Create Backup Of Your Ubuntu To Distributable Ubuntu Live CD/DVD

I have been using Ubuntu for almost 3 years. I started using it since Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron was released. When Ubuntu releases a new upgrade, I prefer to do a fresh install rather than upgrade the package — even if it takes time to configure and restore my backup files so I can do my work. And when a work mate wanted to use Ubuntu too, I installed it for him and again configured and tweaked it so he could do his work. So I was thinking: is there a way to clone my Ubuntu instead of configuring it per installation?

When I searched for it, I found the answer. You can back up your Ubuntu completely and make a live CD and installation CD, so you just install it on any computer with your pre-configured packages already there. You can do it with Remastersys. Remastersys is a tool that can be used to do 2 things with an existing Klikit or Ubuntu or derivative installation. It can make a full system backup including personal data to a live CD or DVD that you can use anywhere and install. It can make a distributable copy you can share with friends — this will not have any of your personal user data in it.

To back up your Ubuntu to a Ubuntu Live CD:

1. Open your terminal and add the remastersys repository:

sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list

And add:

deb http://www.remastersys.klikit-linux.com/repository remastersys/

2. Update your repository:

sudo apt-get update

3. Install remastersys:

sudo apt-get install remastersys

4. This will take a while to finish the installation.

remastersys usage format:

sudo remastersys backup|clean|dist [cdfs|iso] [filename.iso]

remastersys usage samples:

1. To make a live CD/DVD backup of your system:

sudo remastersys backup

2. To make a live CD/DVD backup and call the ISO custom.iso:

sudo remastersys backup custom.iso

3. To clean up temporary files of remastersys:

sudo remastersys clean

4. To make a distributable live CD/DVD of your system:

sudo remastersys dist

5. To make a distributable live CD/DVD filesystem only:

sudo remastersys dist cdfs

6. To make a distributable ISO named custom.iso but only if the cdfs is already present:

sudo remastersys dist iso custom.iso

remastersys will exclude your home folder when you create a distributable live CD/DVD — it won’t copy it to the ISO image. And after you create your live CD/DVD, don’t forget to remove all temporary files created during the ISO generation as well as the /home/remastersys directory with the command “remastersys clean”.

So now I have my full backup system on the DVD. And I can install it on any computer without too much configuration and tweaking anymore.