backup over local network

4 respostas [Última entrada]
chaosmonk

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Joined: 07/07/2017

I have recently set up a desktop computer with Hyperbola, connected to
my router via LAN. I connect to the same router, usually via WiFi, from
my laptop running Trisquel. I'd like a good setup for backing up
important directories (~/Mail, ~/Documents, etc.) from the Trisquel
laptop to the Hyperbola desktop. I'm a total beginner when it comes to
networking, and I'd appreciate guidance as to the best approach. It
seems like NFS might work, but I'd appreciate any suggestions from those
more experienced. I'd prefer to keep running Hyperbola on the desktop
and Trisquel on the laptop, but if using two different distros is going
to be a problem I'm open to changing that.

loldier
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Joined: 02/17/2016

FileZilla or plain Files (Nautilus). You can share any file with any computer in your local network. That is if you prefer a GUI.

Even in a terminal ('scp'), it's easy if you tarball them first (an entire directory).

Magic Banana

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Joined: 07/24/2010

"Backups", by default in Trisquel, is easy-to-use and, most importantly, complete:

  • incremental backup (only backup files that are new or were modified);
  • compressed backup (faster and save space);
  • integrated with the file manager (you revert to any previous version of the file/folder in about three clicks);
  • periodic backup (or a notification if the external drive is not plugged);
  • the oldest versions of the files are automatically removed if space is missing;
  • possible encryption;
  • ...

It can backup remotely. For example to an SSH server (or to an FTP server or ...). That is what I would do:

  1. Configure your router so that the Ethernet card of the Hyperbola desktop always receives the same IP address; permanently binding the hardware id of the card, six two-digit hexadecimal numbers separated by ":" right after "link/ether" in the output of 'ip link', to the chosen IP address (192.168.x.x for a private IPv4 address);
  2. Install an SSH server (OpenSSH is the most popular) on the Hyperbola desktop;
  3. Make it be launched at init (on Trisquel, that would be automatically done, after installing; I do not know if that is the case with Hyperbola);
  4. Launch "Backups" on the Trisquel laptop, in MATE's "Control Center";
  5. Choose "SSH" as the "Storage location", write down the IP address chosen earlier as the "Server"; specify the folder where to backup and the login of the user on the Hyperbola desktop (with the permissions to write in that folder); "Port" can stay as it is, unless you changed the default (22), configuring the SSH server;
  6. Configure the rest of the backup, as you wish (e.g., specifying weekly or daily automatic backups).

The hardest part is the first one, where precise instructions depend on your router. Once everything done, ask for the first backup, clicking on the "Back Up Now" button, in the "Overview" tab of "Backups". The password of the specified user on the Hyperbola desktop will be asked and everything should be fine.

chaosmonk

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Joined: 07/07/2017

Awesome! This was so much simpler than I expected. Thanks, Magic Banana.

loldier
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Joined: 02/17/2016

Gnome's Files (Nautilus) has an ssh client built in. Before I noticed this, I used ssh/scp/FileZilla. I think Caja lacks this feature (only Samba/Windows Network).

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