using ssh

[CrashedAgain]

I am trying to backup my laptop (small HD) onto my desktop (lotsa room). I also want to see if I can make a remaster based on the system on may laptop but there is no room on the HD to do it so I want to see if I can create_compressed_fs over a ssh connection.
With the laptop running from Knoppix-on-CD, I have established a ssh connection. I am now running the laptop from a shell on the desktop, but of course I can no longer access the desktop from this shell.
So, how do I copy from the laptop to the desktop since I can not see them both in the same shell console?
Yes I can copy the files in Konqueror using fish but I also want to try to create_compressed_fs which needs to be done from a cli.
Something like create_compressed_fs <source=ssh:xxx/mnt/hda5> <target=my new compressed fs>. (This is not the proper format for the compessed fs command but the question is how do I specify the source address.)

[CrashedAgain]

OK, after several hours trying, it appears this is not possible, at least with ssh. Therefore I am resorting to simply trying to copy everything from <laptop>:hda5 to <desktop>:bakup file.

Uh-Oh. It appears this is not possible either. After several more hours, I have come to the conclusion that

1. the only way to transfer files with ssh connection is scp or sftp.
2. scp upchucks somewhere in the middle of trying to copy the /dev directory complaining of too many nested levels of links: it actually seems to be trying to create it's own links & had a level of about 60 accumulated in a few minutes.
3. sftp refuses to copy directories recursively. There are about 4500 directories, copying the files in each one as an individual operation is out of the question. In the end, sftp knoppix@192.168.2.160:./hda5/* copies only one file (vmlinuz). (hda5 is mounted on knoppix/hda5).
4. fish doesn't work either, copies all the directories but leaves many of them empty.

So: How do I copy the entire HDinstalled operating system laptop/hda5 to a bakup file on my desktop? I'm going to fiddle with the partition sizes on the laptop, fair chance it will trash the system.



Fis

[shah]

Have you try a combination of SSH, SHFS and RESYNC?

SHFS : http://shfs.sourceforge.net/
RESYNC : http://samba.anu.edu.au/rsync/

Please don't ask me how :D :D

[CrashedAgain]

Have you try a combination of SSH, SHFS and RESYNC?
....

Please don't ask me how :D :D

How? Oh please tell me how!

Seriously, it looks like that might work. I had never heard of shfs, I might be able to use it to 'remote remaster'.

I went ahead & resized the partitions anyway figuring that if it trashed I could rebuild it in less time than it takes to figure out how to make a backup. So far everything seems OK.

Thanks

[shah]

There is a reason why
Please don't ask me how :D :D .
Because I haven't try it and I don't need to.

From what I know, you need to run SSH server and use SHFS to mount the remote filesystem to a directory. Then use rsync to copy it.

Something to read:
http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/38
http://unit.aist.go.jp/it/knoppix/shfs/index-en.html

I can't find a good manual how to use shfs, but there is information on its site (installation guide).
Post your how to's here when you successful.
Good luck. :D

[Markus]

Would this be what you were looking for: http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/ImageYourHardDriveUsingKnoppix
In short: dd if=/dev/hda | gzip --fast -c | ssh user@remotehost /bin/dd of=/tmp/mypc_hda.img.gz