Backup & Restore your Whole Ubuntu Computer using Remastersys

by | Jul 5, 2012 | How-To/Tips, Linux

If you want to completely backup your whole Ubuntu computer, including system files and personal data, then you probably want to first look at Remastersys.

This open-source application can create a snapshot of your computer and make an ISO image of it, then use the image to restore unto a different machine or the same system. It’s wonderful! I just used it to backup my computer with a bad hard drive and restored it unto the same computer with a new hard drive.

There are some limitations with respect to how much data can be created into an ISO image. Reading from the creator, it seems that there’s a 4GB size limit of what can be backed up and created into an ISO image of your computer. So, if you have a lot of media files and other data that you can safely move somewhere else before backing up, that to. Or use the exclude option with the program to exclude backing up of some unnecessary directories. For your average Ubuntu machine there’s no need to worry, you should be able to back it up easily.

Objectives:

  • Using Remastersys to backup your computer and restore it onto a new machine
  • Enjoy!

To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run the commands below to install Remastersys repository key.

wget -q -O - http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu/remastersys.gpg.key |sudo  apt-key add -


 


remastersys_precise


 


Next, run the commands below to add Remastersys repository.


sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu precise main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'


 


remastersys_precise_1


 


Finally, run the commands below to update your system and install Remastersys-gtk


sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install remastersys remastersys-gtk


 


remastersys_precise_2


 


After installing, open Remastersys from Dash and leave all the default settings as is. Then click ‘Backup’ button to begin.


 


remastersys_precise_7


 


After creating the ISO, go to /home/remastersys/remastersys right-click on custom-backup ISO image and select ‘Write to Disc’. Use this image to re-install onto a different computer.


 


remastersys_precise_8


 


For more information about Remastersys, click here.


 


To exclude directories, select Settings tab and enter the directory names separated with a space.


eg. /home/downloads/ /temporary/internet/caches


 


That’s it!