Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Rsync
2.1.
Deja Dup (Duplicity)
2.2.
Timeshift
2.3.
BorgBackup
3.
Frequently Asked Questions
3.1.
Can these backup tools be used on all Linux distributions?
3.2.
Can I backup to remote servers with these tools?
3.3.
Do these tools support automatic backups?
4.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Best Backup Tools for Linux

Author Gunjan Batra
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Introduction

Data is an integral part of our digital lives. Whether it's personal files, business data, or system settings, losing data can be a significant setback. To mitigate this risk, you need robust backup tools. Linux, being a favorite among many power users and sysadmins, offers several powerful and versatile backup tools.

Best Backup Tools for Linux

 This article aims to introduce you to some of the best backup tools for Linux, their features, and how to use them.

Rsync

Rsync is a fast, versatile, remote (and local) file-copying tool. It's a command-line utility that synchronizes files and directories from one location to another while minimizing data transfer by using delta encoding when appropriate.

Here's a basic example of using rsync to backup a directory:

rsync -av /source/directory /destination/directory

This command syncs the source directory with the destination directory, preserving file permissions (-a), and provides verbose output (-v).

Deja Dup (Duplicity)

Deja Dup is a simple and easy-to-use GUI tool for backup. It's the default backup tool on several Linux distributions. Deja Dup is a frontend to the command-line tool Duplicity. It supports scheduled backups, file encryption, and backup to local or remote locations.

Here's an example of a Duplicity command to backup a directory:

duplicity /source/directory file:///destination/directory

Timeshift

Timeshift is an excellent tool for backing up system files and settings. It's similar to the System Restore feature in Windows and the Time Machine tool in Mac OS. Timeshift protects your system by taking incremental snapshots of the file system at regular intervals.

Here's how to create a snapshot with Timeshift from the command line:

sudo timeshift --create --comments "A description for the snapshot"

BorgBackup

BorgBackup (or Borg) is a deduplicating backup program that supports compression and authenticated encryption. Deduplication is done at the chunk level, saving disk space by only backing up the changes made since the last backup.

Here's a basic Borg command to backup a directory:

borg create /path/to/repo::Monday /source/directory

This command creates a backup archive named "Monday" for the source directory in the specified repository.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these backup tools be used on all Linux distributions?

Yes, these backup tools are compatible with all major Linux distributions. However, installation methods may vary.

Can I backup to remote servers with these tools?

Yes, all these tools support backing up to remote servers, either through SSH (rsync, Duplicity, Borg) or specific remote server protocols.

Do these tools support automatic backups?

Yes, Deja Dup and Timeshift have built-in scheduling for automatic backups. Rsync and BorgBackup can be configured for automatic backups using cron jobs.

Conclusion

Backing up your data is an essential routine that can save you from many unfortunate situations. On Linux, there is a multitude of robust, reliable, and powerful backup tools available, be it for personal use or professional system administration. Rsync, Deja Dup, Timeshift, and BorgBackup are among the best, each offering a unique blend of features. By choosing the tool that fits your needs and regularly backing up your data, you can achieve peace of mind and data security.

Recommended Reads:  features of linux operating system

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