How to make a multiple bootable disk in one external drive?

[mati]

Hi all, Peter in his book says that he has one multiple bootable disk in an external drive for all his computers, in case one dies.

Does anybody know how to do it or where in the web there is a how to article? With the new 500 gigas drives, it would be more than easy to backup several computers.

Thanks,

Mati

[Rick McCleary]

Mati -

Partition the external drive.  On Mac OSX, that is done using the Disk Utility.  Each partition is seen by the computer as a separate and unique volume.  Use one partition for each of your bootable OS back-ups.  I do that twice so I have two bootable OS back-ups of each computer.

BTW, I have found that Carbon Copy Cloner is the easiest, no-brainer way of creating a bootable back-up of your OS drive.

If you're on PC, others can chime in with advice.

Rick

[peterkrogh]

Norton Ghost is one for PC
Peter

[annbrooks]

I just heard that SuperDuper is good for this. I'm on OSX 3.9. Any comments, experience with SD?

Ann

[Joe Reifer]

I have just started using Super Duper - so far so good. The basic version that will clone is free to download. Nice interface, good manual, too.

Cheers,

Joe

[peterkrogh]

Make sure you test that bootability before you actually need it...
Peter

[-eric-]

I have just started using Super Duper - so far so good. The basic version that will clone is free to download. Nice interface, good manual, too.

We like SuperDuper quite a bit, and if you want to read something pretty interesting on the various tols out there for "cloning" Mac OS X volumes then follow this link:

http://blog.plasticsfuture.org/2006/03/05/the-state-of-backup-and-cloning-tools-under-mac-os-x/

Most service providers and technicians are now adopting Super Duper as their tool of choice. Although we'll still use Carbon Copy Cloner if the source drive is having problems (like bad sectors, etc). CCC will skirt around bad sectors if it can, wheras SuperDuper will just stall.

And as Peter suggests, definitely test your clones to make sure they're working right!

Happy cloning!

Eric Bullock
Mac Business Solutions

[peterkrogh]

Eric,
Great to see you coming around.  I keep hearing about SuperDuper, so I guess I'll have to give it a try.

For the uninitiated, MBS (where Eric works) is an excellent photographer-friendly Mac and Canon shop in the DC area that can help with computer/workstation/network/color/printing issues.
 
It's interesting to see the camera stores and labs recombining at the computer store...
Peter