Backup as an .img file to be used with RPi Imager?

[Terabyte1385]

Can raspiBackup be used to create a .img file which can go directly in the Raspberry Pi Imager and clone directly to another storage medium? Thanks in advance

[framps]

Yes. The Imager allows to select any custom Image for restore which includes a DD image

[Terabyte1385]

Sorry for my late reply, just returned from vacation.

Would you mind helping me set up this functionality? With default settings it's only creating some sort of folder w/ the entire SD card tree on my USB drive I use for storing the backups. Either how can I make raspiBackup just make it all a bootable .img file or package it into .img later?

Thanks a ton

[framps]

You have to use the backup type dd. Just use the installer to change the default backup type from rsync to dd. Then you get a .img backup of your whole sd card on your usb drive which you can restore with the imager.

Please read this page for pros and cons of the different backup types. If you use raspiBackup to restore your backup instead of the imager you can also use backup type tar or rsync and get the pros of these two backup types.

[Terabyte1385]

Thanks! Will definitely check it out.

[framps]

If you face any issues just reopen this discussion 😉

[Terabyte1385]

Is there a way to restrict the size of dd image? I have a 64GB USB (usable space 57GB), and backing up a 64GB SD card, so it doesn't fit. Can I restrict the size to something along the lines of (space used) + 5GB empty to be able to use raspi-config later to reclaim the unused space off of that 64GB card?

Edit: I think it's possible to do this via a parameter in dd, but raspiBackup doesn't offer an option to customise the command or parameters of commands as far as I know.

[framps]

Please read FAQ16

[Terabyte1385]

Just for clarification; if I set the DEFAULT_DD_BACKUP_SAVE_USED_PARTITIONS_ONLY parameter and I had 10GB used on my SD card, will raspiBackup make an image that's 10GB (image containing only the files, no "buffer")? Or is there another command to be run afterwards to shrink the image?

[framps]

If you want to save only 10GB you have to reduce the size of the second partition with resizefs to 10GB first. Then raspiBackup will only save 10GB. When you restore this 10GB backup it will use 10GB only. Then use resizefs or raspi-config to extended the second partition again.

[Terabyte1385]

Awesome. I'll give that a shot. Thanks for taking the time to explain this to me!