[TAG] Grrrr...

[Ben Okopnik]

On Thu, Sep 30, 2004 at 02:06:37PM +0100, Jimmy O'Regan wrote:
> On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 22:10:46 -0400, Ben Okopnik <ben at linuxgazette.net> wrote:
> > On Fri, Sep 24, 2004 at 09:44:53AM +0100, Jimmy O'Regan wrote:
> > > Speaking of annoyances, you asked before about backups -
> > > http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/ shows how to do
> > > snapshot backups with rsync
> > 
> > Heck, so does the "rsync" man page. :) And so did Barry O'Donovan back
> > in LG#104. I still haven't had a chance to pick up an external HD, so
> > it's kinda moot for the moment - although I'll burn a backup DVD tonight
> > (not a complete backup by far, but at least most important stuff) as
> > part of my hurricane preparation.
> 
> This was mentioned on the ilug list: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/
> 
> It's a file system synchroniser that works with Unix and Windows. It
> can deal with updates at either end, works locally or over a network,
> and is resilient to failure (or so they say). Might be worth a look,
> if you get around to picking up a removable HD or have a trustworthy
> friend with spare disk space.

I looked at it when you recommended it, since I figured you wouldn't
have done so unless it had some extra value beyond the obvious. Except
for the Wind0ws angle and a couple of references to other, related
material, it's essentially what Barry covered. Not to say that it's not
useful, but all of the above presume a system that is available at all
times as the backup host - not something I have available, so the sort
of automation they describe is not possible for me. My backups, once I
get the hardware squared away, will consist of tying two laptops
together with a crossover cable, then rsyncing as necessary; in other
words, completely different procedurally from the above assumption.

I was going to write a "Linux Afloat" article this month, about dealing
with computing needs on a boat (thanks for the reminder, Jimmy. :)
Hurricanes ate up just a bit too much time and effort this time around,
but it should happen next month. Backups, and the issues involved in
handling them in a situation like mine, will be covered.


* Ben Okopnik * okopnik.freeshell.org * Editor-in-Chief, Linux Gazette *
-*- See the Linux Gazette in its new home: <http://linuxgazette.net> -*-