Copy timeshift snapshots [SOLVED]

[Scorpion]

I use the /timeshift folder for the snapshots with rsync mode, and I would like to save a copy on /media/root/<external-drive>.

I found this script here https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic. ... 9#p1496549:

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!/bin/bash
#update timeshift backup on external drive from snapshots on internal HD

sudo rsync -aAuHXvis --progress --delete --numeric-ids /media/root/LM18_timeshift/ /media/steve/Z97_LM_Backup/LM18.3_timeshift_backup/timeshift | tee ~/timeshift_backup_log

echo "Finished updating timeshift backup"

sleep 10
exit 0

Can I use that? What should I change?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

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!/bin/bash

The shebang is incomplete and you don't need bash for that script so:

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#!/bin/sh

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sudo rsync -aAuHXvis --progress --delete --numeric-ids /media/root/LM18_timeshift/ /media/steve/Z97_LM_Backup/LM18.3_timeshift_backup/timeshift | tee ~/timeshift_backup_log

That command copies from /media/root/LM18_timeshift/ to /media/steve/Z97_LM_Backup/LM18.3_timeshift_backup/timeshift, which seems to be the opposite of your stated intention. And be careful with the trailing slash on the source directory:

http://qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk/blog/201 ... -to-slash/

You don't need a pipe (|) and the tee command to direct output to a log file so replace the bit after the rsync command with

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> ~/timeshift_backup_log 2>&1

And it's probably best to flush the copy buffers after the command runs rather than wait 10 seconds (the Mint poster seems to think the sleep command is for 10 minutes but it isn't):

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sync

No need for the 'exit 0' line either, the script will have a zero exit status if it completes successfully anyway.

[Scorpion]

When I copied the script I missed the #.

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#!/bin/sh
#update timeshift backup on external drive from snapshots on internal HDD.

rsync -aAuHXvis --progress --delete --numeric-ids /timeshift/ /media/root/<external-drive>/timeshift-backup/pc-1 > ~/timeshift_backup_log 2>&1
echo "Finished updating timeshift backup"
synch

Is that right?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

There shouldn't be a "h" at the end of "sync" and the echo command should come after the sync command but otherwise it looks okay.

The rsync command will copy the contents of /timeshift/ to the /media/root/<external-drive>/timeshift-backup/pc-1/ directory but not the /timeshift/ directory itself, is that what you want?

[Scorpion]

Yes, with more than 1 pc to backup I thought that would be redundant to have /media/root/<external-drive>/timeshift-backup/pc-1/timeshift.

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#!/bin/sh
#Update timeshift backup on external drive from snapshots on internal HDD.

rsync -aAuHXvis --progress --delete --numeric-ids /timeshift/ /media/root/<external-drive>/timeshift-backup/pc-1 > ~/timeshift_backup_log 2>&1
sync
echo "Finished updating timeshift backup"


Is now right?

Will TS be able to read the snapshots directly from the external drive?

To import them do I have to switch the directories in the rsync command?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Is now right?

Yes, that looks fine.

Will TS be able to read the snapshots directly from the external drive?

No idea, sorry, I've never used Timeshift so I don't know how it works. I use my own backup script (via a systemd .timer unit).

To import them do I have to switch the directories in the rsync command?

Yes but be sure to add a trailing slash after /media/root/<external-drive>/timeshift-backup/pc-1/ (unless you want to copy the pc-1/ directory itself to /timeshift/). Again, read the blog post to which I linked above to understand the importance of a trailing slash after the source directory when using the rsync command.

[Scorpion]

I have read the blog post, I implied that you have to add the necessary slashes:

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#!/bin/sh
#Restore timeshift backup from external drive on internal HDD.

rsync -aAuHXvis --progress --delete --numeric-ids /media/root/<external-drive>/timeshift-backup/pc-1/ /timeshift > ~/timeshift_backup_log 2>&1
sync
echo "Finished restoring timeshift backup"

[Head_on_a_Stick]