Ubuntu Unleashed 2013 Edition: Covering 12.10 and 13.04, Eighth Edition

Using rsync

An old favorite for backing up is rsync. One big reason for this is because rsync enables you to copy only those files that have changed since the last backup. So although the initial backup might take a long time, subsequent backups are much faster. It is also highly configurable and can be used with removable media such as USB hard drives or over a network. Here is one way to use rsync.

First, create an empty file and call it backup.sh:

matthew@seymour:~$ sudo touch backup.sh

Then, using your favorite text editor, enter the following command into the file and save it:

sudo rsync --force --ignore-errors --delete --delete-excluded --exclude-from=/home/matthew-exclude.txt --backup --backup-dir=`date +%Y-%m-%d` -av //media/externaldrive/backup/Seymour ...