Data backup [SOLVED]

[oldgreygary]

Hello,

I was looking through the forums to try and sort out the best way to backup my personal files. e.g. documents, photos, email settings etc.
I saw that Luckybackup was recommended. I just thought that I would get some opinions on anything else that is available and used.
I would like to be able to be selective in the files/folders I choose to backup and retain maybe different backup options so I can do backups as and when required. I would also like to be confident that I could selectively restore individual files or folders as required, easily.

Thanks

Gary

[Phil]

Hi Gary,

Ask just one person for an opinion and preferences on backing up files and you will still get an avalanche of suggestions. As you have seen there are many excellent backup options. Search synaptic, install a few, see which one gels with you.

For myself I backup files with rsync. I made a script which runs twice a week and it backs up specific directories. Not that hard (but do watch your slashes....)
If I was craftier I would compress backuped files to save space. These days not too much of an issue.
I backup my system partition once in a while with a Clonezilla live disk. Saved me a few times.

Also do not forget to make a copy of .kde4 in your /home to something like .kde4bak, just in case you foul up your desktop.

Once you have tried then see if you can get back files.

Suggest start with say one directory and build up from there.

[djohnston]

Gary,

If you want to use rsync but are uncomfortable with using the command line, use LuckyBackup. It is a GUI front end to rsync and has all the same functionality.

[aguila]

I do also recommend LuckyBackup wholeheartedly.

I tried backintime and DejaDup, but settled for LuckyBackup. Do yourself a favour and study the manual before playing with it.

You can choose what to backup and combine a set of rules to a profile. You can keep several snapshots, so you can go back to pre-previous versions. This can be defined for each rule, i.e. you can keep five snapshots of your photos while only keeping one of your documents, for example.

[OldGuy]

Another LuckyBackup guy here too.  I have several friends using it too.  It makes it easy for them to keep an updated
copy of their important files.  I usually help them set it up the first time showing them what I'm doing and why. 

[ternor]

I use tar to backup folders each day, e.g.: tar -czf /data/backups/ternor/120214oo3.tgz .openoffice.org/

[Yankee]

If I have file-roller installed and I right-click on a folder
while in the file manager it will compress the folder
selected.   Makes a nice backup.tar.xz of the folder(s)
with personal files in them.

[oldgreygary]

Thanks for all your replies. That has given me more options to explore. As suggested I will try with basics and build from there. Also, good advice re: read LuckyBackup help first. It looks to have plenty of options. I also, quite like tar as it seems fairly simple to use. There appears to be a GUI option in Kbackup.

Thanks

Gary

[Martin Goose]

Thanks for all your replies. That has given me more options to explore.

You might like to add Areca Backup as well.
http://www.areca-backup.org/
Good if you like full, incremental or differential backups and need to retain versions of files going back over the weeks and months. It's the one I use.

[Phil]

Another thing, very important to backup to a completely separate disk. If the disk fails you have your data safe on another.