Backup and Restore Your Ubuntu System using Sbackup
Sponsored Link
Now we will see a easy backup and restore tool called "sbackup"
SBackup is a simple backup solution intended for desktop use. It can backup any subset of files and directories. Exclusions can be defined by regular expressions. A maximum individual file size limit can be defined. Backups may be saved to any local and remote directories that are supported by gnome-vfs. There is a Gnome GUI interface for configuration and restore.
Installing sbackup in ubuntu
sudo apt-get install sbackup
You can use synaptic also for this if you want to know how to search this software and install check here
Backup Your Data Using Sbackup
Once you completed the installation you can access sbackup using System--->Administration--->Simple Backup Config you can see this in the following screen
Next screen is asking for root password enter password and click ok
Once it opens the sbackup application you can see the following screen where you can configure your backup settings first tab is general options in this example i am choosing "Use custom backup settings"
Sbackup can be operated in 3 different modes
Recommended Backup
If you are new Ubuntu user or aren't sure what you should backup.This will perform a daily backup of your /home,system data held in /etc,/usr/local and /var.This will deliberately exclude any files over 100MB.By default this backup will be stored /var/backup
Custom Backup
This is same as the recommended backup and in this you can change the settings include,exclude files,you can change the schedule time.
Manual Backup
If you want to backup some files from time to time this option is for you and you can click backup now button to manually perform a backup according to the settings on the other backup properties dialog box tabs.
Next you click on "Include" tab here you can include any file or directory you want to backup
If you click on "Add file" button you should see the following screen where you can select your files
If you click on "Add Directory" button you should see the following screen where you can select your Directory for backup
Next option is "Exclude" here you can exclude files and folders you don't want to backup.Here you can exclude Paths,File Types,Regular Expressions,Max file,folder size
Next option is "Destination" here i am leaving the default location i.e /var/backup if you want to chnage the backup store location you can select the "Use Custom local Backup directory" and enter the location
Now you can select "Time" option here you can schedule when do you want to run your backup.
Available options for backups you can see in the following screen you can select hourly,daily,weekly,monthly,custom options
Next option is "Purging" here you can select old and incomplete backups and you set the no.of days you want to purge after completing all the settings you need to click on "Save" button to save your settings.
Now if you want to take backup just click on "Backup Now" or leave the schedule backup in this example i just clicked on "Backup Now" this is started a background process with process id you can see this in the following screen
Restore Your Data Using Sbackup
If you want to restore backups or any files,folders go to System--->Administration--->Simple Backup Restore you can see this in the following screen
Once it opens you should see the following screen here you can select the restore source folder and available backups from drop-down menu here you can choose files and folders you want to restore and click on "Restore" button
In this example i have choosen to restore one .iso file and once you select your file and click on "Restore" it will ask for your confirmation click on yes this will restore the file in orginal location if you want to restore in different location you need to select "Restore As" option
Note:- By default Restored Files and Directories are owned by root this is because of sbackup will runs with root.You need to chnage these files or folder permissions using chmod or just right click and select properties of the file or folder.
Backup Destination on Remote machine
One more beauty about sbackup is you can store your backup on a remotemachine for this it will give the option of using SSH or FTP for this go to System---> Administration---> Simple Backup Config once it opens the application you need to click on destination tab here you can select "Use a remote Directory" option type ssh:// or ftp:// followed by the username:password, then @, then the remote host to connect to and the remote directory.
Final Tip:-
Sbackup doesn't create a new backup file each time it runs and it creates an incremental backup.Which means that it updates the last backup with files that you changed or been created any files that haven't been updated since the last backup are unchanged
Sbackup Configuration from command line
If you want to configure sbackup you need to Edit /etc/sbackup.conf file
Restore Backup from command line
Run "sudo srestore.py /var/backup/2006-11-18_03 /home/myuser /home/myuser/old". You can omit the last parameter to restore to the same directory.
Can I config Sback up to start automatic when I reboot.
i backup my Ubuntu 10.10, after that i unistall it and install new Ubuntu 11.04. when i want to restore my backup, the sbackup don’t recognize the backup and doing not.
I get the same thing except I install Lubunto 11.10 (oneiric) w/ the same result. I first get the prog to recognize the backups but tells me they’re v.14 (or something to that effect), that I should upgrade to v.15 but warns to make a copy of the backup first. I do, to the Lubuntu installation desktop. Then I go & upgrade ONE of the .ful backups. Says it can’t but then corrupts it to the point that it disappears. I do & it does to an .inc backup too. So I go to copy the copy on my desktop. Won’t see it.
I now have NO backup of anything except for the copy of my backup on my Lubuntu desktop that I have NO clue how to recover. Any ideas anyone?