Image backup using Clonezilla

[fabian]

Nextcloud Server does not support Microsoft Windows. Otherwise I would consider it.

A VM or a (docker) container is no option?
How about LSW (Linux Subsystem for Windows)?

[dcol]

Don't want Linux. I am not comfortable working with it.

[elektroinside]

Maybe you could give it a chance...
At first i didn't like it either, i couldn't even find a distro without some sorts of problems. But then i settled with Ubuntu Server without a GUI (not the Desktop version with a GUI, which i think sucks). I don't need an interface, most of the servers i run on it don't need one. It's much more stable like this. Sure.. they crash sometimes from even sneezing near them (or feels like it), but i backup everything. For low power boxes, it's a great choice in the end. Just saying that it deserves a second chance :)

[dcol]

Running another system just to backup OPNsense sounds like overkill to me. VM's make a system too congested.

Right now what I do is a configuration backup, then create a new system, then follow my notes on reconstruction. Takes about 45 minutes. Can't use HDD Raw on a production system because I have to take it down for 30 minutes while I do the backup.

Besides, would NextCloud backup the system as an image with all my added files and packages?

[fabian]

It backups only the configuration from a running OPNsense installation. This has the advantage that there is no downtime and it is fully automated. It is not a disk image.

[dcol]

Then NextCloud doesn't give me anything I don't already have other than a scheduled configuration backup.
I would prefer the Google Cloud setup, if the docs were better. Never got that to work.

[elektroinside]

I have a Linux machine which i use for many other things. You get to use it for many things once you have it :)

My Google Drive backup works perfectly, do you need any help with it?

[dcol]

I was waiting for new docs to implement the Google backup. The current docs don't match the choices from Google. If you know how to do it, write a tutorial and I will try it again. Thanks

[ThePOO]

@dcol      Could I have a copy of your notes on reconstruction?

I have backed up my configuration and then installed OPNsense on a new piece of hardware and then restored my configuration.    I have had this work perfectly a time or two.    Then I get a restoration that just leaves stuff out.    Pretty strange.

If you have a "reconstruction" recommendation/formulae/suggestion I'd love to partake of that ..... 'cause I'd like to have some assurance that what I backed up can be reliably restored.

Thanks tons.

P.S.:   If there IS a HDD imaging tool anyone comes up with that works I'd be interested in that method as well.

[fabian]

P.S.:   If there IS a HDD imaging tool anyone comes up with that works I'd be interested in that method as well.

The best tool I know to create a disk image is "dd".

[ThePOO]

P.S.:   If there IS a HDD imaging tool anyone comes up with that works I'd be interested in that method as well.

The best tool I know to create a disk image is "dd".

Venerable tool ... now why didn't I think of that !!!     Thanks a lot.

[dcol]

Is there a way to use 'dd' within an OPNsense shell to create an image, let's say, on a USB stick? That would be ideal.

Otherwise, as I stated earlier. HD Raw copy is the best free full image tool for Windows.

[Davesworld]

Is there a way to use 'dd' within an OPNsense shell to create an image, let's say, on a USB stick? That would be ideal.

Otherwise, as I stated earlier. HD Raw copy is the best free full image tool for Windows.

If it's a big enough usb stick no problem.

[fabian]

If it's a big enough usb stick no problem.

The input or output of dd can be piped through a compression tool like gzip, xz, etc.

[dcol]

Well then I will try it today and report back. If it looks good, then maybe I will do a tutorial on doing an image backup and restore. USB sticks are cheap so that is no issue. Probably a good idea to use a bootable USB stick too.
Then you can boot to a FreeBSD shell and then do the restore.