Announcing ODIN A free open source disk imaging tool
#1
Posted 01 October 2008 - 08:55 PM
ODIN (Open Disk Imager in a Nutshell) is a simple stand-alone program running under Windows. I does not require installation, can be run even from CD or USB stick. ODIN uses the Windows API for raw disk access which ensures robustness and support of all Windows file systems (but therefore does not give you support of file system from other OS like ext3). ODIN can save only used blocks, optional compress data and split files. It runs under Windows PE (I tried with Bart PE). Using a boot CD is currently the only way to backup a Windows partition as backup of the system partition from a running Windows installation is not yet supported. ODIN can verify backup images for damages before restoring them to disk.
ODIN 0.1 is still in an early phase of development, not as powerful as commercial imagers but therefore very lightweight. There seems to be always have been a lack of freely available open source based disk imagers running under Windows. Having the possibility to integrate such a useful tool into boot disks without license issues might be attractive for one or the other reading this forum. And not having to deal any longer with questions whether /dev/hdax is my drive Y: or Z.: when I want to backup my PC to save the hours of installation efforts is an advantage in my opinion ...
Comments are welcome.
#2
Posted 01 October 2008 - 10:37 PM
#3
Posted 01 October 2008 - 10:40 PM
Your project seems very interesting and for the initial beta it does look simple and robust already.
I'm mostly a DriveImageXML user but I'm certainly willing to try other alternative as well.
-------
I've visited the sourceforge page to try out the program - would you mind posting some screenshots on your initial topic to give a better idea of what to expect for other users?
Very small sized program, good work.
#4
Posted 02 October 2008 - 02:07 AM
license.html
ODIN.exe
ODIN_en.chm
#5
Posted 02 October 2008 - 02:31 AM
Suggestions: a) option to encypt the backup archive; b) option to mount archive so as to restore individual files; c) make use of vss so that hot backup is an option. These are options I personally look for in disk imaging software.
Regards,
Galapo.
#6
Posted 02 October 2008 - 06:20 AM
Other things in my mind:
- command line interface
- writing a log file for bug tracking
- network interface to be able to remote backup/restore
Encryption is a nice idea as well, but currently you can encrypt the image file with any existing tool (ok not so convenient of course)
Having the ability to mount an image as a drive is a feature I really would like to have. This would require to dig in driver development of WIndows which I never did so far... we will see
Thanks for your feedback.
#7
Posted 02 October 2008 - 08:43 AM
Other things in my mind:
- command line interface
Having the ability to mount an image as a drive is a feature I really would like to have. This would require to dig in driver development of WIndows which I never did so far... we will see
You can "include" in your program either IMDISK or VDK, both are free AND open source.
http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html
http://chitchat.at.i...vmware/vdk.html
jaclaz
#8
Posted 02 October 2008 - 12:55 PM
You can "include" in your program either IMDISK or VDK, both are free AND open source.
http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html
http://chitchat.at.i...vmware/vdk.html
jaclaz
Interesting option, need to take a closer look on this! Thanks for giving this hint.
#9
Posted 02 October 2008 - 01:35 PM
You are welcome.Interesting option, need to take a closer look on this! Thanks for giving this hint.
Please note that IMDISK will mount partitions only ("bypassing" hidden sectors, i.e. "LogicalDrive"), while VDK mounts "whole" hard-disks (thus allowing access through \\.\PhysicalDriven)
If you need/want access to MBR and hidden sectors, you will need VDK.
jaclaz
#10
Posted 08 November 2008 - 05:52 PM
Cheersversion 0.11
=============
Bug fixes:
- Crash when partition is saved to a network drive
- Avoid saving "Browse..." entry if no file is contained in the file combo box
Changes:
- Add warning to reboot system after a restore of a complete disk (sometimes not recognized)
- If restore volume fails do not try to unlock disk (exception as disk was not locked)
- use generated build number in version info
#11
Posted 08 November 2008 - 06:04 PM
@Jotnar
bacause nick names do not tell much, please allow me to be curious:
Is one or both of you developer in that project?
Peter
#12
Posted 09 November 2008 - 02:18 PM
It is a fact that ghost is the father of all imaging software. Not for its age but for its numerous abilities. Never again such a small program could do so many jobs, such as reading ntfs from dos, burning cds, creating reduced images of ntfs partitions, tones of switches , command line .... blah blah.... and for me, the most important is the stability and trustworthiness. All these factors epitomize the meaning of quality.
after my senseless prolong , it would be nice if some features were included in Odin, f/ex cd buring (an easy job I think) , command line and blah blah
bill
#13
Posted 09 November 2008 - 05:13 PM
#14
Posted 20 June 2009 - 02:43 PM
New Version 0.31Beta released!
Version 0.31 is a bugfix release to 0.31. New Features of version 0.3 are:
Command Line interface
64-Bit version available
ODIN now can be run in two modes, either with a GUI or from a console as command line application. All options and functions are available from command line. See -usage for details. The command line application is started as ODINC.exe. The GUI application is started as ODIN.exe without any command line parameter. The console mode is for example useful for automated tasks running from scripts. Important note : To use from the command line under Vista or higher (with User Account Control enabled) start the console as Adminstrator! The 64-Bit version now allows to make snapshots on 64-Bit operating systems. Due to Windows limitations this was not possible before with a 32-Bit application running on a 64-Bit Windows.
We have finally COMMAND LINE!
All available options can be seen with the usage command odinc -usage: Usage: ODIN [operation] [options] -source=[name] -target=[name] [operation] is one of -backup, -restore, -verify or -list [options] are: -compression=[bzip|gzip|none] use bzip, gzip or no compression -makeSnapshot make snapshot (VSS) before backup (implies -usedBlocks) -usedBlocks copy only used blocks of volume -allBlocks copy all blocks of volume -split=[nnn] split image file every [nnn] MB -comment=[string] add comment to image file for backup [name] name can be a device name like \Device\Harddisk0\Partition0 or a file name like c:\DiskCImage.dat or a number that refers to an index from the -list command -backup creates an image from a disk or volume to a file -restore restores a disk image from a file to a volume or disk -verify checks an image for damage -list prints a list of available volumes on this machine -force suppress all warning messages and continue immediately (very dangerous!) Examples: ODIN -backup -usedBlocks -compression=gzip -source=1 -target=myimage.dat backups volume number 1 to image file myimage.dat with gzip compression and only used blocks (1 refers to index 1 of devices from output of -list) ODIN -restore -source=myimage.dat -target=\Device\Harddisk0\Partition0 restores image from file myimage.dat to first partition of first disk ODIN -list prints all availaible volumes and disks with their name and number
And of course all the guys with x64 systems will be happy as well.
jaclaz
#15
Posted 20 June 2009 - 06:39 PM
Cheers
#16
Posted 21 June 2009 - 12:45 AM
http://apps.winbuild...Lancelot.script
CU
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