Re: [PLUG] Best tool to image a dynamic disk?

[PaulNM <plug@paulscrap.com>]

On 03/06/2017 04:01 PM, Greg Helledy wrote:
> We have a couple of servers using dynamic disks with GUID partition
> tables.  They hold mdadm volumes (linux software RAID).
>
> A co-worker suggested making an image of the drives, to have something
> to start with in case of a major failure.  We went to use a tool he's
> relied on called Paragon, which boots off a DVD into a Windows OS to
> perform the operation.  But it cannot do dynamic disks.
>
> Does anyone have a recommendation for the best tool to use to make
> images of the dynamic disks on our servers?
>
> Thanks,

Brent gave a better, more detailed answer. I just want to point out that 
if the only purpose of these disks is to act as physical disks for 
mdadm, you're probably better off reformatting to standard mbr/gpt. 
There's no reason to use a proprietary and poorly documented partition 
layout, especially if there are no pluses to doing so. It's actually 
hindering your flexibility.

If the raid array you have setup is empty, then it'll be easy to 
reformat. If it's not empty, you could back it up, redo the array, then 
restore. Otherwise you'll have to fail one disk, reformat it, add back 
to the array, then let it rebuild. Then repeat for each drive. Unless 
your using RAID 0, in which case you're hosed. :)

If there are other partitions used by Windows that you're dual booting 
this system with, then things get complicated. You'll just have to live 
with it unless you can change things to basic disks. You'd have to 
backup the Linux stuff as the mdadm partitions can't be "converted" by 
Windows.

I checked, and my favorite imaging tool (Clonezilla) can technically 
back up dynamic disks just fine. It can't restore them though, so no 
real point to it then. ;)

Dual boot systems where multiple OS's need raid arrays is one of those 
edge cases that actually warrant hardware or fake raid setups.

- PaulNM
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