Using a utility such as CloneZilla for ZM backup
Using a utility such as CloneZilla for ZM backup
I am considering a backup/restore utility for my ZM box. It was mentioned on the forums that CloneZilla would be a good option. Since I'm more experienced in Windows than Linux, can anybody provide info to guide me in the right direction for backing up and restoring a ZM box?
Re: Using a utility such as CloneZilla for ZM backup
I recommend you to do a backup of your database using phpmyadmin. I had to setup many times the same configuration, using different computers or testing different configurations, the core of ZM is your database, setting ZM is quite easy.
After more than 15 years, no longer using ZM as surveillance system.
Now in the dark side, using a commercial system...
Re: Using a utility such as CloneZilla for ZM backup
Yes,MySql is a very important piece of ZM. But I really need everything backed up since I have customized ZM php web pages. Also, Apache has been somewhat customized. From my perspective, it seems as though CloneZilla is the way to go.
Re: Using a utility such as CloneZilla for ZM backup
I just started using CloneZilla Live running from a flash drive. works great
and is pretty fast.
The method I use is complete hard drive image.
When I build one i make the partitions very small, about 15gb for root and 5gb for var.
This makes restoring to another disk a little easier.
The images are about 1.7gb backing up a fresh install of ZM on Ubuntu desktop.
Note that this is without any events. I've not backed one up with events yet.
I use it to backup a completed ZM server as a backup of the system.
If your build is on a 500gb drive, to restore that image to a smaller drive you
would have to use expert mode. it'll work as long as there is room on the smaller drive
for all of the data.
Since most of the machines I build have a separate HD for events, I copy
the events directory to the external storage and then rename it in it's
original location. If I need to restore a system i have the events structure
on the one hard drive image I made.
and is pretty fast.
The method I use is complete hard drive image.
When I build one i make the partitions very small, about 15gb for root and 5gb for var.
This makes restoring to another disk a little easier.
The images are about 1.7gb backing up a fresh install of ZM on Ubuntu desktop.
Note that this is without any events. I've not backed one up with events yet.
I use it to backup a completed ZM server as a backup of the system.
If your build is on a 500gb drive, to restore that image to a smaller drive you
would have to use expert mode. it'll work as long as there is room on the smaller drive
for all of the data.
Since most of the machines I build have a separate HD for events, I copy
the events directory to the external storage and then rename it in it's
original location. If I need to restore a system i have the events structure
on the one hard drive image I made.
Re: Using a utility such as CloneZilla for ZM backup
As a guide in the right direction. I would put CloneZilla Live on a flash drive.
before you back up, clear any unwanted events, making sure ZM has erased
them from the HD.
The OS should compress to less than 2gb, i'm not sure about the stored jpg
files. My guess is they won't compress much so make sure your Ext USB HD
has some size to it.
NOTE, that you can save the backup in various places, network shares
or where ever. But an external USB HD is the "easiest" way.
boot the machine from the USB Flash drive and have an external USB drive
ready for the backup.
this boots you to a desktop, dbl click on the clonezilla icon and follow instructions
for making a backup image of a complete drive saving it to the ext hd. the program
will even prompt you to plug in the ext usb hd. you might need to read a guide
on the net. but if you follow through using "beginner" mode, with patience
you'll find it's very easy.
Restoring the image is about the same, only in reverse.
You boot from the CloneZilla Live Flash drive. tell it to "restore" to a hard drive
using a saved hard drive image. To make it easy as i mentioned before
make sure the hard drive you are restoring to is same or bigger than the
one you originally imaged.
One thing you could do if you have time is
1- make an image of your running system
2- restore it to a spare drive and test that it runs as intended
3- delete the events, again make sure they get deleted off HD by ZM (the filters, and fast delete)
once you have a "trimmed down system"
4- shrink the partitions down on the restored drive, retest.
5- make a new image of that running system for a system backup
this is important to me since i use small drives for the OS
and BIG drives for the Event storage. with a small HD image, I can restore it to any HD
good luck with it
before you back up, clear any unwanted events, making sure ZM has erased
them from the HD.
The OS should compress to less than 2gb, i'm not sure about the stored jpg
files. My guess is they won't compress much so make sure your Ext USB HD
has some size to it.
NOTE, that you can save the backup in various places, network shares
or where ever. But an external USB HD is the "easiest" way.
boot the machine from the USB Flash drive and have an external USB drive
ready for the backup.
this boots you to a desktop, dbl click on the clonezilla icon and follow instructions
for making a backup image of a complete drive saving it to the ext hd. the program
will even prompt you to plug in the ext usb hd. you might need to read a guide
on the net. but if you follow through using "beginner" mode, with patience
you'll find it's very easy.
Restoring the image is about the same, only in reverse.
You boot from the CloneZilla Live Flash drive. tell it to "restore" to a hard drive
using a saved hard drive image. To make it easy as i mentioned before
make sure the hard drive you are restoring to is same or bigger than the
one you originally imaged.
One thing you could do if you have time is
1- make an image of your running system
2- restore it to a spare drive and test that it runs as intended
3- delete the events, again make sure they get deleted off HD by ZM (the filters, and fast delete)
once you have a "trimmed down system"
4- shrink the partitions down on the restored drive, retest.
5- make a new image of that running system for a system backup
this is important to me since i use small drives for the OS
and BIG drives for the Event storage. with a small HD image, I can restore it to any HD
good luck with it