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== Types of Backups ==There are two things that I'm doing with three primary use cases or types of backups: # <ul style="list-style-type : upper-roman;"><li><strong>Operational</strong>: Routine (e.g. daily) backups - especially in a networked multi-user environment for operational resiliency and efficiency</li><li><strong>File</strong>: "Full" file system archive to online storage before re-building a host (completely reformatting disks and partitions)</li><li><strong>System Image</strong>: A complete operating system image to allow either cloning to new hardware, or full system restoration</li></ul>== Example Use Cases ==<ul style="list-style-type : upper-roman;"><li> I accidentally deleted a file, and I want to get it back (without having to call Tech Services) and if Ican'm archiving t get my file back, I want to blame tech services</li><li> I want to make an online (meaning network accessible) archive of my old machine before I wipe it completely to turn it into a Media Center PC (Using Mythbuntu or LinuxMCE)</li># <li> I'm want to making a full system backup of my notebook before I do a distribution upgrade from Kubuntu 8.4 to Kubuntu 8.10-- just in case the upgrade doesn't go smoothly so that I can revert and start again, or revert and work on resolving blockers.</li></ul>

== Backup Software ==For my purposesGiven the different goals of what one might mean by the term "backup", there are naturally different solutions that work best in each scenario. If you are a technical user, I chose you must get familiar with [http://wwwsamba.mondorescueanu.orgedu.au/indexrsync RSync].html Mondo Rescue] as my tool of choice because it Even when you need to employ other systems or tools, RSync is a very versatile package for complete disaster recovery as well as flexible in the ability to use online storage (e.g. external USB drive)swiss army knife of backups.

== Operational Backups ==Scenario A (Operational Backups) is very much like Scenario B (File Backups), with the distinction that it obviously multiplies the number of machines included, and is meant to persist through time as a component of your organization's operations and disaster recovery plans. You may effectively use these techniques in your home or home office just as much as they benefit businesses. === Tools ===You [http://finmath.uchicago.edu/~wilder/Security/rsync/ could use RSync here], but by the time you get into the complexity of operational backups, you probably want to employ an application that offers even more flexibility, administration and power. One of, if not the best, solutions for operational backups is AMANDA. AMANDA is both an open source project, and commercially supported through the [http://www.zmanda.com/ Zmanda corporation].[[Image:Chart-amanda-network-no-brd.jpg|right]]# [http://www.amanda.org/ AMANDA] project# [http://amanda.zmanda.com/ AMANDA wiki]# [http://www.backupcentral.com/components/com_mambowiki/index.php/AMANDA Backup Central wiki article] === Resources ===# [[wp:Category:Free_backup_software]]# [http://linux.com/features/150600 TimeVault simplifies data backup for Ubuntu]  == File Backups ==This could also be called "Application Backups", because oftentimes, the goal in this category is to make a backup of an application prior to making major changes to the application, such as an upgrade. Or, it could be close to copying every file on a particular computer to some backup location. One distinction that I think characterizes "file backups" compared with "operational backups" is duration. If the backup is motivated by the thinking "Let's put this somewhere where we can still get at it for a while but we'll eventually throw away the backup when we're sure we have everything we need moved or migrated" This is a file backup. You still could be backing up nearly a full operating system, but you're probably not interested in applications as much as their settings and configurations. In many "File Backups" scenarios, you have a specific set of files that you're targeting. For example, "We're going to do a full upgrade of the website, so let's create a backup of the site before the upgrade." Another distinction is who is doing the backup. I consider "File backups" to be initiated by the user (even if that user is a system administrator, developer or database administrator) whereas Operational Backups "just happen" (with a Technology Services or other operations team responsible for making them happen). === Example 1: Archive the old workstation ===

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

 == System Image aka Backups for Disaster Recover Recovery ==So, when it came to using a backup program, I chose [http://www.mondorescue.org/index.html Mondo Rescue ] because it can backup to CD, DVD, disk (e.g. external USB drive) or other mediumslike tape drives. Plus, it can create a restore disk for you which is what I want... in the case of catastrophic system failure, I want to be able to recreate my computer on new hardware.

-S /media/disk/tmp # write scratch files to this directory

At first, the backup failed with a message that it thought my drive was full. But in reality, it was a problem with the tmp partition being too small so then I added the -S and -T options and it worked fine.

Basically, I have to