-> The Linux hard drive my BBBS resides on is starting to fail. My question is 
-> what would be the best way for me to back up my BBBS setup so I can replace 

-> hard drive, re-install Ubuntu Linux and then restore my BBBS setup? 
  
Pack up your  BBS directories, move them to someplace safe, reinstall 
Linux on a new drive, copy the archive of your BBS over to the new 
system and then unpack it in the same location that it was previously 
in. 
 
... One good turn gets all the blankets. 
--- Wildcat! v6.4.454.2 (Nov 17 2011), Editor Mod v1.7