System configuration and software settings location?

peter7089 · 01-21-2017, 10:11 AM

Is all system configuration settings and installed software settings stored in user home folder? If i want to backup all of my configuration and software settings do i have to copy just my user home folder?

business_kid · 01-21-2017, 11:48 AM

The /etc directory holds a lot of system wide configuration data.
Your home directory also has some in hidden files that your user configured. Try this

Code:

ls ~/.*

JeremyBoden · 01-21-2017, 11:58 AM

Generally speaking /etc contains system wide configuration details
whilst your /home/username directory contains user specific details.

peter7089 · 01-21-2017, 12:02 PM

Which files and folders from /etc directory i have to backup?

jamison20000e · 01-21-2017, 01:06 PM

This or other searches may help: http://www.howtogeek.com/194342/how-...uration-files/

nodir · 01-21-2017, 02:48 PM

both, etc and the hidden configs in home are very small in size.
Just back up everything

ls ~/.*
I think that is not the best way, as .* may also give a positive result for ..
which is not what one wants.

ondoho · 01-21-2017, 03:23 PM

so, to re-iterate:

Code:

ls -al $HOME/.*
ls /etc/

while it might be a good idea to back up these files, please be warned that doing so will not guarantee a 100% restorable system, esp. when you've been installing software and whatnot.

unfortunately linux is a bit of a jungle in that respect (but so is windows).

jamison20000e · 01-21-2017, 03:51 PM

I personally only backup any custom files I modify and know can transfer to a new install or disto... plus, of course, my data regularly and diversely!

nodir · 01-21-2017, 04:07 PM

ls ./.[!.]*
or like:
ls ./.[a-zA-Z-0-9]*
or such.

Rickkkk · 01-21-2017, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

... while it might be a good idea to back up these files, please be warned that doing so will not guarantee a 100% restorable system, esp. when you've been installing software and whatnot ..

+1

Certain config files can be copied over to a new install to restore previous customization, but don't count on a foolproof backup / restore type of situation.

Cheers :-)

Shadow_7 · 01-21-2017, 10:59 PM

Note that the /home/ for root is /root/.

So:

/etc/*
/home/*
/root/*

But it's really app dependent. Sometimes defaults / first run stuff is pulled from an apps /usr/share/ location. Not that that would affect you outside of distro or major versioning shifts.