How to check the open ports on your linux server

netstat -lnp

Linux: How to backup with a live cd

So you've booted from your livecd and are in a unix styled terminal...

cd /media

#mount source of backup
sudo mkdir src
sudo mount /dev/sda1 src

$mount sink of backup
#sudo mkdir sink
sudo mount /dev/sdb1 sink

cp -Rdp src/* sink/.