This guide is part of the BackupYourSystem Page, and is separate so its better organized. This guide was also written by UbuntuGeek, on his blog, located here: [http://www.ubuntugeek.com/backup-and-restore-your-ubuntu-system-using-sbackup.html]
Introduction
Data can be lost in different ways some of them are because of hardware failures,you accidentally delete or overwrite a file. Some data loss occurs as a result of natural disasters and other circumstances beyond your control.
Now we will use a easy backup and restore tool called Simple Backup Suite, or “sbackup” for short.
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.
Installation
To install, simply type this command into a terminal window:
sudo apt-get install sbackup
You can use synaptic for this if you know how to. If not, a guide is located [http://www.debianadmin.com/simple-package-management-with-synaptic-package-manager-in-ubuntu.html here].
Backing Up Your Data
Once you completed the installation you can access sbackup using System—>Administration—>Simple Backup Config you can see this in the following screen
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BR Next screen is asking for root password. Enter your password and click ok.
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BR Once it opens the sbackup application you can see the following screen where you can configure your backup settings. The first tab is general options. In this example i am choosing “Use custom backup settings”.
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BR 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. With this option you will be able to specify where to save the backup file.
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. With this option you will be able to specify where to save the backup file.
For the rest of the guide, We will be assuming that you chose the "custom backup" or the "manual backup" option. If you chose the "recommended backup", you will not be able to customize any settings
Next you click on “Include” tab here you can include any file or directory you want to backup
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BR If you click on “Add file” button you should see the following screen where you can select your files
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BR If you click on “Add Directory” button you should see the following screen where you can select your Directory for backup
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BR 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
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BR Next option is “Destination”. Here i am leaving the default location i.e /var/backup if you want to change the backup store location you can select the “Use Custom local Backup directory” and enter the location.
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BR Now you can select “Time” option here you can schedule when do you want to run your backup.
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BR Available options for backups you can see in the following screen you can select hourly,daily,weekly,monthly,custom options.
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BR Next option is “Purging”. Here you can select old and incomplete backups and you set the number of days you want to purge after completing. All the settings you change require you to click on “Save” button to save your settings.
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BR 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.
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Restore Your Data
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.
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BR 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.
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BR In this example i have choose 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 original location. If you want to restore in different location you need to select the “Restore As” option.
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BR Note:- By default Restored Files and Directories are owned by root this is because of sbackup will runs with root. You need to change 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.
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BR 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.