Originally Posted by
Peter Neill
Does make you wonder why they don't give you an install CD when you buy the original controller though.
PP v2 will no longer fit on a CD ...
So the standard PP v2 install does include some routines to help save user settings & tool tables. However, unless you move them off your controller they are subject to be lost if your installation fails to boot for whatever reason. Also, hidden from the user, there are some options for backing-up your installation to a reserved partition on your HD via the GRUB menu.
Code:
Start PathPilot by Tormach
Alternative Linux Kernels (Tormach Use Only)
PathPilot Disk Restore (Advanced Use Only)
When selecting PathPilot Disk Restore these option are available:
Code:
Option 1: Restore to PathPilot Factory Default (Caution! erases settings, tool table, and gcode)
Option 2: Backup PathPilot Installation to Restore Partition (including settings, tool, table and gcode)
Option 3: Restore from PathPilot backup created via Option 2
Note: Unless you actually use Option 2, Option 3 is not going to get back any settings and/or gcode.
So under the hood these options are really being carried out by CloneZilla via some scripts that Tormach wrote.
As far as I know Tormach does not document any of this but as far as I'm concerned it's a moot point because none of this really helps you when your controller will not boot. Also, it does not allow you to duplicate the installation on to another device or allow you to back it up to a secure location.
In order to access the GRUB menu you can try pressing the "ESC" or "Shift" key during boot. If that fails, like on my machines, you will need to edit the GRUB file as follows. While PP is running open a terminal window using the keys "Ctrl+Alt+x". In the terminal we need to perform the following commands:
Code:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
changing
Code:
GRUB_TIMEOUT=0 to GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
The GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 should be commented out with #
Save your changes then run then reboot the controller.
I've have never used these functions but I would assume they work. I instead use the LIVE Clonezilla USB stick because it offers more functionally allowing you to make useful backups to a secure location. This way if the controller does not boot I can fix the problem or replace the controller & be back running exactly where I left off.
If you're running a standalone controller without any networking I would make a LIVE CloneZilla stick & use it to create a duplicate HD (SSD preferably), or, create an image of your controller onto another USB drive.
Since my machines are networked, and I have a NAS on that network, I use CloneZilla to make a backup image to my NAS. These backups only consume about 5 GB each.
There is plenty of information on how to use Clonezilla on the internet.