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Adoby · 07-25-2010, 04:55 AM

I used to take a copy of my entire home-directory now and then. And store it on a spare hard drive. It could sometimes go a while between backups...

But I also reinstall fresh every time a new Ubuntu-version comes around, and store the old home-drive as a backup. This practice has saved me more than once...

I have Ubuntu on a separate ssd-drive and the home-directory with all my personal files and settings on a bigger sata-drive. Linux makes it easy to know what to backup and keep when reinstalling.

I felt this was not enough, so in addition to this I have started to use the excellent software "Back In Time" to store snapshots of my entire home directory. Very nice. It stores all the files, but if it already has a stored copy, it uses that stored copy instead of copying it again. It makes a hardlink instead. So it only takes a minute or so to make a full backup of all my files, if only a few files have changed or been added. And I can keep several generations of (faked) full backups without wasting space. Back In Time uses rsync to do this.

Usually I take a "full" backup every day now. Typically as I go to get a cup of coffee.

The backup is stored on a USB-connected disk via a dock. I have some spare hard drives from upgrades and can use them as backup units. I have not automated this, since I have to manually make sure that the right disk is in the dock.

I also use two smaller, 2.5" pocket friendly, USB-drives. On those I only store my personal documents, my music library and the Calibre Library. I have a script on the root of that disk that cycle backups on the drive and run rsync much like it is run from Back In Time. I keep 4 generations of backups. Usually I have one of these discs at work to access my music. And every time I update or add music or ebooks I refresh the disc just by connecting and double-clicking the script. Very handy. These USB-drives are not extremely fast, but using rsync and only transfer changes still makes it very fast. And the power from just one single USB-cable is enough.

I assume that there is a lot of other ways to handle backups? Online or using other software and hardware?

How do you backup?

07-25-2010, 04:55 AM	#1
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	How do you backup? I used to take a copy of my entire home-directory now and then. And store it on a spare hard drive. It could sometimes go a while between backups... But I also reinstall fresh every time a new Ubuntu-version comes around, and store the old home-drive as a backup. This practice has saved me more than once... I have Ubuntu on a separate ssd-drive and the home-directory with all my personal files and settings on a bigger sata-drive. Linux makes it easy to know what to backup and keep when reinstalling. I felt this was not enough, so in addition to this I have started to use the excellent software "Back In Time" to store snapshots of my entire home directory. Very nice. It stores all the files, but if it already has a stored copy, it uses that stored copy instead of copying it again. It makes a hardlink instead. So it only takes a minute or so to make a full backup of all my files, if only a few files have changed or been added. And I can keep several generations of (faked) full backups without wasting space. Back In Time uses rsync to do this. Usually I take a "full" backup every day now. Typically as I go to get a cup of coffee. The backup is stored on a USB-connected disk via a dock. I have some spare hard drives from upgrades and can use them as backup units. I have not automated this, since I have to manually make sure that the right disk is in the dock. I also use two smaller, 2.5" pocket friendly, USB-drives. On those I only store my personal documents, my music library and the Calibre Library. I have a script on the root of that disk that cycle backups on the drive and run rsync much like it is run from Back In Time. I keep 4 generations of backups. Usually I have one of these discs at work to access my music. And every time I update or add music or ebooks I refresh the disc just by connecting and double-clicking the script. Very handy. These USB-drives are not extremely fast, but using rsync and only transfer changes still makes it very fast. And the power from just one single USB-cable is enough. I assume that there is a lot of other ways to handle backups? Online or using other software and hardware? How do you backup?