Hello, I would like to get some advice from you guys on a backup solution that would best fit my needs.

I run a webserver from my home where I host several websites. I am currently running this system on a Dell 8200 P3 1.3Ghz, 256MB mem., and 80 GB HD. FC4 is the O/S. I have an additional 80 GB HD that is in the second drive bay and is unused.

Obviously, I need an economical solution. What would be the best way, IYO, for me to backup, clone/mirror my data?

Should I purchase a tape backup? or, should I setup a mirror to the second HD? etc...? If you suggest mirroring or cloning, what would be the best way to do that? Are there any instructions available to do that; any additional software required?

FYI, I may acquire a server several months from now that has a Raid1/5 config with tape backup, so I don't want to spend too many $ at this point.

Thanks in advance!

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux-Comp...ecovery-HOWTO/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...to&btnG=Search

hope this helps.

titanium_geek

Here's what I have done. I have installed rsync. This program basically syncs files and will keep exact copies of the original file. What I would do is create a partition of the spare drive (/dev/hdb1) and call it /backup. Create an entry in /etc/fstab;

/dev/hdb1 /mnt/backup ext3 defaults 0 1

Here is a sample script , ./backup, that I made;

#!/bin/bash

rsync --delete-after -avH /home/ /mnt/backup/home > /var/log/backup.log

to explain the above --delete-after will delete files that have been deleted in the original directory and retain links and then write a log of the event. Note that rsync only copies across new or changed files and is therefore quick.

In my case I wanted to backup my /home hourly. In your case the directory likely to change most frequently is /var .

Copy the script to the relevant cron directory (hourly|daily) and to make it executable;

do chmod 700 ./backup

and then;

I put it in /etc/cron.hourly

The following entry was put in /etc/crontab so that a backup is made 10 min past each hour.

# m h dom mon dow user command
10 * * * * root /etc/cron.hourly/backup

Hope this gives you some ideas.