LVM extracted form windows to external drive

[-OCM770-]

Ok, so i've got my system set up as follows:

Fedora 7: /boot, LVM (/)
Windows XP Pro: NTFS

so i download a windows app that lets me read LVM directories and extract them, so i made an exact copy of my linux installation to a 120gb maxtor one touch III. my question is, if i upgrade to F8T3 and something gets screwed up, will i be able to revert by copying the files from the One Touch to linux? and not screw up windows?


-OCM770-

[-OCM770-]

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuump!

[SlowJet]

LVM does not have directories and I doubt that a windows app exists to do what you said you did.

However you can use whatever tool that read (and/or Writes) a linux file system like ext3) to backup from a f/s on an LVM Logical Volume.

LVM is a Volume Manager, not a file system. (Just like Windows Logical Volumes on a Dynamic disk, or a Slice on a Unix UFS.)

SJ

[-OCM770-]

It does exist i used it i think it is called ext2fs. I've got AN EXACT COPY OF MY LINUX INSTALLATION that i would like to use a backup incase something goes wrong, being able to copy that exact copy to the linux installation and have it boot. can i do this or not?


-OCM770-

[SlowJet]

I knew that.
That is really old and you need to install ntfs-ng tools and mount each f/s on it's LV (Logical Volume) of your VG(Volume Group).
But recovering a file or dir or f/s from a copy of will be missing it attributes and be non operational on Linux without some heavy intervention.

The proper way to backup an ext3 LV is to create a snapshot of the LV and then use tar with --preserve and -xattrs to create a tar archive to another f/s (such as your Windows device.)
Then you would use the tar archive to extract to a pre-formated f/s (on an LV) for recovery.

If you can't use snapshots, then a second OS (F8 Live cd) is needed to mount the lv's f/s as if it were data to create the tar archive..

Welcome to the 21st Century,

SJ

[-OCM770-]

Ok, can you help me doing that? i just want to have a backup of my linux installation, then being able to recover it easily.


-OCM770-

[-OCM770-]

Ok, so can i for example, reinstall fedora using ext3 instead of LVM and then replace the "/" with the "/" i backed up?

[SlowJet]

Man lvm
man (each lvm command)
man tar
man mount
man chown
man chmod
man chcon
man selinux
man fdisk
man fixfiles
man restroecon

search is your friend, We are all in the same boat and many have proceeded you with the same problems.

SJ

[-OCM770-]

Ok, so can i for example, reinstall fedora using ext3 instead of LVM and then replace the "/" with the "/" i backed up?
I just need an answer to that question. Simply put, i want to reinstall WITHOUT using LVM an be able to restore my data from the "/" i extracted. Can it be done?

[SlowJet]

Sure, but Fedora may not like the recovered f/s.

SJ

[-OCM770-]

Sure, but Fedora may not like the recovered f/s.

SJWhat percent chance do i have of it working? 70%? It would still be F7.


-OCM770-

[SlowJet]

You need to use the tar program to make a logical container of all the linux f/s parts.
If you copy it with a windows app to a windows drive you will just have dirs and files coming back to your linux and the system defaults will set permissions, SELinux contexts, acl's, ownership and so on.
Which may not be correct.

It is not about LVM or not, or a % of chance.
It is about what is being backed up, how it is being backed up, and whether that backup can be recovered in the same format.

SJ

[-OCM770-]

ok, i get it. I will install Fedora 7 on my 120gb external hard drive and then replace the "/" with the one i backed up from windows and see if it works BEFORE i do it on my main drive, will post results.


-OCM770-

[-OCM770-]

So, i tested this set up on a 120gb maxtor one touch III and booted of of it, it gave me a bunch of errors but it get to the GNOME desktop environment, no menus or anything only a terminal and it wouldn't start the wireless network so i declared it a failure. I decided if i wanted Ext3 and not LVM i would have to reinstall so that is what i did.


-OCM770-