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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Ones I have used: GNOME Disks' create and restore image features. Possibly Mint's mintstick for writing a distro's .iso out to a USB stick. I am not too sure on that.
I assume old-school dd still works as well, which might be a better option for scripted backups or minimal systems.
Ddeez nuts
Clonezilla and Rescuezilla The Clonezilla method takes a bit time to get used to (but I like it). Rescuezilla comes with a GUI.
Clonezilla has been my goto backup / restore solution for years. I've used it on everything from RaspberryPi SD Cards to a Dell Poweredge server with PERC RAID controller (because some fool setup the wrong RAID parameters).
I didn't know about Rescuezilla though... so thanks for that.
To add to this. Take a look at the fog server project. It allows you to PXE boot and pull and push images in a automated way.
Definitely ddrescue. Unlike traditional dd, it can deal with failing drives, it's operation is resumable, and has some other features that's helpful. I would recommend using it even if your drive is fine.
What it produces is a byte for byte copy just like dd.
After learning how to install medicat i discovered ventoy. With ventoy you can copy and paste how ever many bootable iso files you like into it and run them all from the same drive/partition from a selectable boot menu. It's amazing, I won't be using dd anymore for boot disks.
Careful where you point that thing. I unintentionally disrupted someone's life by introducing them to ventoy. Now they have been distrohopping like crazy because of how easy it is.
😀
Gnome disk utility.
I like it so much I have it on my KDE boxes too.
It crashes for me when I try to write a image
cp
pv. It's just cat, with a progress meter.
The native tools
DD is the best for 1-1 copying, but I like to use CloneZilla, because it can compress and encrypt the images.
Ventoy. I love it so much, being able to have more than one bootable iso and storage on a usb.
Although, it is slower to boot the more folders you have, since it scans all folders, but this is configurable
I use nix-shell to get the ventoy cli for when I need to install it to a usb stick.
cp.
@uhmbah
I use gnome-disks.
Then according to this german article:
gnulinux.ch/raw-images-verklei…
I reduce the images Partition to the smallest possible.
edit it's content with kpartx and remove cache, tmp and trashbin
and reduce the disk and image size with pishrink.