Easiest way to make a snapshot of the system?

[debiannoobie]

Hello,
What is the best/easiest way to make a backup of my system? I have Debian testing installed. I have googled and I found this one program called Timeshift but for some reason I cannot find it with apt-get install timeshift even though it should find it.
I'm also little bit confused that do I even need to have and complete image of my system. Some people say that they only backup /home and if something goes wrong they will install Debian again and just restore /home. Where are the Debian setting saved are they in /home or somewhere else?
And if I want that the backup will also restore all the programs and setting for them what is the best way to do this?
I'm going to install Nvidia drivers soon but I want to have a full system backup first so I don't need to start all over if something goes wrong.

[pawRoot]

Debian configs aren't at home folder, only some applications hold their config files in there, like bash, windows managers etc.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

I back up the family laptop using this method:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Rs ... tem_backup

But for my own machines I just use github & gdrive to keep configuration files and suchlike, I don't do traditional backups at all.

[llivv]

It Depends
as usual their are many ways but which is the easiest Depends on how you setup theinstall and what you know about the features
available to that systems configuration.

If one knows about BTRFS snapshots (I do not) that is probably the easiest way.
If one knows about XFS dump that is another easy way.
A simple copy of your install is another easy way, if one understands the pro and cons.
Than there are probably tens of snapshot taking packages available in the debain repo alone
unfortunately timeshift is not one of them.
If you want timeshift you have to get it from github
https://github.com/teejee2008/timeshift
or pkgs.org
https://pkgs.org/download/timeshift
or sourceforge
http://antor44.users.sourceforge.net/
As always backup backup backup
when it's needed there is nothing easier
"as long as the restore from backup is testing and understood"

[Head_on_a_Stick]

If one knows about BTRFS snapshots (I do not) that is probably the easiest way.

Btrfs snapshots are instant and very useful but I wouldn't class them as a backup, but they're great for trivial un-delete actions.

[llivv]

It's always a good idea to have a backup. No?
How (often) and what is backed up is an individuals preference.

a few backup utilities available in the testing archive.
backintime-common
backup-manager
backup2l
chiark-backup
flexbackup
luckybackup

there are plenty more

edit - testing is usually not recommended for beginners
if that is you it's offered up for something to think about for the future.

[Bulkley]

Over the years I have tried several backup methods. My preferred method is a complete clone (including Grub) to another drive. I make a fresh clone before doing anything major on my machines such as a dist-upgrade.

Everyone has different needs. Do you need a daily backup, a running tally so to speak? If so cloning will be too awkward.

For really important documents you may need off-site backup.

[GarryRicketson]

by debiannoobie » 2018-11-10 08:28

Hello,
What is the best/easiest way to make a backup of my system?

What one person thinks is the easiest way, might not be the same as what some one else thinks is the easiest way,
Personally, I think using the 'dd' command, (there is a learning curve), there also are a lot of instructions on using it, if one does a search, the 'man dd' command is also useful.
I also use 'rsync' to update my backups, except for the data bases, if you are using MYSQL or Maria Data base, it is best to do those separate, using the 'mysqldump' command.
I have never tried BTRFS, so don't know on that, but over the years I have tried many of the so called "easiest" clicky dickey GUI's and none were reliable, but really, to decide what is easiest for you, you need to try some of the various methods, then try using the back up you made, and see if it really works. For me , the dd command, rsync, and mysqldump is the most reliable route, maybe not the easiest , but what good is it being easy, if it is not reliable ?

[bester69]

If one knows about BTRFS snapshots (I do not) that is probably the easiest way.

Btrfs snapshots are instant and very useful but I wouldn't class them as a backup, but they're great for trivial un-delete actions.

>> BTRFS

Im disagree here, I would go for BTRFS as a snapshot method backups.. Im using this method for several years and Its the easy way to rollback system to a snapshot, you can even go jumping from snapshot to snaphot (install another linux system above the root and come back later to the other installation)


In my opinion Btrfs is linux's god. You wont ever have to worry about losing your system or home data, as long as you have a propely snapshot.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

You wont ever have to worry about losing your system or home data, as long as you have a propely snapshot.

...until your hard drive dies, then you're completely fucked

[kevinthefixer]

then you're completely fucked

I always considered that a good thing!

[Head_on_a_Stick]

^ isn't that like the old joke?

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Answer: only emotionally...