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Approaches to saving or backing up data differ from user to user–some relying on external hard drives to safeguard everything and some just saving a file once. The issue most users opposed to storing all of their data is the relatively tedious nature of the task. Sorting data, deciding what files need to be backed up and which you can risk losing , plus what technology to do it all with, used to take time and patience. As proprietary technology has made advances to run tasks easier and more efficient, the same holds true for open source. Below is one easy way to back up your data in Linux.
A fast and basic tool to use is Backerupper; don’t let the name fool you, it’s legit. This open source software can readily be found online, downloaded and uncompressed onto your hard drive. After running the install script, which takes no time at all, enter the command sudo ./install.sh into the directory and you’ll be ready to store some data.
Start the program by using the command “backer” in your terminal window. The menu will pop up and don’t worry, navigating is straightforward. Begin by creating a profile by choosing what directories you need backed up and where you would like to place the corresponding files. All of the data will be saved as a compressed file to where you directed it. You can also designate a back up time–when you want it to be backed up–as well as the number of copies you would like to have stored. Feel free to make multiple profiles for individual directories.
Another great asset is its easy retrieval system. By selecting a profile it will quickly locate the archive. You can then direct it to restore the files wherever you would like. It may not be the most advanced, but it’s certainly that easy.
