Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 13:37:28 +0100 From: Frank Shute <frank@shute.org.uk> To: David Banning <david+dated+1210521964.abd0fb@skytracker.ca> Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: suggestion on a backup utility Message-ID: <20080507123728.GA4084@melon.esperance-linux.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <20080506160602.GA27098@skytracker.ca> References: <20080506160602.GA27098@skytracker.ca>
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On Tue, May 06, 2008 at 12:06:03PM -0400, David Banning wrote: > > I wonder if anyone can recommend a good backup utility for FreeBSD. > If it's in the ports, great. I would like to just specify which > directories I would like to backup, how often and have it tar or zip > the files into a directory - if it has off-site ftp, fine, but I can > do that part myself via crontab. > > I realize I could just make a script file with some tar commands, > but I'm looking for something that is quicker to maintain and > allows me to organize what I'm backing up. > > I have been using reoback but recently I ran into some problems > with is duplicating files X 10! - I looked into to solving it but > it might be easier to just try something else. For backing up purposes, I use a number of tools. For files that I'm constantly changing, then I check them into subversion. This includes the files for my website, since it is in a constant state of flux. Then it's just a case of checking out the tree and running $ svn update on it on other machines when I edit anything. For databases (fairly static with few updates), I just drop the database and scp the file to other machines/disks. For a tree that I'm constantly adding to but the content is then unchanging, my LaTeX letters, templates & other documents, I use rsync: $ rsync -avruz ./latex/ frank@melon:~/latex Hence, just a few files that I've added since last backup get copied across. I backup config files with scp along with any scripts I may have written. I use these methods to keep a server, workstation and laptop in sync. I don't archive anything (eg. write it to CD or DVD). In case of fire, I grab the laptop & run. In case of asteroid impact, my data dies with me ;) My audio CDs will be covered by insurance. If I had directories with piles of data in it, then I'd use dump/restore but I don't. OS files, I don't give a monkeys about, I can always rebuild, ditto ports. As you see, I think you should use a number of different tools & strategies dependent on the type of data you are backing up. They're all scriptable but I tend to just backup when something has changed rather than using cron. You soon get into the habit. All my machines are protected by UPSes. Regards, -- Frank Contact info: http://www.shute.org.uk/misc/contact.html
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