OPNsense Installer documentation

[buzzra]

In the OPNsense documentation here: https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/install.html#opnsense-installer is the statement:

The installer can always be run to clone an existing system, even for Nano images. This can be useful for creating live backups for later recovery.

I have tried to do this unsuccessfully several times. I use the UFS GPT/UEFI Hybrid install and also tried the ZFS install. It always ends with the error:

Error mounting partition /mnt: mount: /dev/gpt/rootfs: Device busy

Is there any other documentation about how to do this? Live backups for later recovery sounds like an excellent idea!

thx

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Have you tried ZFS snapshots and zfs send?

[buzzra]

I have not, but that has nothing to do with my question. That statement is in the documentation. How do I use it?

[cookiemonster]

what it means is that you can save your live system i.e. already configured, your plugins added, and all running as you want. Save the config.
Then if you had to "clone" a new, fresh installation, you can this way. Let's say your storage for OS died. You replace the disk and then use those instructions to restore the system.

[franco]

I think it's not about the installer but the result of the installed system not working. I'm not sure how to debug this easily. Do you have multiple disks? UFS and ZFS both do not work?


Cheers,
Franco

[buzzra]

Thanks cookiemonster! that's exactly what I expected it to do, but I get the error above.
Franco, I only have one disk. I tried the ZFS choice, and it did in, fact, work. I think I misspoke in my OP, My old brain didn't remember everything correctly. Since my current system is UFS I guess only tried that. I did try UFS again after the ZFS, and got the same error.
The ZFS clone booted up fine in a disconnected test environment.
Thanks everyone for your help and time.