Backup script

nasser00 · 07-21-2009, 11:22 PM

Hey there,

I'm attempting to create a shell script using Ubuntu that will take one optional argument (which in this case is a path to a directory to backup) and will back up (by using the tar command) the chosen directory which is the /home. And i want, after tar'ing the home directory, for it to save the output in /var/backups with the file name as the date.

I'm very new to this so I was just hoping I could get pointed in the right direction!

Cheers.

blacky_5251 · 07-21-2009, 11:43 PM

This should get you started:-

Code:

#!/bin/bash

if [ -z "$1" ]; then
  echo You need to pass a parameter.
  exit 1
fi

tar -cvzf /var/backups/$(date +%F).tgz $1

konsolebox · 07-22-2009, 12:00 AM

i also suggest that you add a test if the argument is an existing directory:

Code:

if [ ! -d "$1" ]; then
  echo "Specified argument is not a directory."
  exit 1
fi