Data File BackUp

[MikeH30]

I am a new linux user ( Suse Enterprise 10 Server ) and want a simple back up routine that I can automate for my work relevant data files ( word docs, excel files, PDF's Tiff, Mdb files, etc.) At this stage I am not interested in backing up my entire system. I only want to back up my data directories. I have been unsuccessful in finding a program to do this. I am used to using Windows System Back Up. I have tried using system backup in Yast but it does not allow me to choose the files I want to back up. I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

[tyc]

... want a simple back up routine that I can automate for ... data files
... not interested in backing up my entire system. ... only ... data directories.
... been unsuccessful in finding a program to do this.

Do you really need a program to do this? If I may, consider the following:

.1. In your User files make a directory called BACKUP
.2. Within BACKUP set up sub-directories with the same name(s) as are currently used in your User directories.
.3. As you finish working with them or on the schedule you now use, copy these data files to the appropriate sub-directory/ies in your BACKUP directory. Doing this you'll "automatically" have not one but two copies of the given data file(s)
.4. Then, on the schedule you've elected simply TAR the BACKUP directory along with all it's sub-directories and all you need to do here is simply type

tar -cvf backup.tar backup

.5. If there's a lot of data and HD space is short, gzip the TAR file.
.6. Once the file(s) have been TARed and/or GZIPed copies can be "burned" on to cds or the like and you'll now have not one, not two but three copies of those valuable data files.
.7. Due to the longer name length as permitted in LInux you can name or date those backed up files; i.e., backup07jul.tar.

On this end the above has worked well for years and as luck would have it, I've never needed to access the backup files. Of course, if I didn't back up those files, I'm sure Murphy's Law would have long ago gone into effect, more than once.

Hope this helps some.

tyc


It's just that simple

[MikeH30]

Thanks for the tip! You are right, I guess I do not really need a program for this task. That is probably why I was unable to find one. My next question is how to schedule this to run Monday - Friday after work hours? Thanks again.

[tyc]

With only one (1) directory to back up, suspicision has it that the mostly automated backing up of that single directory will be completed before you get back to your desk with a fresh cup of coffee.

Of course, if HD space is at a premimum the gzip function may take a moment or two later; so add some cream and sugar while you're at the coffee machine.



Hope this helps.

tyc

[MikeH30]

I appreciate the suggestions. The reason why I was initially looking for a small file back up program is because I am new to Linux and did not want to run the risk of "breaking" something. Plus I do not know how to use CRONTAB, how to tar, and write shell scripts.

**MY GOAL**
I have a directory called "data" in my user directory which consists of about 40 gigs of data. I want to create a scheduled back up of that data every evening ( Monday through Friday ) on an attached USB storage device ( Western Digital 300 gigs). I want to keep five different files ( monday_backup, tuesday_backup, wednesday_backup, etc) and over write them every week. I have not been successful.

I was attempting to use Yast System Back Up as I figured it was similar to Windows System Back Up( XP Pro SP2 ). But apparently not! My hard drive had reached capacity twice due to Yast System Back Up creating my back ups in the TMP directory ( even though I had specified the attached USB drive as the destination directory) and not overwriting them. I also spent quite a good deal of time configuring my USB Western Digital drive. I eventually formatted it FAT32 in Yast Disk Partitioner.

[tyc]

[QUOTE=MikeH30;485690]
... I am new to Linux and did not want to run the risk of "breaking" something.
... Plus I do not know how to use ... how to tar, ...
{/quote]

Try spending some time just "playing" with the Konsole, just as you probably did when you had MS on your machine.

As for TAR, take a look at my first response to your inquiry - that's ALL you need to do! It IS just that easy!

Best of Luck

tyc

[MikeH30]

Thanks. I will give it a try.