Norton Ghost usage, Linux? ISO? Server? MBR?

Question

Before evaluating Symantec/Norton Ghost to image partitions, I have a couple of questions about using this tool:

1. In the product page, it only mentions Windows: Can Norton image Linux partitions as well?
2. Can I burn an ISO to create/recover images? The ISO's I found seem only able to restore an image but not create one. Does it mean that images can only be created from within a running Windows?
3. For Windows partitions: Does it support both regular and Server versions? Acronis doesn't image Server partitions in the regular version
4. When restoring an image, does Norton give the option of including/excluding the MBR?

Thank you.

Solution 1

Just for the record, I will answer your questions based on Ghost (the Enterprise Edition),

Not their consumer product with the same name which has derived from "PowerQuest Drive Image" but has got in common with the 'real deal'.

Can Norton image Linux partitions as well?

Yes, Symantec Ghost added support for the ext2 filesystem in 1999 and for ext3 subsequently.

Does it mean that images can only be created from within a running Windows?

No, Ghost.exe works in a DOS environment, however, for better controller controller support I recommend Ghost32.exe from within a Windows environment (e.g. BartPE)

For Windows partitions: Does it support both regular and Server versions? Acronis doesn't image Server partitions in the regular version.

Symantec Ghost will clone any Windows drive/partition (even when encrypted with BitLocker, but Ghost will switch to 'sector mode' and the images will be accordingly large in size).

When restoring an image, does Norton give the option of including/excluding the MBR?

The command line switch -PMBR specifies that the master boot record of the destination disk be preserved when performing a Disk-to-Disk or Image-to-Disk operation.

For more information about Ghost, I recommend the Radified Guide to Norton Ghost:

This guide presents what many consider the ultimate back-up strategy. It is based on features found in Norton Ghost, a hard drive imaging/cloning software program developed by Symantec.

Although designed around Norton Ghost (considered the most reliable application of its kind), the strategies presented here (such as performing a test-restore, to ensure your back-up image will work when you really need it) can be applied to any disk cloning program.

On a personal note: I have cloned thousands of drives with Ghost, it never failed me. Ghost is still the reference and 'industry standard'. the only program I consider anywhere near Ghost would be Drive Snapshot.

Solution 2

From the system requirements

First question -

Supported File Systems and Devices

• FAT16, FAT16X, FAT32, FAT32X
• NTFS, GUID Partition Table (GPT)
• Dynamic Disks

So, unless Linux is covered under GPT, the answer would be no.

Second Question -

Not directly, the images you burn will simply be the data needed for a recovery. Ghost should come with a utility that allows you to access these disks.

Third Question -

I really don't know - Yes and No, I am guessing the problem with Acronis is simply an artificial limitation because they sell a server version. There should be no difference if you are performing a block level backup/image. I am guessing that Ghost will be the same - however, Acronis and Ghost both come wit a cut down bootable version for backing up / restoring... I am guessing that using this will bypass the restrictions.

Fourth Question -

You can choose either full disk or single partition so it must have the ability to exclude MBR

I have always used to think of Ghost to be "the standard" but in recent versions, they go one step forward with an amazing feature and then go two steps back with a restriction or something that just makes you wonder why they do it.

All my answers have been based on using previous versions of Ghost (with the exception of the specification of the first). If they have made it even worse, I would be surprised as these are key features.

Comments

[Iain]

Don't forget to try out the open source alternatives before you pay for Norton Ghost. osalt.com/ghost

[OverTheRainbow]

Using CloneZilla Live, I could successfully restore XP and Vista, but not W7. No idea if the issue is in CZ, Partition Image, partclone or ntfsclone.

[OverTheRainbow]

Thanks guys for the feedback. Indeed, Ghost seems to have gone through a number of changes over the years. I'll check if www.partimage.org works well enough for my needs.

[OverTheRainbow]

Thanks Molly. I intend to save/restore images on the same disk, where partition #1 is to restore the OS, and partition #2 is to store images. So I need the tool to restore the MBR as well so the OS is booted with its own MBR (eg. issues booting Vista from Grub). Will Ghost do this?