Creating a Full Bootable Backup of macOS 2016 on a Headless MacBook Pro (Server Interaction)
Are you wondering if it's possible to create a full bootable backup of macOS 2016 on an old MacBook Pro (2016, Intel chip, non-T2) using a headless server and interacting with the MacBook via SSH? The answer is yes! This article will provide you with detailed context on how to achieve this using the built-in macOS tools.
Why Create a Full Bootable Backup of macOS?
Creating a full bootable backup of macOS allows you to easily restore your system to a previous state, ensuring that your data is safe and your system remains stable. This is particularly useful when upgrading to a new version of macOS, or when you need to recover from a system failure.
Requirements
- An old MacBook Pro (2016, Intel chip, non-T2)
- A headless server (running a compatible version of macOS or Linux)
- SSH access to the MacBook Pro from the server
Creating the Backup
To create a full bootable backup of macOS on your MacBook Pro, follow these steps:
- Attach an external hard drive to your MacBook Pro.
- Open Terminal on your MacBook Pro and run the following command to prepare the drive for the backup:
sudo diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ "backup" /dev/disk2
Replace "/dev/disk2" with the identifier of your external drive.
- Now that the drive is prepared, you can create the backup using the following command:
sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/bootasr. utility --volume <backup_volume> --create-install-disk <source_volume>
Replace "<backup\_volume>" with the identifier of your external drive (e.g. "/dev/disk2") and "<source\_volume>" with the identifier of your MacBook Pro's system volume (e.g. "/dev/disk1").
Restoring the Backup
In the event of a system failure or when you need to restore your system, you can boot from the external drive by holding down the "Option" key during startup and selecting the backup volume. Once booted, you can use Migration Assistant to transfer your data and settings to a new system volume or to restore the original system volume.
References
- Apple Inc. (2016). macOS High Sierra: Create a bootable installer for macOS. Retrieved from
- Graham, R. (2021, October 7). How to create a bootable macOS Monterey installer. Retrieved from