Remastersys.

11-06-2008–Changed the contents of the conf file and added the CDBOOTTYPE option to the example in this article

I found this great little app. called Remastersys, that I use for backing up or as I call it making a snapshot of our systems.

It was written by Tony Brijeski aka Fragadelic. And he wrote it as a backup utility for Klikit-Linux(powered by Kubuntu) and Ubuntu.  I was looking for something that would make backing up my Kubuntu installs(we have 5 computers all running Kubuntu) easy.

Tony wanted a simple way to create a distributable copy of a Ubuntu or derivative installation.  This is done by making a live CD or DVD. I’ve made several backups already using Remastersys and i must say I love it.

I use it as a command line app. but for clickers there is a GUI available.

I like using Terminal to do stuff in Kubuntu so that’s the way where going to install this first.  The clickers will find the install instructions further down.

We need to start by adding the Remastersys repository to the sources list of apt(I use nano but you may use any text editor available):

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Add the following lines to the bottom of this file:

# Remastersys
deb http://www.remastersys.klikit-linux.com/repository remastersys/

After this save the file.  To save the file with nano click ctrl+x then y and hit enter.

Now lets install Remastersys:

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

Then you’re all set to start using Remastersys.

Click by Click install.

Click the Kubuntu button.  Go to “System” and click “Adept Manager – Manage Packages”.  Adept Manager will now open click on “Adept” in the dropdown menu now click on “Manage Reposetories” click the second tab called “Third Party Software” then click “Add” then add the following line:

deb http://www.remastersys.klikit-linux.com/repository remastersys/

Click Ok click close a window will pop-up telling you “The information about available software is out-of-date” click “Reload”(I’m assuming that the computer is connected to the internet). No type Remastersys in the search box.  Then right click on Remastersys and select “Request Install” click on “Apply Changes”.  Adept will now install Remastersys after Adept is done close it.  Scroll down or click here to go to the part on how to use Remastersys.

Now we can start backing up the system.

We can first make some changes to the configuration file I’ll provide mine so you can steal it and make the changes you want to it.

In terminal type:

sudo nano /etc/remastersys.conf

Here is the contents of mine.

#Remastersys Global Configuration File

# This is the temporary working directory and won't be included on the cd/dvd
WORKDIR="/home/remastersys"

# Here you can add any other files or directories to be excluded from the live filesystem
# Separate each entry with a space
EXCLUDES=""

# Here you can change the livecd/dvd username
LIVEUSER="madberry"

# Here you can change the name of the livecd/dvd label
LIVECDLABEL="Backup $(date +%Y%m%d)"

# Here you can change the name of the ISO file that is created
CUSTOMISO="$(date +%Y%m%d)_$1_$(hostname).iso"

# Here you can set whether you want to use ISOLINUX or GRUB(must be all capitals) for the livecd boot method
CDBOOTTYPE="ISOLINUX"

Let’s explain:

I’ve changed LIVECDLABEL and CUSTOMISO to include the date.In the ISO name I also have the host name as I Remastersys more then one system and store the backups on a server.

Close the file (ctrl+x type y hit enter).

Now we can start backing up systems.  There are 2 ways of making a backup

sudo remastersys dist

Which will create a live distributable CD or DVD.  If you want to do this then make sure you haven’t installed any proprietary drivers because the systems that the CD/DVD might be used on will probably not have that hardware in it.

And:

sudo remastersys backup

Which will also copy over your userfiles out of /home/username.
After you create the Live CD or DVD and have tested it to make sure everything work you have the option to clean up all of Remastersys’s files by running:

sudo remastersys clean

there are a couple more options just run:

remastersys --help

And see for yourself.

GUI Lovers here is your “how to”.

Point you mouse to the Kubuntu button and click you will find Remastersys under “System” click it and this is what you will see:

Most of this will need little explaining if you read through my entire post.

That’s it the first post is done leave comments if you have any questions or remarks.

Laterzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
[mad]Berry