
simple for newbies by installing a sensible desktop system by default.
Don't worry about bugging the list for questions - unlike Windows,
people here are more than willing to help and spread knowledge. You
don't have to search through 350,000 useless KnowledgeBase articles, you
don't have to navigate voice mail jails, and you don't have to have your
Visa card ready.
Typically, for desktop purposes, backing up your home directory (i.e
/home/eric) can allow you to move systems without a hitch, even of you
are changing distributions. If you are running server apps like a SQL
database or web servers, you will have to add specific parts of the /var
folders as well. Add the necessary files from /etc, and you do not need
a disk image.
The problem with backing up complete disk images is that easily
restoring them requires a complete, perfect duplicate of the hardware
your were running prior to the crash - including identical hard disk(s),
network cards, sound, video and other cards etc. Change a few
components and your disk image becomes a real pain in the ... well ...
you know. In the real world you can't buy the same components from the
same store two days in a row, therefore smarter backup strategies are
used in the real world.
For my money you probably will never get better advice than that from
Bart & Dan - these guys are pros that can run real world class data
centers effectively.
--
Bill Strosberg