Re: [rdiff-backup-users] New User Seeking Some Clarification

[Keith Edmunds]

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 12:15:28 -0500
"Chris Young" <address@hidden> wrote:

> As I understand it, rdiff creates a mirror directory which is not
> compressed or altered in any way from the source with the exception of
> adding the incremental information in sub-directories.

That's correct. For each directory tree you backup, there will be an
'rdiff-backup' directory added to the mirror, but other than that
directory the backup is an exact mirror.

> Then as I subsequently run rdiff it automatically updates the main
> file list with the latest files and then moves or copies previous
> versions of those files to the sub-directories containing the
> incremental data which is compressed.

Yes, although more accurately it puts the _differences_ of previous
versions into the increment directories.
  
> And then I have the option of telling rdiff to go and delete
> incremental data from a certain point in time if I choose.

Yes.
  
> 1. Is there a way to "archive" incremental data instead of just
> deleting it. Say if I am running out of room on my backup server I
> might want to just store the incremental data on CD ROM or yet another
> hard drive?

Not easily, so far as I'm aware, but others may know of a way.
  
> 2. Can you restore to the file level or just the directory level? And
> can you backup to the file level or just the directory level?

You can only backup and restore at the directory level.

> 3. It seems that rdiff doesn't need any special runtime parameters to
> do an incremental backup. It seems automatic. Is that correct? I just
> backup from the same source to the same target as my first backup?

That is correct.
  
> 4. I am backing up web servers to a remote backup server with this so
> I need daily backups with at least a week worth of incrementals. This
> seems to easy. Does anyone have any practical advice for this type of
> scenario? Anything I need to take precaution of or anything special I
> should do. I am worried that until I have a fatal crash I won't really
> know how good or bad my backup solution is.

As with any backup solution, you'd be well advised to perform 'test'
restores. However, to answer your question, no, there is nothing special
you have to do.

> 5. I have Plesk (a web server administration software package)
> installed if anyone knows what that is. It has a dump utility with it
> but I would have to come up with my own rotation scheme to work out
> incremental backups. Anyone have any experience comparing dumps with
> rdiff.

I don't. However, I would just use rdiff-backup to backup the data
separately from the built-in dump mechanism. Of course, you could do
both (independently) if you wanted a backup-backup, as it were.

I have a short bash script that I run from a cron job to back up a
number of systems using rdiff-backup. I don't make any claim for it
other than'it works for me', but if you'd like a copy then drop me
personal mail.

Keith