Macrium Free EXT4 file system backup AND RESTORE --OK

Hi there

Those using things like NAS boxes / other servers with LINUX type OS's

Macrium Reflect (current version - Free one I'm using) DOES backup Linux system Image (you don't need to CLONE) if file system is EXT4 - including Boot partition etc. It restores fine as well.

I know it WON'T work with LVM though and haven't tried other file systems like XFS yet.

Note when imaging EXT4 (that includes ext2/xt3 file systems too) set the imaging to Intelligent Sector copying --much faster and smaller backup.

TEST THE RESTORE on your own systems though -I'm not going to be held accountable if you break something on your own systems.

IMO NAS boxes / servers also need to be backed up --knowing how many people don't even backup their standard Windows systems - I'd bet there are zillions of people who haven't even THOUGHT of backing up the OS on a NAS box.

It's best to run the stand alone bootable version --if you are using hardware RAID the macrium reflect can load the RAID drivers when you create the bootable media.

Although MR is based on Windows PE it can image these partitions just fine so long as it can SEE the HDD's which is why the RAID drivers if you are using them need to be loaded.

Most people with decent NAS boxes have some sort of RAID so remember to load any drivers when using the stand alone boot version -- when creating the media for the first time it's quite simple.

Cheers
jimbo

How do you get Macrium to actually run on the NAS?

Hi there

Boot from USB


BTW when restoring don't restore SWAP file - that's sometimes shown as unformatted area.

You need to physically be able to put a USB in to a USB slot and perform a boot so you'll need a keyboard plugged in as well.

You would be using the stand alone bootable version.

I haven't seen a way to do this remotely yet for restore --you can BACKUP of course if you can see the OS drive on another system.

If you can't boot from an external device on the NAS --then tough --you have to assume that the NAS is accessible and has some sort of Boot selection menu.

For QNAP type OS'es - don't know as I haven't got one of those boxes -- I run various standard Linux Distros on mine so no prob with running Macrium on them from a boot USB.

Cheers
jimbo