Backup vs Reinstall
 

I am thinking of backing up manjaro.

It occurs to me that instead of using Clonezilla, I could simply re-install using the live pendrive, update using Octopi, and then re-install any data files I like backed up externally.

Why bother with Clonezilla?

I personally would not use Clonezilla:-

A fresh install only takes a few minutes and generally brings forth a successul installation.

Has it been a long time since you backed up Manjaro?

The benefit of an "image" is that all the packages you installed and all your constomisation is in place. Of course it's a point-in-time so gradually gets out of date in the regard too.
Each has its good points, but I have not attempted to use Clonezilla in years.

I initially installed manjaro about a month ago. I have not backed up the OS. I don't think its necessary. I have a live DVD and pendrive of the OS. If I need to re-install, I can use either, then update, and download my backups. Seems workable to me.

If it is a long time since the initial installation, then presumable Octopi would have a lot of updates to install. I could just let it run. I assume, because I have not done it, that it would bring the OS up to date - not sure about the apllications. But if it did not update the applications, I assume that I could manually update them.

Best wishes

Great Question!
Save the data! The system is ephemeral.
</opinion>

rsync is ubiquitous.

I disagree

You need to reconfigure every config file.
setup your user
setup permissions, network and such

The just a few minutes are just a joke.
even on a CR-700 old notebook which is just used for playing card games, the setup process with linux mint takes ~2 hours.

e.g. linux mint: update sevearl times the stupid package manager, because it can not reload itself. watch over the package manager. also the package manager is unable to run several instances. i usually run at least 2-3 different portage jobs. crap package manager, where searching for usual packages takes ages.
and the always reload package manager, sorry i can not find the ressources for the downloads. several times beeing told than there are new packages.

some binary distros just sucks in regard of setup time, especially arch linux and linux mint / ubuntu

--

The basic principle of my backups are cp -avr ... ...
check my signature for the hole process

--

and i agree i would not use any of those stupid linux backup software. i tried many over the past years with gentoo, and none was really useable. And some are very complicated

even acronis trueimage, i have at least 3-5 licenses, just sucks

plain old copy + creating bootloader / partitions according to the gentoo handbook / + encryption for various reasons

I think it all depends on what sort of system you have set up.

I have quite a complicated system. Some packages involve quite a lot of configuration, and the origins of the packages are quite varied. A complete fresh reinstall and configuration takes me up to a day. So, system snapshots and partition images make a lot of sense for me. A fresh install is only something I would do in the case of a major distro update (and only then, just because it's a good idea to have a spring clean from time to time).

I have a live DVD and re-installing the system is easy. There is no configuration, other than choices made by the user at install. A re-install would be the same as the initial install

Just a few minutes...I Meant the install not the setting up part:-

Yes, I agree it does depend on what sort of system you have to set up.

The most it's taken me to set up a system is a day like you. But even that can depend on how much tweaking one would want to do.

Have you used Conezilla and had success hydrurga?

Sorry, I haven't tried Clonezilla, Ztoracat. In my Windows days, I used Macrium Reflect and got so used to it that I've kept on using that for my Linux systems, booting off a YUMI multiboot USB key to image my partitions. It has saved my goose on several occasions.

Ok, thanks.

When it comes time to upgrade my Peppermint OS I'll give Clonezilla a spin and see what happens.

After reading a few articles in a Google search I launched about Clonezilla I found it mentioned that sometimes Clonezilla can't find the partition. Hope that's not the case. Guess I'll find out when I go to use it:-

Found this article if anyone wants to read through the tutorial and try it. Looks like a lot of work to me:-

https://www.tecmint.com/linux-centos...ng-clonezilla/

As I said, I haven't used CloneZilla, but like most things, if you do it a few times then it becomes second nature (but magic to someone else looking on ;) ).

Roger that:-

Have a good weekend-;)