I have a Linux filesystem that I would like to make backups of. I want to image the entire filesystem, for later restoration if needed. However, this particular filesystem contains multiple hard links to some files, which must be preserved by the backup and properly re-linked when it is restored, exactly as they are now.
Is there a Linux tool that can efficiently image a filesystem, preserving hard links in the process? I would prefer an open source one if possible, although I’m willing to consider all options.
If you make an image of the filesystem, you will get it exactly as it was in the moment you did the image (links and everything, these are part of the filesystem information). You’re probably mistaken the filesystem itself with the logical entities it represents (files, directories…).
I personally used standard tool
ddlong time ago to make/restore partition backups, and it worked perfectly.