doClone

doClone is a free GNU/Linux program for creating and restoring disk or partition images, including transfers between computers on a local network. It can clone disks and partitions of different sizes while preserving filesystem UUIDs and labels. When restoring to a differently sized disk, it can resize partitions proportionally; restoring to a smaller disk works only if the stored data fits, and otherwise returns an error. Full-disk images include the boot sector, and the program can restore GRUB and its options on the receiving machine. Network transfers support Unicast/Multicast and Chain Mode, which passes data through a sequence of computers. doClone supports 12 filesystems and nine disk labels, and can create an image of the system it is running on. The project describes use in offices and schools managing GNU/Linux installations across different hardware. Local use is limited to creating disk or partition images and restoring existing ones. It is distributed under the GNU GPL v3 License; the listed latest version is 0.8.0.

doClone combines disk imaging and restoration with LAN transfer options and support for differently sized disks. Check the GNU/Linux platform limit and smaller-disk fit requirement before choosing it.

It may suit offices or schools managing GNU/Linux installations on computers with different hardware. It is limited to GNU/Linux and local imaging or restoration when not transferring across a network.

doClone is a free GNU/Linux imaging utility for creating and restoring disk and partition images, with options for transfers across a local network. It is best suited to administrators maintaining Linux installations across multiple computers; its focused imaging and restoration workflow is useful, but it is not a general-purpose backup tool.

Overview

For offices and schools managing GNU/Linux computers, doClone combines local imaging with network cloning, including between machines with different hardware. It can make an image of the system it is running on, and its GNU GPL v3 license makes the software free to use. The trade-off is a narrow local workflow: outside network transfers, use is limited to creating images and restoring ones already made.

Key features

Disk and partition imaging

doClone can image whole disks or individual partitions, preserve filesystem UUIDs and labels, and work across disks of different sizes. Support for 12 filesystems includes ext2, ext3, ext4, FAT16, FAT32, HFS, HFS+, JFS, Linux swap, NTFS, ReiserFS and XFS. It also supports nine disk-label types: Aix, Amiga, Bsd, Dvh, Gpt, Mac, MsDos, Pc98 and Sun. That range is useful for Linux environments with varied storage layouts, though it does not broaden the program beyond GNU/Linux.

Boot restoration and resizing

Full-disk images include the boot sector, and restoration can restore GRUB and its options on the receiving machine. An image can be restored to a smaller disk if the stored data fits; partitions are resized proportionally. If the data does not fit, restoration returns an error. This makes differing disk sizes practical, but a smaller target is not a workaround for insufficient capacity.

Network cloning

LAN transfers support Unicast/Multicast and Chain Mode, which passes data through a sequence of computers. These options give administrators ways to distribute images across a local network, rather than relying only on a locally created image and restore process.

Pricing

doClone costs nothing, with GNU/Linux disk and partition imaging and restoration. There is no paid tier or free-trial term to weigh, and the program is distributed under the GNU GPL v3. Free pricing does not remove the practical requirements: it has been compiled only for GNU/Linux and depends on libraries including libparted 3.2 or later, libe2fs, libuuid, libblkid, libarchive, libxerces-c and liblog4cpp. Version 0.8.0 is identified as the latest version.

Platforms

doClone is available only for GNU/Linux. That makes it a poor fit for teams needing a Windows or macOS imaging tool, regardless of its cross-hardware restoration support. The library dependencies also matter for anyone preparing a system to run it.

Who it's for

Choose doClone if you manage GNU/Linux installations in an office or school and need to image disks or partitions, restore boot information, or transfer images across a local network. It is less suitable for individual users seeking broader local backup capabilities, or for mixed-OS environments that need a single tool across Linux, Windows and macOS.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free under the GNU GPL v3, with support for disk and partition imaging, 12 filesystems and nine disk-label types.
• Pros: Includes the boot sector in full-disk images and can restore GRUB and its options on the receiving machine.
• Pros: Network modes include Unicast/Multicast and Chain Mode, useful for distributing images across multiple computers.
• Pros: Can restore to a differently sized disk when the data fits, adjusting partitions proportionally.
• Cons: Compiled only for GNU/Linux, so it cannot serve teams that need a cross-platform imaging option.
• Cons: Local use is limited to image creation and restoration, making it unsuitable as a broad backup workflow.
• Cons: A smaller destination disk fails when the stored data does not fit, despite proportional partition resizing.

Alternatives

For other options, see Disk Cloning Software. Carbon Copy Cloner is a paid option for macOS and iOS users; its household license covers all computers in a household for non-commercial use, while the corporate and institutional license is $49.99 a month.

AOMEI Backupper is the Windows choice, with a perpetually free Standard plan for PC backup and a Professional yearly plan at $39.95 a year. HDClone is another option for Linux, Windows or self-hosted use; its free edition is limited to private use, up to 4 TB and up to 70 MB/s.

Lazesoft Recovery Suite combines recovery and disk imaging for Linux and Windows. OpenSuperClone is a free Linux utility under GPLv2, with Virtual Disk Mode requiring a kernel module. Clonezilla is a free, open-source alternative under GPL version 2, available for Linux, macOS, self-hosted and Windows environments.

Lazesoft Disk Image & Clone offers a free Home Edition for personal, non-commercial use on up to three PCs in one household, with a separate paid Professional Edition for business use. OSFClone is a free self-booting disk-imaging utility for Linux and Windows; installing it on USB requires a drive of at least 2 GB.

Verdict

doClone is a strong fit for administrators managing GNU/Linux computers who need free disk or partition imaging, LAN distribution and restoration across different hardware. Its boot support, network modes and conditional resizing make it a capable specialist choice. Look elsewhere if you need Windows or macOS support, or a wider local backup workflow.