I am looking for a way to backup my Firefox bookmarks history and add ons so I can have the same set up on different computers, or being able to apply to new operating system installation. In Evolution they have a one click backup which is very nice. Is their anything similar in Firefox.

Go to Firefox and download the foxmarks addon. This free service allows you to store your firefox bookmark on the foxmarks server. Then, from anywhere, add the foxmarks addon and download/synchronize the bookmarks.

Works fantastically. (I synchronize 5 systems)

Very easily. Just copy your .mozilla directory:

Main computer:
# cd ~
# tar -cjvf mozilla_bkp.tar.bz2 ~/.mozilla

Copy 'mozilla_bkp.tar.bz2' to the user directory on the new computer:
And decompress it:
# cd ~
# tar -xjvf mozilla_bkp.tar.bz2

This preserves EVERYTHING (bookmarks, history, cookies, extensions, etc...)

a "tar.bz2" nice simple no fuss on mess ,I like it

if you want it to access from anywhere in the globe, then in my opinion the best option is to use "Foxmarks" addon in mozilla, creating a new accoutn wont take much time, simple 2/3 steps and its not taht you can access it from mozilla only , just goto www.foxmarks.com and login to your account and then you can do whatever you like i.e add/change bookmarks ... i've using it for last 2/3 yrs...
its really nice...

Maybe, but I am usually not happy about throwing my personal data and passwords into a remote server which I do not control. If I need to access anything from anywhere I can put it on my home server which I trust, no need for a 3rd party one.

FEBE
http://customsoftwareconsult.com/ext...febe/febe.html

FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions. In fact, it goes beyondjust backing up -- It will actually rebuild your extensions individually into installable .xpi files. Now you can easily synchronize your office and home browsers.

FEBE backs up and restores your extensions, themes, and (optionally) your bookmarks, preferences, cookies. and much more.

Foxmarks allows for firefox bookmark synchronisation. You may set it up as automatic, or for manual control.

What I like about it is that I do a cleanup of a bookmark, and replace a bookmark, and I can ask Foxmark to update it's copy. I can also have Foxmark do the update before exiting, or on first starting firefox.

Copy with tar files works fine too, except that you have to email it to a server such as google, yahoo, hotmail or other. And you have to manually force synchronisation.

I'll stick to foxmark.

Foxmarks only stores bookmarks, nothing else (at least that's the intent).

Great app - makes life a lot easier, especially when you run several distros on on computer

Look into 'rsync'.
# man rsync

MjM If you are going linux to linux where both systems are up 24/7, then you can do what you want. Rsync is the hammer to kill a fly.

With the foxmarks free facility, I can synchronize my XP system as well as my three linux systems, all in different offices and all not online at the sametime.

And it is dynamic. I can receive updates and delete bookmarks and at the end of the day, my system is synchronized.

With RSYNC, I can only send an update from a single source to a single target. Foxmarks allows a many to many.

I know I am unable to convince you, but if the only tool you have is a hammer, all solutions look like nails.

Hmmm...
The OP said nothing of Windows XP. It simply stated to backup for new installs, which included "bookmarks history and add ons". I just answered the question.

However as you stated "Copy with tar files works fine too, except that you have to email it to a server such as google, yahoo, hotmail or other." I don't know why anyone would want to transfer files like that over hotmail or the likes. So I merely offered 'rsync' as a friendly alternative to transfer files over email.

If whatever you have works, more power to you.

You have to trust Foxmarks to some degree, which I guess is no big deal (for bookmarks), but like someone else stated it only does bookmarks, which is not a complete Firefox profile. Furthermore if it is only bookmarks you are interested in, I recommend the delicious extension, which also works very well across platforms.

I don't know much about hammers, nails and flies.