Problems with rsync and backups

JosephS · 02-01-2010, 05:36 AM

I'm having problems doing backups with rsync.
Using Debian Lenny

When I use the following script rsync deletes directories in
/mnt/backup: debian and home and syncs the /home directory with
/mnt/backup. I want to do incremental backups in
/mnt/backup/debian/home. this is the script I'm using:

Quote:

#!/bin/bash
mount /mnt/backup
cd /mnt/backup/debian/home/
rm -rf backup.7
mv backup.6 backup.7
mv backup.5 backup.6
mv backup.4 backup.5
mv backup.3 backup.4
mv backup.2 backup.3
mv backup.1 backup.2
mv backup.0 backup.1
cd /
rsync -av --delete --exclude-from='/root/scripts/exclude-files' --delete-excluded \
--link-dest=/mnt/backup/debian/home/backup.1 \
/home/ /mnt/backup/debian/home/backup.0/ \
umount /mnt/backup

when I use this script with the -n option rsync renames the file:
It renames backup.0 to backup.1. Isn't the -n option
supposed to be a dry run; why is it changing things?

Thanks

neonsignal · 02-01-2010, 07:41 AM

The '-n' dry run option is an rsync option, not an option for the whole script. The script ignores all options (and doesn't pass them on to rsync). Not only that, but it is the mv commands in the script that move the directories, not the rsync part of it.

JosephS · 02-01-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neonsignal

The '-n' dry run option is an rsync option, not an option for the whole script. The script ignores all options (and doesn't pass them on to rsync). Not only that, but it is the mv commands in the script that move the directories, not the rsync part of it.

Thanks I realize that now. I must have been half asleep. I also
figured out the problem with the script for backup.
I should have left off the \ from the end of this line:

Quote:

/home/ /mnt/backup/debian/home/backup.0/ \

now it works.