Linux Backup for Dummies
 

My current "disaster recovery" backup scheme is:

• Copy Linux Mint 21.1 (Cinnamon) installation to external HDD, via Rescuezilla 2.3.1 (Focal).

• Copy My Documents folder to aforementioned external HDD.

Not withstanding the fact that I'm backing up the entire system with each backup, is the process viable?

Regarding personal folders/files, am I missing anything by simply copying the My Documents folder?

Thanks for any insights, guys/gals. :wink:

Footnote:
While the Timeshift/Back in Time solution appears to be much more efficient, it also appears to be much more intimidating - to me.

Thanks, guys/gals! :D

Timeshift generally backs up to the local drive. It covers the case of a software change causing problems well, but does not cover you for a drive failure or critical corruption.
I back up my entire home folder, and occasionally run a command that documents all of the software I have installed (and includes my custom software build folders. I code.) to a file in my home folder. This way if things go south I can do a clean install, restore my home folder, and recover from there within an hour or two.


BTW: I could not place great trust in a backup to an external drive. If there is a disaster, and it is close enough to your PC to get caught in the same disaster, it is unlikely to survive. You want to rotate media and rotate them offsite to a safe place if you can. The question really is if the value of the PC is worth that amount of trouble to secure.

If you copy My Documents with rsync you can set up the backup so that it only copies files that are new or have been updated, leaving the unchanged files in place on the backup copy.

Backing up OS is one of those things that you have to ask yourself whether you need to or not. My answer was 'no'. In my mind, the OS can always be reloaded (excuse to 'clean house' so to speak). If it takes a couple of hours to lay down a new OS, no biggie. At home, it isn't a need to have 24x7 access to the machine(s). However, I do backup the /home folders. This allows you to save any settings and data (like Firefox and Thunderbird), documents, etc. and such for each user of the system. Once you have your OS back, and users re-added, you and can then go restore the original /home folders and then you are back where you were.

I have a home 'server' machine were all my 'want to keep' data is located. As above, external backups are done periodically, and my yearly ones are stored permanently off site. If I have some critical data added to the server, I'll create another backup and store off site during the year as a precaution. That way, if any/all machines 'disappear' while I am on vacation.... The data is still all accounted for. Note my data is physically off-site. I do not/will not put any data in the 'cloud'. My preference.

I just use 'rsync' for all my backup needs. Build shell scripts as needed to run the backups.

Hmmm... I probably SHOULD upload a backup to Google Drive, as a defensive fallback in a worst case scenario; that way, I'd have a viable backup that could be reinstalled on a new machine.

Thanks for the feedback,vwpeckham! :hattip:

You can use Relax-and-Recover (ReaR)

Thanks for the input, guys; but I think I'll stand by my current Rescuezilla + My Documents approach. It's worked thus far, and in the worst case, I have all my customizations documented, so I could make a full recovery in a minimal amount of time.