wahlau's online hut

last updated: 2006-12-15

here i will post some of the backup tricks i will use for my own backup. It is not something from me (i wished) but a collection of different tricks that at least works for me.

Rsync

Rsync is a tool that uses Samba's creator Andrew Tridgell's algorithm to perform copying/backup task. I like this line found in a how-to:

The basic implementation of rsync is: rsync -a source/ target/. This command copies the source directory to the target as if you were executing cp -a source/. target/. Unlike cp, rsync uses the rsync algorithm to check for differences between source and destination files. Since it copies only new changes, a technique known as incremental backup, rsync provides a very fast method for updating your backups.

this is neat. just like cp, but only the differences instead of everything. In other words, it should just copy the differences between the two directories. this is exactly what a backup tool should do right?

what i used is as following:

wahlau@mycomp:~$ rsync -va /home/wahlau /rsyncBackup/

and after a while (since this is my first rsync), the folder wahlau in /home is rsync'ed over to /rsyncBackup/

the option -va here is "verbose" and "archive". Archive mode means symbolic links, devices, attributes, permissions, ownerships, etc. are preserved in the transfer (same as -rlptgoD (no -H)). If you wish to have compression, use -z as option.

There are various scripts that will automate the backup process. I would not recommend any here, since i think you should first understand how rsync works, before you start using some automated processes. There are also available GUI for rsync. Google a little then you will find what you need. For example, Debian help UK has this.