Hello Rich!   
      
   Wednesday February 11 2015 19:57, you wrote to All:   
      
    > The Linux hard drive my BBBS resides on is starting to fail. My   
    > question is what would be the best way for me to back up my BBBS setup   
    > so I can replace the hard drive, re-install Ubuntu Linux and then   
    > restore my BBBS setup?   
      
   1. Mount a spare drive to use for back up internal or external.   
   2. Turn off / shutdown BBBS service.   
   3. Confirm (2) has completed.   
   4. Mount spare backup drive.   
   5. Copy entire system using cp -ar  or  rsync (with verify) to back up drive.   
      including any other directories on same drive.   
   6. Connect replacement drive.   
   7. restore using cp -ar or  rsync (with verify) to new drive.   
   8. Make sure that the directoies is owned by the correct user/s.   
   9. Remove/umount drive used for backup & restore.   
   10. After shutting down remount new hard drive replacing defective unit.   
   11. Start the system and verify correct operation with no error messages in   
   log files for bbbs and /var/log/messages etc.   
      
      
   Vince   
      
   --- Mageia Linux v4/Mbse v1.0.4/GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20120229   
    * Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK (2:250/1)