Very Simple and cheap DATA backup method (not NOT DISK Imaging)

Hi folks

If you have some type of Linux based Network File server it's 100% easy to back up your data regularly on it via a great standard program rsync. The command line interface is a bit complex if you aren't used to a CLI but there's a superb GUI version Grsync (downloadable and Free-- might even be standard in your Linux distro system).

What this does is basically upload files / directories on "A" and not in "B". as well as upload files from "A" which are newer than "B" - optionally replace the older version etc. Loads of options but those are usually the one's most useful. BTW B and A can be reversed too so you can retrieve data as well from the server if needed.

For Windows clients - e.g laptops etc.

Ensure that SAMBA is running on the SERVER system and on the WINDOWS system the HDD('s) you want to back up data FROM are shared.

Logon to your server and run grsync.

You should see something like this : ensure though ist line has a '/' after the source file / directory.



Example here - I downloaded some music from BBC R3 on to an external HDD. Rather than remember which files I downloaded I just let the GRSYNC program add the new stuff to the target HDD (/mnt/DV2).

This makes simple data backup a real doddle and especially useful if moving data around between HDD's / external USB's etc etc.

Of course you should still IMAGE your OS HDD regularly. This post is only concerned with DATA backup which you should still do regularly - especially if you have music / video / office business files etc. You don't of course need to backup say 3TB of data every time - this just backs up what you've changed etc.

cheers
jimbo