Backup Questions

[Tony Baechler]

Hi,

For backups, I use rsync.  I know there are other solutions that use 
rsync in various ways, but I just use plain old rsync by itself.  As was 
pointed out here, it doesn't store backups in a compressed form, but to 
me that's a convenience.  It can compress when copying over the network 
but for a LAN, I don't worry about it.  I was recently moving my files 
from a Windows file server to a new Linux install.  All I had to do was 
this from the Windows side:

c:
cd\
rsync -av * files at fileserver:c

To backup remotely, such as from the office Linux server to home, I do 
something like this:

rsync -av tony at example.com:. .

I probably don't need the dots, but I put them in just in case.  The -a 
switch stands for archive, the -v for verbose.  After a while, you won't 
need the -v switch, but I find it useful to get an idea of its progress 
and to let me know how much data it transferred.  The -a tells it to 
preserve owner, permissions, date and time, etc.  Otherwise the files 
will have the current date which I don't like.  As always, read the 
rsync man page which includes lots of examples or look at the help which 
you get with no arguments.

It's of course available on Debian, Cygwin, Gentoo and BSD.  On Debian, 
do "aptitude -q install rsync" and experiment away.

Another backup solution I use is not free but is the best I've found for 
imaging.  That is Image for DOS or Windows.  There is also an Image for 
Linux but I've not tried it.  I suggest Image for DOS which you can run 
from a boot floppy.  It will backup Linux, even though it runs in DOS.  
It compresses everything and is good for more permanent backups that you 
would set aside or put in storage.  Go to:

http://www.bootitng.com/

Again, it is not free and you have to actually buy the software, but I 
really haven't found anything that is free and works as well.  You could 
try partimage though but I know nothing about it.