Can we backup linux data to ext hard drive?
 

Hi,
I need to backup some data to an external drive from my desktop machine. Need to know whether there are any external drives to backup linux data. If so, how safe would be my data, as its quite important!
My desktop machine OS File system is ext3

Thanks,
Kiran

Can we backup linux data to ext hard drive?

Answer for question is Yes .You can backup your linux data to external hard drive using any of backuping tool like rsync.Currently im Using BACKUPPC Opensource backup tool to backup my linux server data to ext hard drive.

http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/faq/BackupPC.html
http://www.howtoforge.com/linux_backuppc

Thanks for the reply Arun, but my question is about the external hard drivers. I mean ext3/ext4 supported external hard disks.

Yes. I back up to an external hard drive; I use ext3 on my desktop pc, and have ext3-formatted partitions on the external drive.

kir...,
again yes but do you want to be able to restore it in the same state to the system it was taken from? Is it a home computer and are you 'expecting' it to fail?

Fred.

Yes you can. Preferably using rsync. I have been doing it for years and nothing beats this system for quick file-level restore.

There are a gazillion threads in this forum and the entire internet about the advantages and disadvantages of external disks, ext3/4 file systems and rsync. I found no disadvantage.

If your house burns down and your only backup was the external hard disk next to your computer you understand that and external hard disk backup needs a certain policy regarding the physical aspects, not how you store the files.

jlinkels