Arch Linux

bmarques

Member

Registered: 2014-12-09

Posts: 30

[SOLVED] Automated Full System backup with rsync

Hi,

I would like to know if there could be any issue with an automated full system backup using rsync and cron jobs..?

This page of the wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Rs … up_utility explains very well how to perform the backup, but I was wondering if this couldn't cause some problems:

What would happen if the backup couldn't finish, because, for instance, of a system shutdown?
could I end up with incomplete backups? or worse corrupted files?
What about files I would be editing while the backup is being performed?
If it is the case, could there be a way to warn the user that a backup is being performed when trying to shut down / suspend / reboot the machine?
Are these questions relevant at all?

Anyway, looking forward to your input

Cheers,

Last edited by bmarques (2017-07-11 11:41:52)

ooo

Member

Registered: 2013-04-10

Posts: 1,638

Re: [SOLVED] Automated Full System backup with rsync

rsync copies files to a temporary file first, and overwrites the old file with it only when the new file is transferred completely. Therefore there shouldn't be any risk of file corruption (unless you use some rsync option that overrides the temporary file creation). The backup will be incomplete of course, but you should be able to continue from the point where it got interrupted.

If you're editing a file while backup is in progress, it will be backed up at its saved state at the moment when rsync copies the file.

You could use notify-send to send desktop notification when backup is being performed, and when it's complete.

bmarques

Member

Registered: 2014-12-09

Posts: 30

Re: [SOLVED] Automated Full System backup with rsync

Thanks a lot for the tips

I'm setting this up. Just facing a bug with my install of a notification daemon...
I mark this topic as solved