Notes

Backup and Restore

2 min read

Linux systems offer a variety of software for backing up and restoring data. For Ubuntu systems you have rsync, deja dup and duplicity.

Rsync Rsync is an open-source tool used for efficient and secure backups. Only the changed parts of files are transferred, making it ideal for large data transfers over networks.

  • local to remote backup:
    • -a: Archive mode (preserves file attributes like permissions and timestamps).
    • -v: Verbose mode (detailed output).
  • compression and incremental backups
    • -z: Compresses files during transfer.
    • --backup: Creates incremental backups.
    • --backup-dir: Specifies the folder for incremental backups.
    • --delete: Removes files from the remote server that no longer exist locally.
  • SSH encryption to secure data during transfers
    • -e ssh: Specifies the use of SSH for secure transfer.
workstation@htb[/htb]$ sudo apt install rsync -y
workstation@htb[/htb]$ rsync -av /path/to/mydirectory user@backup_server:/path/to/backup/directory
 
workstation@htb[/htb]$ rsync -avz --backup --backup-dir=/path/to/backup/folder --delete /path/to/mydirectory user@backup_server:/path/to/backup/directory
 
workstation@htb[/htb]$ rsync -av user@remote_host:/path/to/backup/directory /path/to/mydirectory <- restore
 
workstation@htb[/htb]$ rsync -avz -e ssh /path/to/mydirectory user@backup_server:/path/to/backup/directory

Likewise you can also use GnuPG, eCryptfs, and LUKS are tools to encrypt backup data and protect sensitive information. You can also automate backups by combining cron jobs with rsync to sync data at regular intervals.

workstation@htb[/htb]$ echo 'rsync -avz -e ssh /path/to/mydirectory user@backup_server:/path/to/backup/directory' > rsync_backup.sh
 
workstation@htb[/htb]$ chmod +x rsync_backup.sh
workstation@htb[/htb]$ echo '0 * * * * /path/to/RSYNC_Backup.sh' >> crontab

Deja Dup & Duplicity

A graphical backup tool for Ubuntu that simplifies the backup process. Supports Rsync, encryption, and backing up to local or remote storage. Whereas Duplicity focuses as a backup tool that provides encrypted backups to remote servers (e.g., FTP, Amazon S3).

Summary

  • Rsync is the primary tool for secure and efficient backups.
  • Use SSH for encrypted transfers, and consider additional encryption tools for backup security.
  • Automate backups with cron jobs and Rsync for regular synchronization.
  • Deja Dup and Duplicity are alternative tools that offer graphical interfaces and encryption features.

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