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I am interested in backing and restore my linux file-sytem to an external ntfs drive in an extremely fast way, not interested in compression but needs a compression method to preserve its file permission system.

Is ISO format suitable for my purpose?

pasmon 79
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    I prefer using .img files as created with Gnome-Disks, (which comes with Ubuntu). I usually run it from a Live USB. It also backs up the bootloader so the restored OS is bootable. Some people prefer Clonezilla. .img files can be stored on a NTFS disk. See also: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1300540/how-to-duplicate-a-ubuntu-system-for-distribution – C.S.Cameron Feb 03 '21 at 06:02
  • I wish to store and sync files on iso via rsync using incremental backup system. – pasmon 79 Feb 03 '21 at 07:16
  • Perhaps take a look at Rsync or if you prefer a GUI, Grsync. – C.S.Cameron Feb 03 '21 at 07:24
  • Does ISO preserve linux based file permissions? – pasmon 79 Feb 03 '21 at 08:13
  • I don't know about ISO but IMG does. – C.S.Cameron Feb 03 '21 at 08:25
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    I suggest that you use Clonezilla, which is fast and provides compression. You can create an image (a directory with several files) of a whole drive or of one or more partitions. If you want a complete image, that restores to a fully working system, I suggest that you makes an image of the whole drive. – sudodus Feb 04 '21 at 11:47
  • Well I am an academician and only needs my OS to run research related packages and software so no need to back up the whole server :). Incremental backup with rsync on an IMG disk will suffice. – pasmon 79 Feb 07 '21 at 06:40

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Well I have built an empty iso of around 70GB file on my ubuntu system, then converted iso to ext4 system using guide from http://freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/create_mountable_disk_image_gnulinux/

I have checked and verified that the linux filesystem stored on iso based ext 4 file-system does indeed preserve filesystem permissions and also support incremental backup from rsync when mounted via "loop" method on your linux system.

But there is no compression, but now you have an archive file that may be carried on your usb(any file-system), while cloning your system on fly.

You may also use resize2fs command to resize(enlarge or shrink(be careful)) according to your need while using command suggested at "Re-size" the .img for smaller SD-card. How to SHRINK a bootable SD card image.

However, ideally one must keep a static copy and a second dynamical resizable version for precaution or one can simply just use sparse img file.

pasmon 79
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