IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!

For users of SUSE 9.2, I've gotten a response to a feedback on the newt problem. One of the SUSE developers has updated the newt package, and I'm in the process of testing it. So far it appears to be working fine. No more segfaults.

I've moved the latest version of the stable branch to this page for 9.0,9.1, and 9.2. All are working quite nicely here. They appear to be quite stable, and work with every type of backup media I've tried.  As Always, Your mileage may vary. If you have problems with them, Please email me with LOGS! Logs are the best way for me to figure out what is going on.

Thanks,

Mike

Mondo and Mindi are written by Hugo Rabson. I originally found it while reading an article in LinuxJournal and thought I'd give it a try. When first starting, I had a few problems, and as requested, sent email to Hugo. Wasn't long before I had an answer, and was up and running.
 
 

Mondo and it's companion program Mindi are just about the best backup programs available for Linux. It will backup to CDR/RW, Tape, NFS, or .iso files for later use.  I've found is that there are some minor problems using it with SuSE. I've created the necessary rpm files so that others won't have to go through the trouble that I had.  Mindi can also be used to create a rescue image that you can use either from  floppy or CD.

For SuSE 7.3, the following need to be updated or installed.

Isolinux -- needed by Mindi to create the bootable CD or Floppy

Slang -- Update. The version of Slang included with SuSE 7.3 doesn't work. This one does.

Newt -- Update. It was originally thought that Newt was the problem getting Mondorestore to work. If you have problems try this update.

Mondo -- Compiled for SuSE.

Mindi -- Same as Mondo.
 
 

For SuSE 8.x, the following files should be updated or replaced
 
 

Syslinux -- The file locations that SuSE uses don't work with Mondo. I modified the location of isolinux.bin to make it work. Mindi now recognizes Syslinux and should install without problems. If you do experience problems with Mindi telling you that Syslinux isn't installed, then install with the --nodeps option.

Mondo -- Compiled for SuSE 

Mindi -- Compiled for  SuSE.

Slang -- The supplied version with SuSE 8.0 creates a Seg fault during Compare. This one works. Just install with rpm -Uvh

Newt   -- Should also be updated in SuSE 8.0. On some systems it has been found to cause a segfault.

Note for SuSE 8.0 users!!  

With the new version of Mondo and Mindi you must make the following command

ln -s /sbin/mkdosfs /sbin/mkfs.vfat

This is missing from the dosutils rpm that SuSE supplies.

For users of SuSE 8.1

SuSE does not include the newt rpms on their distribution. Slang is there however and it works. The best thing to do is pick up newt. Also, if you are using a tape system for backup, it is a must to update the glibc rpms from SuSE. The one that comes with the original distribution is broken and has been fixed with the update.

For those of you that are using the gui, the old versions of newt in 0.50.xx range doesn't work. I created a newer version that works. It can be found here. I've also updated Mondo and Mindi. I have tested the gui presentations on my 8.1 system, and it works in both backup and compare. Newt-devel is also available on the ftp site.

I have completed a backup and 'NUKE' restore using the latest stable snapshots of Mondo and Mindi. As my system is completely SCSI, I can not vouch for using it with ide-scsi burners or on ide drives. It should work without any problems. You can get the latest snapshots from Hugo's webpage. Once there is another stable release, I'll create the rpms for this page.

For those of you that are having trouble with restoring from the latest backup, I have created some new files that are available for testing. I've run a backup and compared after booting from the CDs. If you are interested in trying these they are located on my ftp site .

Hopefully these will help with the segfault problems folks have been having.

SuSE 8.2

I have completed a backup and NUKE restore using the latest daily updates from Mondo and Mindi. This was done on my test system using IDE type drive, and a default (almost install). SuSE 8.2 doesn't come with newt again, so you will have to download the version above. I also have the files available on my ftp site in the pub/mondo/suse/testing folder. It seems that the new slang that is comes with SuSE 8.2 is better than the one from 8.1. I've re-compiled it and will be testing it on my 8.1 box. 

SuSE 9.0

For users of SuSE 9.0, Newt and Slang are both supplied with the distribution. Both seemed to work until I tried the gui. So, again, I've got an update to 0.51.0 that has worked for me so far. I don't usually use the gui, as there are several things I prefer to set by hand. Anyway, a new newt, along with Mondo and Mindi. These are also available on the ftp site in pub/suse/latest folder. 

SUSE 9.1 

For users of SUSE 9.1, the Newt that comes with it is still messed up. I have rolled an RPM of version 0.51.0 that works here. I've also rolled Mondo and Mindi from the stable branch. There is now support for the 2.6 kernel, and DVD support. I have backed up my production machine and done a compare using CDR media. 100% perfect compare. I have also done a backup and nuke using DVD media on my test machine. Again, I've had no problems. YMMV! ;-) Give it a try, and I hope it works. If you have problems, feel free to email me. Please send any logs as they are very helpful. The files are also available on my ftp site mentioned elsewhere. They are located in latest/9.1 directory.

SUSE 9.2

I hate to say it, but Newt in 9.2 is still messed up. I don't understand why they won't update to the later versions. I'm going to file ANOTHER report with them in hopes of getting it fixed, but I doubt it will happen. I've rolled one of the latest version of Mondo and Mindi and tested them using they newt I rolled. You WILL need to download the newt along with these. I've done a backup and compare with these and it ran quite nicely. I must warn though that they haven't been tested completely so use at your own risk. If you have problems feel free to email me. I will also have the files available on the ftp site soon.

I have discovered that if you do the install from CD, afio, buffer, and syslinux are not available. They are on the DVD, but I've got one computer that refuses to read it. So the files are here for those that need them.

As mentioned above, I got an answer from SUSE on my feedback for newt. These files are directly from SUSE.com.
newt
newt-devel
newt source

These files are specific to 9.2.

After a lot of work, and talking with the maintainers of Mondo and Mindi at SUSE, we finally have a working version. Mondo is here, and also Mindi. Both have been tested, and work quite well on X86 machines. I'll be installing it on my 10.0 X86_64 machine later and finding out if it works there too.

Hints and Tips:

1. If you have a dual-boot system, and want to backup your Windows partition, you MUST mount the partition before you start the backup.

2. With the normal SuSE installation, there are two kernels in the /boot directory. You must specify one of them on the command line with the -k option. This in only for the early versions prior to 9.0.

3. For those of you that are using versions of SuSE prior to 7.3, you will have to update LILO from ftp.suse.com. If you don't update, Mondo will tell you it can't continue. The versions of Mondo and Mindi from 7.3 should work.

4. For those folks that are running the smp kernels, and having problems with acpi, you can add the commands acpi=off to the isolinux.cfg found in /usr/local/share/mindi directory. I had to use it for the adaptec driver as it wouldn't load without it.

5. For those that would like to download the files via ftp, they can be found at ftp.mikenjane.net.

6. For those running SUSE 9.1 or 9.2, make sure that you remove any media from your CD/DVD drives. I've found that mondo will find the disks, and attempt to back them up. It has something to do with automount, and subfs.

7. SEND YOUR LOGS. They are the best way to determine what is happening.

If you have any problems, feel free to either contact me through the mondo list, or directly at    (Note: Remove the zzz in the address before sending). Please note -- Although this site is on a German server, my German isn't that good, and I'll answer most email in English. Hopefully we can get everything working
 
 

 Latest Update -- 27 Aug 06