Re: Backups w/ rsync

[Wolfgang Denk <wd@denx.de>]

Dear Bill,

in message <46FD1442.70707@tmr.com> you wrote:
>
> Be aware that rsync is useful for making a *copy* of your files, which 
> isn't always the best backup. If the goal is to preserve data and be 
> able to recover in time of disaster, it's probably not optimal, while if 
> you need frequent access to old or deleted files it's fine.

If you want to do real backups you should use real tools, like bacula
etc.

> Now you can do an incremental (since last full or incremental) or 
> partial (since last full):
> 
>     touch bkup_incr_new
>     timestamp=$(date +%Y%m%d-%T)
>     find /home -cnewer bkup_incr | cpio -o -Hcrc |
>        gzip -3 >/mnt/USBbkup/incr-$timestamp &&
>        mv -f bkup_incr_new bkup_incr
> 
>     timestamp=$(date +%Y%m%d-%T)
>     find /home -cnewer bkup_full  | cpio -o -Hcrc |
>        gzip -3 >/mnt/USBbkup/part-$timestamp

Now have Johnny Loser downloading some stuff, say:

	$ wget -N ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.12.tar.gz

Are you aware that this file will never be backed up by your script?

Also, what about permission / owner changes etc.?

A backup tool should never work based on timestamps alone.

Best regards,

Wolfgang Denk

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