TOPIC:

Having a spare System Volume (aside) is mandatory to me, (in case of SSD failure, corruption etc...)
It has to be an exact updated copy to be back on my feet almost instantly

Since Big Sur, even Carbon Copy Cloner in unable to do so and this a stupid BUMMER from Apple.

So I wonder about options...

Given the state of things, I've continued using CCC. If the internal SSD fails, you're not going to have that machine back up until it's been serviced, so you're looking at a replacement machine which will have an OS on it already.

The restore of user accounts, all apps, and system settings seems to be about as comprehensive as we can get at the moment.

Thank you for your irrelevant answer but working on a removable SSD I don't have much use of it.

SSD.... The realm of SMART alerts... you can't rely on those things, so... are we left under that sword of Damocles ? ( Restoring is a pain in the a**, a bummer, a waste of time. Weeks after, still reinstalling, authorising, etc... things needed in the minute.

What about the lost of deployment images ?

The devotion to "Uncle Henry user" has gone too far, (not to mention Fcp itself)

Uncle Henry doesn't have deadlines...

we do.

Never have had a problem with Carbon Copy Cloner. No reinstalling or authorizing or digging through emails looking for serial numbers and hitting brick walls dealing with software hidden behind Out of Business signs. Never bothered with Time Machine because any CCC clone picks up where the other drive left off.

CCC no longer creates bootable clones.

Tom wrote:

CCC no longer creates bootable clones.

If that be the case I'm grateful I'm still running OS on the majority of the units here where it still does.

Here's Mike's full rundown on the what/when/where/why/how:

bombich.com/blog/2021/05/19/beyond-boota...es-evolving-platform

Useful info in there, and not too long a read.