Here are several samples to backup partitions by tarball.
I wrote this notes when I tried to re-build my laboratory's mail server in 2010.
The following command is to backup the root / partition.
[command]
sudo tar -cvpzf ubuntuXYZ.tar.gz --exclude=/ubuntuXYZ.tar.gz --exclude=/proc --exclude=/lost+found --exclude=/mnt --exclude=/sys --exclude=/media --exclude=/dev /
The following command is to backup specific partition (e.g. /home and /etc).
[command]
sudo tar -cvpzf home0129.tar.gz --exclude=/home/home0129.tar.gz /home
sudo tar -cvpzf etc0129.tar.gz --exclude=/etc/etc0129.tar.gz /etc
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Restore
The following command is to restore data from backup file.
[command]
sudo tar -xvpfz home0129.tar.gz -C /home