1306 replies to this topic

[Pedro_Newbie]

As ColinB suggested:

- The back-up date, the real image which is backed-up (Openpli 3 or Openpli 4) and the date of the last update is reported in imageversion, e.g.:

Backup date = 20131101
Image       = openpli4
Last update = 2013.11.01-22:29:04

The file imageversion is now included in all back-ups, so for the VU+'s there is an extra file in the back-up folder.

(also replaced the picons/plugin.png)

[gorski]

Hi, Pedro!

 

Thanx for the effort!!!

 

First of all, I didn't quite use this sort of thing since DBox2 days in PB images I used on it, so I am very rusty...

 

On top it all, I haven't really used the backup tools in PBNIGMA, that I used the most, so maybe this post of mine will be superfluous - but maybe asking these questions may help somebody...

 

So, a few questions, if I may, please (bear with me, I am a bit ill and have no energy to go through all this from scratch and experiment, sorry):

 

1) Is this suite of yours compatible with PBNIGMA, would you know (OPenPLi based)?

 

2) Can one make a complete image backup - if that is possible at all (in any E2 image)? Say, we add a plugin and it messes it all up and we would like to return things to the way they were before that last plugin was installed - can do or no way?

 

3) If one makes a backup only of general settings (my mounts [as opposed to autofs] are included, I presume?), plugins and channels list, does one return the backed-up up stuff immediately after re-installation of an image or do we need to perform any additional tasks before it is possible to return the backup (like mount external devices in images that do not have autofs mounting enabled)?

 

4) I suppose if I place the picons, epg, subtitles etc. on a USB memory stick, they will all "just work" after installing the backed-up stuff?

 

5) If I install a newer or older image, that might differ slightly in structure - are there any serious problems with that? I mean, can your plugin detect it and compensate or is it more mechanical, so to speak?

 

Thanx again for your efforts! If one has loads of LNBs,  and so on, and if this works properly - it's a saviour!!!

[Pedro_Newbie]

1) I really don't know I don't know the PBNIGMA images. This BackupSuite is only suitable to make complete back-ups of VU+, Xtrend and XP1000 receivers, no Dreambox.
2) The made images are a complete snapshot of your system, so if you (or a plugin) messes up you will be able to flash the back-up just like a new image and you are back and running within 2 or 3 minutes.
3) The BackupSuite only makes complete images, it doesn't back-up only settings. What you are looking for is the kind of back-ups made by the autobackup plugin. If you enable the making of an autoinstall file with this back-up program then after a clean flash of a new image all your settings are restored and all additional plugins installed, even plugins which are not on the fed could be installed automatic if you store these local and point to this place in your autoinstall file.
4) Yes
5) My plugin restores complete images so overwriting all existing stuff in your box. My back-ups don't compensate anything.

It is wise to have the autobackup plugin (installed by default) running everyday to make back-ups of your settings AND to let it make an autoinstall file, this can save you lots of work especially if you have a "difficult" configuration of LNB's

[gorski]

Thanx a bunch, m8!!!

 

I will test and report back, when I'm in better health...

 

Cheers!

[ColinB]

@Pedro_Newbie,

 

looking good, many thanks.

 

One thing I just noticed, but not connected with your plugin, is, If you restore an image, Enigma records the current date in the Info panel as Last Upgrade, even though it hasn't been updated that day.

 

Thanks again

[Pedro_Newbie]

Here is a little changed version, fixed some cosmetics and a little bug.
Also extended the logging in /tmp/BackupSuite.log
Here's a screenshot (only it is in German)

Attached Files

•  enigma2-plugin-extensions-backupsuite_13.5_mips32el.ipk   48.03KB   33 downloads

Edited by Pedro_Newbie, 2 November 2013 - 11:45.

[littlesat]

I did just see this...

[ColinB]

Nice One

 

thanks ColinB

[gorski]

A couple of additional questions, if I may (sorry, I am ill, so no energy yet to install anything):

 

1) I suppose I can easily direct the backup to a USB memory stick, not necessarily to an HDD?

 

1a) Is there a GUI for the suite or do I edit the files in Notepad++ or so?

 

2) Can I make a partial backup of only the etc/settings file (for my many LNBs and all the other A-V, network etc.config), plugins and tools, plus a channels list?

 

Or is your suite only for whole images and I must use something else for that?

 

Thanx!

[Frogman]

1) yes

 

1a) To edit which files?

 

2) No - but for this purpose there is the built-in backup tool of OpenPLi.

Edited by Frogman, 2 November 2013 - 13:20.

[gorski]

1a) Config files, telling the app where to send tha package created...

 

Thanx!

[Pedro_Newbie]

There are 2 parts
- to hdd (and usb)
- to usb

HDD/USB
To HDD/USB writes to the harddisk in the same name as on the usb when you flash, e.g. /vuplus/solo2 or /et9x000 and there is a copy placed in the folder /fullbackup_<model> e.g. /fullbackup_solo2.
If a valid USB-stick is placed in one of the USB-ports there will be made an additional copy onto USB ready to flash immediately.
To USB works only if you make a FILE with the name backupstick or backupstick.txt (or any other name as long as there is the part backupstick in the name).

USB
As above with the difference that all the processing takes place on the USB-stick, so no HDD needed. The USB is also ready to flash/restore the backed up image.

So no need to configure any parameters expect the creation of a file wtih the name backupstick on the USB.

I tried to make it full/fool proof

 

Just try it, it only takes 30 seconds to install and 2 minutes to run the back-up (on a solo2)

[ColinB]

@Pedro_Newbie

 

I have a question that's been bugging me since I got my E2 stb.

 

The XP1000 has only one rear mounted USB port. If I needed to do physical flash from USB, ie USB/XP1000/(image-files) my USB needs to be formatted as FAT32. I then power-off power-on and press the +button on the front of the stb to begin the flash. Your excellent plugin writes my backup to media/usb/xp1000.

 

However if my USB is formatted as ext3,4 then I can't flash that way from USB.

 

Question ?  If I leave my USB as Fat32, which gives me all the benefits of your plugin, would I be making a compromise to some other part of my system ?

 

 

I tried in the past to partition my USB-stick 2Gb Fat32 with the remainder in ext format. Which seemed to cover all bases. (32Gb USB stick) but found only one person confirming that they did it this way.

 

Do you have an opinion either way on what to do in my situation (XP1000 with single rear USB) ? Stay with Fat32, Partition or go ext and have to swap USB when a physical flash may be required.

 

 

best regards ColinB

[betacentauri]

It depends on what you want to do with the USB stick. If you want to use it for e.g. backups, picons, FAT32 is Ok. If you want to store timeshift files (using permanent timeshift plugin) or big recording on the stick, FAT32 is bad, because files can't be larger than 4GB and FAT32 supports no hard links (which is needed by PTS plugin).

[ColinB]

It depends on what you want to do with the USB stick. If you want to use it for e.g. backups, picons, FAT32 is Ok. If you want to store timeshift files (using permanent timeshift plugin) or big recording on the stick, FAT32 is bad, because files can't be larger than 4GB and FAT32 supports no hard links (which is needed by PTS plugin).

Many thanks Betacentauri,

 

this seems to be one of those evill flaws. I must admit, I gave up on PTS for this very reason. As this thread belongs to Backup-Suite, maybe I should raise a new thread on the merits/demerits of usb formatting.

 

 

Thanks again to Pedro_Newbie, I think those that use this plugin will not be disappointed

 

ColinB.

[gorski]

Would a self-powered multiple USB extension work for 2 USB sticks, formatted differently? Or HDD + USB stick? Or HDD and 2 x USB stick? Or HDD and 1 USB stick with 2 partitions (FAT32 and EXT3/4)?

 

I also have XP1000 (in the bedroom, as a second STB device), so... would be good to know...

Edited by gorski, 2 November 2013 - 21:21.

[Pedro_Newbie]

That shouldn't be a problem, I tested about 1.5 year ago an USB hub on the VU Duo filled with USB-sticks and also the other 2 ports with an USB stick, totalling 6 USB sticks attached, this wasn't a problem.

[ColinB]

@Pedro_Newbie

@gorski

 

It is your thread Pedro_Newbie, so here goes

 

(Backup-Suite 5 stars).

 

How can I have a soft back-up & get PTS to work ? from a single USB port ?

[Meega]

@Pedro_Newbie

@gorski

 

It is your thread Pedro_Newbie, so here goes

 

(Backup-Suite 5 stars).

 

How can I have a soft back-up & get PTS to work ? from a single USB port ?

Use a powerd hub with 1 stick labeled PTS

[Pedro_Newbie]

Indeed, a powered USB hub with 2 (or more) USB-sticks, one formatted in ext3 or ext4 for the PTS and one formatted in FAT for the back-ups.

But one thing to bear in mind, does the XP1000 starts flashing immediately at reboot with a stick attached or has it to be confirmed with an key press?