Best Home directory Backup Tool for Linux Mint (& Ubuntu derivatives)

rsync is typically used to synchronize files and directories between two different systems, one local and one remote.

Tks as always, Nick, and I was aware of that usage.

 

But they also say, in the manual:

Rsync is a fast and extraordinarily versatile file  copying  tool.   It
       can  copy  locally,  to/from  another  host  over  any remote shell, or
       to/from a remote rsync daemon.  It offers a  large  number  of  options
       that  control  every  aspect  of  its behavior and permit very flexible
       specification of the set of files to be copied.

... Hence, my wondering?

 

Wiz

There are no doubt other references, and more sites with the manual, I am hoping for one in PDF that I can download and view at my leisure offline.

There is a huge amount of documentation and manuals that you can view offline in a terminal, at usr/share/info and /usr/share/man.

You can view compressed .gz files in a terminal using the less command; simply browse to the directory the manual is in then type ''less'' followed by the name of the file. When using less, either view manuals one page at a time using the spacebar, or scroll using the up/down direction keys. To quit and return to the command prompt, type ''q.''

There must also be a way, although I don't know what it is, to save these manuals as pdf files.

There often seems to be more than one way to accomplish the same task in a Linux terminal, and while I'm not speaking from experience, I would be inclined to use the dd command that lophophora mentioned earlier if backing up using the terminal, as it looks like the simplest option.

A couple of weeks ago I started reading A-Practical-Guide-to-Linux-Commands-Editors-and-Shell-Programming-2nd-Edition.pdf that Cat posted a link to, which I have found to be highly informative. Unlike the manuals that come with the distro, this one ''starts at the beginning'' so to speak, and so is much easier to comprehend. It also contains numerous practical examples, so that you can practice what it's teaching in a terminal as you read through it. It also has a chapter on the rsync utility on page 628 of the pdf, although I haven't got as far as that yet.

http://fausto.dynamic.ucsd.edu/sonia/group/data/A-Practical-Guide-to-Linux-Commands-Editors-and-Shell-Programming-2nd-Edition.pdf

 

TimeShift, Linux system restore application, now is at v1.6. The new release supports cloning your Ubuntu to another device. BTRFS filesystem support is also available in a fork release.

Timeshift Adds ‘Clone Ubuntu’ Option & BTRFS Filesystem Support

 

 

 

Systemback is a simple backup and restore application for Ubuntu Linux that makes it easy to create backups of system and users configuration files. In case of problems you can easily restore the previous state of the system.

Install Backup Tool ‘Systemback’ 1.0 in Ubuntu 14.04

 

 

,

Edited by NickAu1, 07 October 2014 - 12:46 AM.

What a can of worms, I asked for the backup tools, now I have so many that I don't know which to use. 

 

Guess I'll try a few & pick my favorites, as I did with Windows. Good to know we have choices too. Actually we have far more choices, just many doesn't realize it. Most 32 bit users of Ubuntu based OS's has over 40,000 software choices, 64 bit users has over 70,000. A few may require payment (or EULA), but the majority are no charge & totally free. 

 

We don't need no Store, the Software Manager (Ubuntu Software Center on some OS's) has been a part of Linux Mint ever since I began to use the OS. And no funny business either. 

 

Thanks Nick!

 

Hopefully every Linux user who views this Topic can come away from here with a backup app to use, no excuse not to. One needs to do more than rely on a /home partition as a Backup Tool, as drives eventually fails, all of them, SSD's included. Warranty doesn't cover Data loss. 

 

With a good Backup Tool, we can be right back to the point we were at, in minutes, rather than hours. 

 

Cat

BTW, not a lot of RPM-based users around these parts (not sure why) - are you one of them, Bettly?

 

I will be trialling an RPM-based Distro (Mageia, Fedora, CentOS or OpenSuse), next two weeks,so may give your suggestion a go then.

 

I use copy.com's Copy, which I refer to here, and which says in part:

 

 

Mate I was using Copy, found, surprisingly enough here.

 

Seeing your request has reminded me to reactivate it, as I had it previously on my Ubuntu Trusty Tahr, and on Windows 7, prior to that.

 

If you use my referral system here, and follow Copy's instructions you can score another 5GB at a time on top of their generous free 15GB. But's that up you, I am quite happy with 15GB so far.

 

I find them to be very user friendly, and the download to your PC approach allows for drag-and-drop instant application to the Cloud, and also syncing between PCs on your Network.

 

A review of them can be found here, and it also includes referral from the author.And that article also lists on the right 5 other services

 

Keith1, there used my referral, so we each have 20GB, now and so far I find that adequate, but am always looking for alternatives.

 

Thanks

 

Wizard

I wish to respond to this in the spirit of offering a different perspective.  I'm not necessarily disagreeing and do not offer this as criticism.  It is more information to consider when thinking about helping Linux to spread to those who need it and may not know they do.

 

Thank you for the welcome, cat1092.

 

For myself, FUBARing the OS was a right of passage in GNU/Linux.  It taught me to be very careful with the command line and rewarded me with what makes the OS so appealing to many -- its power to perform tasks beyond the capabilities of most other Operating Systems.  It also showed me the ease with which the OS of my choice may be reinstalled when compared to the dominant OS with its paranoid proprietariness and EULA.  It pointed out the value of making backups using either the dd command or the likes of Clonezilla, as well.

 

So, I must ask -- is it desirable to protect novices from making mistakes to the point where they are unlikely to advance expeditiously along the learning curve GNU/Linux imposes on its users, especially given the fact that most of us who use this OS have a propensity to learn the hard way?  If so, it would seem to make unsavory demands on the time and patience of volunteer Moderators, too.

 

Label me curious.

 

As a person who must use a computer, but is not interested in acquiring a new profession in administering or maintain a computer, I have to disagree with the underlying sentiment here.  I understand enthusiasts, hobbyists, and various levels of computer professionals feel that people should all be able to install operating systems and software, reconfigure their systems and their details, and understand the internals of how their computers work.  I have no interest in doing that.  It took me years to get trained in my profession (yes, graduate school) and more years to develop some skill at its practice.  All of this took many hours a day and it isn't over.  My hobbies, things I do for pleasure and to escape my professional responsibilities for life balance and sanity, are not computer related.  I left windows (and avoided apple) because of the superfluous expense, privacy concerns, arbitrary marketing attacks on my life, and ever bloating systems that add features I never use and obsolete what I own solely to force me to purchase replacements before they actually stop working.

 

I cannot have a computer that may lose my work, or have me spend time "FUBARing" the Operating System.  My computer is a necessary tool, and just as I cannot have a car that leaves me stranded on the highway (man did that suck!)  I cannot have a computer that fails when I need it or requires me to take time from work, family, and the rest of my life to maintain it.

I love the idea of open source, freedom, and privacy.  Very traditional ideals in the US.  But Linux and open source cannot hope to be adopted by the general population if we must become experts in their installation, internals, and deep configuration.  I have no illusions about repairing my own car, but I must drive a car where I live.  I have no illusions about making my own movies, but I love that Joss Whedon does.  I have even paid the occasional expert to help me with my computer when it was beyond me.  I need to use a computer, but if it takes more then 5 or 10 minutes to address a setting or issue it stops being a tool and starts taking time from what is important in my life.  If one must spend more time maintaining a tool then using it, it is a bad tool and not ready for the general public.

 

I will always be a noob because my mind expertise are needed elsewhere.

 

If you've read this far, thanks for indulging me.  If you haven't, thanks anyway for participating in forums and offing we forever noob help when it is nowhere else to be found.

 

--Eric

Hi Eric and welcome to Bleeping Computer.

I completely agree. It is perfectly possible to use Linux without becoming an expert in anything, or even going near the command line. Using the command line and learning about installation, internals and configuration, is a choice, rather than a necessity. The only thing that Linux users would need to know more about than Windows users, is how to install the operating system itself, since computers with Windows already installed are readily available in shops.

In saying that though, people who want to use Linux but don't want to learn how to install the operating system, could probably find someone that would be willing to do so for them, for a fee or for free.

Certainly one major advantage with Linux over Windows in this respect, is that there is much less likely to be down-time due to malware infections with Linux.

Hi Eric and another welcome to Bleeping Computer.

 

I think I understand where you are coming from, and I agree with almost everything you say. Almost. You do not say whether you are using Linux or have used it, and your profile, for the moment, contains little information (click my avatar for example), and that is expected for a newcomer.

 

Al1000, as usual, has comments that are right on the money.

 

Eric, if I can take your analogy on the car stranding you, for a moment: If you fail to put petrol in it, or oil, or your tyres are worn, or have a knock in the engine for 1,000 miles and done nothing about it, then you can expect trouble. If you didn't take it in to the dealer for its 50,000 mile service, likewise.

 

When we buy a computer, and use it extensively, we need to perform maintenance, both regular and periodic/ad-hoc (eg filling the winsdcreen wiper fluid compartment). Windows needs more maintenance than other OSes, from Defragging (not needed under Linux) to backups, and security eg antivirus.

 

If you read this excellent article here, from top to bottom, without going off on a tangent with every hyperlink (do that later, at your leisure) - you may get a relatively succinct but comprehensive idea of Linux's raison d'etre. Linux is everywhere, unnoticed by the majority, but it is still to come of age with the home user.

 

Linux servers are used from NASA to small business. A business operator, in choosing a server provider, is looking for security, robustness, stability, reliability, scalability, and service. Linux servers provide just these, but so too at the Home User level. Service is being worked on, but getting better - for the moment, official websites, and Fora such as BC are your best bet.

 

Enjoy your time with Bleeping Computer, Eric.

 

Keep smilin', I do, everyday I use Linux

 

Wizard (Chris)

Hi does Apit work Linux mint 17.1 Rebecca? Used standard Linux backup and it crashed twice

This one https://www.ubuntu-user.com/Magazine/Archive/2013/17/Backing-up-data-with-mintBackup

I tried this a long time ago and did not have much success with it, try the options below.  

Not sure if Aptik is what you want, I don't know much about this so I will link you to the page that supports it.

http://www.teejeetech.in/2014/01/introducing-aptik.html

 

This might be of interest to you

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/594582/backing-up-linux/

There is Clonezilla also but don't know if that will be good for you either.

http://clonezilla.org/

Thanks

Hi does Apit work Linux mint 17.1 Rebecca? Used standard Linux backup and it crashed twice

This one https://www.ubuntu-user.com/Magazine/Archive/2013/17/Backing-up-data-with-mintBackup

 

merrickdav,   to BC forums & to the Linux user group!

 

That first backup software, the inbuilt of Linux Mint, didn't work well for me either. Looks very simple, if only the Mint devs refined it to work, could be a great backup tool. Plus add the option to backup both the entire root & /home partitions either while running, or create a bootable CD or Flash drive installer to do the job. 

 

Yet don't count on that to happen, it's basically more of a Data backup, which has bugs & not very useful. If it were, believe me, I'd give it a fair shake, but I can't. 

 

As an alternative to what pcpunk has stated above, do you have a Windows computer with the OS installed that's the same bit version as yours? If so, you can install Macrium Reflect, and it'll prompt one to create WinPE media, about 200-300MB of files will need to be downloaded. Burn your media when prompted to do so. Remember that if this is a 64 bit OS, you'll need a 64 bit Windows OS installed, you can use anyone's computer that will allow you to install Macrium Reflect & create bootable WinPE media, many users already has it installed. Macrium Reflect is not the #1 most used no-cost backup for years running for the sake of it. 

 

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

 

This can be used to backup Linux Mint, but you'll have to use the sector by sector option in Advanced settings, which will result in a larger backup, but will still be compressed some, and it works. That's all that matters, and much better than Clonezilla when it comes to saving backup drive space. The reason why I do it this way is that I have to, am dual booting Windows 7 Ultimate alongside Linux Mint 17.1, just don't forget about going into Advanced settings & select 'sector by sector', Intelligent is the default, that's not good enough to backup Linux with. 

 

The only limitation about the Free version is that it images full partitions only, if you're looking for Data only, than you may need to look into what pcpunk suggested above. Being that I keep my most important items off of my main install, I don't really have the need for Data backup. I have an external with a folder for my most important items in the /home folder, including my virtual machines. The more that you can store off of your main install, the better off you are, items like photos, videos, documents, should be saved to an external & NTFS is OK, the drive doesn't require formatting. 

 

Just letting you know about your options, hope my post is helpful. Should you need further assistance, even if it's another manner, feel free to create another Topic & we'll be happy to help.

 

If it's in regards to this Topic, you can keep posting in this one. 

 

Cat

Thanks tring Aptik

Looks good so far no problems