SD Card Backup
Prerequisites​
RAK
What Do You Need?​
- RAK Hotspot
- USB microSD Card Reader
- 32GB or larger microSD Card (optional, to store the backup). To maintain similar performance we recommend a UHS-I compliant microSD card, for example, Sandiskâ„¢ High Endurance or Extreme.
Power Down the RAK Hotspot​
warning
Take care in removing the microSD card from the Hotspot. It is fragile; hence, using small pliers is highly recommended.
- Disconnect the RAK Hotspot from the power supply. It needs to be off.
- Extract the microSD card from the Hotspot slot.
- Insert the microSD into the USB microSD card reader.
SD Clone for macOS​
- Start by downloading SD Clone.
Figure 1: Download SD Clone
- Once downloaded, open the application. You will be prompted to either buy the full version or continue using the trial (select this option).
Figure 1: Selecting Clone Trial or Buy Option
Image Backup​
- Insert your card, and if you receive the message in the following figure, click "OK".
Figure 1: SD Clone Authentication
- Next, the application will request access to your SD storage, then click "OK" in both windows.
Figure 1: Accessing SD Storage
Figure 1: Allowing SD Clone to Access Files
- Select the "Save Image" button, followed by clicking the "Save Image..." button.
Figure 1: Save Image
- This will prompt a window where you select the location you want your image to be created at. Once you click on the blue "Save" button, the backup process will start.
Figure 1: Selecting File Folder
- A bar will be displayed indicating the cloning progress in percentage.
Figure 1: Ongoing Cloning Process
- A notification window will prompt once the cloning is done. In this example, it took around 40 minutes to back up a 32Â GB card housing a Helium Hotspot image.
Figure 1: Clone Complete
Restoring Image​
- If you want to restore an image, you must first select the storage drive.
Figure 1: Selecting Storage Device
- Select the image in the side panel.
Figure 1: Selecting Image
- Press the "Restore to Volume..." button. You will be asked one last time in a new window to confirm; do so by clicking the "Restore" button, and you will initiate the process.
Figure 1: Restoring Image to Volume
Win32 Disk Imager for Windows OS​
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Start by downloading Win32 Disk Imager. Unzip the archive and install.
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Once done, you should see the same window as shown in Figure 12. The interface is minimalistic and easy to use.
Figure 1: Downloading Win31 Disk Imager
Image Backup​
- First, select the drive letter corresponding to the drive where your card is. This is where the image will be copied from.
Figure 1: Selecting Storage Device
- Next, you need to provide a path to the file the data is going to be backed in. You can do this either by entering it manually in the text box or clicking the folder icon.
Figure 1: Selecting Image File Path
- If you choose the second option, you need to navigate to the location and still enter a name in the text box. Make sure you add the "img" extension to the file, then click the "Open" button.
Figure 1: Entering Image File Name
- Finally, with the path and filename set, start the backup process by pressing the "Read" button.
Figure 1: Start the Backup Process
- The progress bar will start filling up, indicating the level of completion of the procedure. Depending on your image size and cad speeds, the time to completion will vary, so be patient.
Figure 1: Ongoing Backup Process
Restoring Image​
The restoration procedure is even more streamlined than the backup.
- Select the drive you want to flash the backup file to. Make sure you have the correct drive letter.
Figure 1: Selecting Storage Device
- Navigate to your file either via the folder button or directly enter the path in the text box.
Figure 1: Selecting Image File Location
Figure 1: Locating the Image File Path
- Confirm at the prompt with the "Yes" button.
Figure 1: Start the Restoring Process
- You can monitor progress via the bar. Wait for the process to finish, and you are done.
Figure 1: Ongoing Restoring Process
