backup files
 

Where usually should be stored backup files, when make backup of some system files before changing it settings? Should it be stored in the root account directory or in the user account directory?

If you just want a copy of the original when making changes, just make to copy in the same directory by renaming it. Something like the fstab file change to fstab.bak as an example..

If I'm tinkering with only one or two files, I usually back them up in their original directory by coping them to [filename].bak.

Ultimately, though, a backup is not a backup unless it's backed up to external media, such an external drive, a USB stick, an optical disk, or a network share on another computer. Then, if I blow up the original install or the hard drive fails, the files will be still be available to be restored. If I'm doing a Debian dist-upgrade, for example, I will certainly back up files to external media.

I usually store them right next to the original, i.e.

/etc/fstab
/etc/fstab.new
/etc/fstab.old

The you can switch back and forth between your new and old configuration by simply copying files:

cp /etc/fstab.new /etc/fstab

if you have an oops then:

cp /etc/fstab.old /etc/fstab

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Steve Stites