14 replies to this topic

[doglover]

I have again a Linux PC.  And I am struggling with finding a good backup program.

The linux version is Ubuntu.  It comes with deja dup as back-up program.

But as far as I can see I can only back-up the home folder with it.

Works fine for this use.

 

But I want a program which back-up the whole system.  (and restore it with a rescue disk)

The linux installation is easily restored from my rescue stick.

But all the stuff I have installed before, I have to install all again.

Also some configuration files, as the password safe, fstab and cron are not restored then.

 

I need a program which can do this.  Either a complete backup and restore, or something we have in the OpenPLi software for receivers.

An autoinstall list, and a list of folders which have to be back-upped.

Of course for this Linux PC the restore option need to be able to do this with one entry of the password.

(Several, or all this stuff when re-installing or copying it require admin access)

 

There a in the linux stores many different backup programs, but I cannot find what I am looking for.

 

Can you give me some hints?

I prefer a program with a GUI.  Not a command line option.

 

Edited by doglover, 19 September 2023 - 15:32.

[WanWizard]

Your last line rules out all my suggestions .

 

Maybe here's something you could use: https://www.tecmint....m-backup-tools/ ?

[Dorfkind]

I'm satisfied with https://www.veeam.co...ackup-free.html

 

Give it a try

[doglover]

I tried to download, and install Veeam.

 

But I cannot find the application on my system.

Where is it?

[doglover]

Got something further.

Install with errors.

 

When I try to run it, it days access denied.

Tried as sudo - no result.

[Dorfkind]

Did you made
 

usermod -a -G veeam <yourusernamehere>

at first? Then do

sudo veeam

and everything shoud be fine and you should see the configuration stuff in a terminal.


Veeam is located under /etc, so it should be in your path...

HTH

[doglover]

Still cannot run veeam.

Tried ReaR (relax-and-recover).  Did not run properly.

Also RescueZilla.  Booted up, but then miserably failed.  Black screen - no recovery from this, except rebooting the PC.

 

Tried several other things:  Are not what I wanted.

 

Finally:  CloneZilla.

 

Worked from the first time.  An image has been written to the NAS.  CloneZilla checked the image and decided it was perfect.

 

However, I did not try to restore the image.  I have to trust that in case something happens, I will be able to recover.

[MiLo]

I have an "install-my-stuff.sh" script which is just a call to "sudo apt install ..." with an large list of packages.

 

Other than that, I only backup things in my home directory.

 

Unlike Windows, re-installing the OS is quick, so pointless to back it up. The most likely scenario is a big upgrade, which I usually do by just installing the new version over the old one (preserving only /home). After that, run the install-my-stuff.sh script and I'm back in business (and usually, I'm still logged in in various web things, also demonstrating how pointless 2FA is when someone can access your files...)

[WanWizard]

I do the same. We even to the same in our company, all servers are virtual machines, so we don't even have to re-install the OS, we have templates for that.

 

The only challenge is config, either /etc or in other locations, it isn't always the best idea to blindly copy everything back.

[doglover]

I have an "install-my-stuff.sh" script which is just a call to "sudo apt install ..." with an large list of packages.

OK.

Such a script is not difficult.  I am sure I can master it.

The problem is finding now what I installed.

If you copy the install command (the sudo apt install...) to the script or a simple text file each time you install something, you will have it.

I have not done that.

 

So, how do I get a list of installed packages, installed by yourself?

 

PS:

apt list --installed

Does not do the job.  You will get a complete list of everything.

Not only the stuff you installed yourself.

[luisteraar]

Heb je al eens gedacht aan linux te booten vanaf cdrom en dan

van de hd('s) een image maken.

[WanWizard]

Dat is wellicht wel de makkelijkste methode, disk images kun je eenvoudig en met veel tools maken.

 

Je moet dat wel even kijken naar compressie van het resultaat, want disk images backupen ook alle lege ruimte.

[40H3X]

Misschien eens kijken naar snapshot, snapshots houden alleen veranderingen bij van het systeem en onder Ubuntu wordt het dan iets als Timeshift

[WanWizard]

Maar dat is geen backup, in de zit dat je die terug kunt zetten en weer in business kunt zijn als het systeem zelf "af brand".

[eura]

Take a look at https://github.com/linuxmint/timeshift here can you add what you like to take a backup of. But you can think the other way take control of the installation and the configuration so you can spin up a new machine in minutes this can be done with a virtual server (virt-manager). And have all your stuff there If you blow it just restore it with the snapshot which you have a backup some where else also. Then the best solution is Ansible you have all your settings configuration as code (no gui but doesn't need to be hard to learn yml) Then you can duplicate you machine on different os and as many times as you like. At work we spin up a virtual machine try the installation / configuration via Ansible make the right changes before we go live is the right way of doing it, but life isn't always perfect ;-)  Good Luck