System backup to another drive

System backup to another drive - Printable Version

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System backup to another drive - Tyrannocaster - 12-01-2019

I have an SSD as a system drive, and I have two internal conventional disks as well, both formatted FAT-32. I'd like to backup my system to one of the bigger drives, but Timeshift tells me it can't do that. Timeshift also tells me my SSD is not a Linux formatted device, though, which is obviously incorrect. Despite that message it does appear to backup the system to the SSD, but AFAIC that's of limited value since if the disk dies, so does the backup.

Any ideas welcome.

Re: System backup to another drive - stevef - 12-01-2019

Using Timeshift v19.08

Timeshift - Settings - Location allows me to specify a USB connected drive as the destination of the system back up. The SATA attached 'data' drive also appears as an option.

Re: System backup to another drive - Tyrannocaster - 12-02-2019

(12-01-2019, 04:46 PM)stevef link Wrote: Using Timeshift v19.08

Timeshift - Settings - Location allows me to specify a USB connected drive as the destination of the system back up. The SATA attached 'data' drive also appears as an option.

One of my ATA drives shows in that list but it tells me SELECTED DEVICE DOES NOT HAVE LINUX PARTITION. However, so does the system SSD which Linux is installed on. When I try to use the ATA drive, Timeshift goes to an apparent default of the supposedly unavailable SSD and backs up the snapshot there.

Literally everything I can click on in the Settings/Location window says I can't use it when I click on it. Plainly, at least one of those is wrong, but in any case I do not seem to be able to use the ATA drive for this.

Re: System backup to another drive - firenice03 - 12-02-2019

[member=8136]Tyrannocaster[/member]

Quote:SELECTED DEVICE DOES NOT HAVE LINUX PARTITION

I saw you mentioned the partition is Linux READABLE - FAT ...
Have you tried or can you try using a Linux Partition ? ?? ? - I'd try ext4 .. See if any better results..

Might be worth a try - especially if you have room and can easily create/reformat a partition..

Some visual help
https://linuxhint.com/timeshift_linux_mint_19_usb/

Re: System backup to another drive - robinc - 12-03-2019

Absolutely agree with above. Target drive needs to be reformatted to ext4

Also do make sure you include your hidden files in the timeshift backup esp if you use t'bird or browser with local portable config eg Firefox ESR

Re: System backup to another drive - Tyrannocaster - 12-03-2019

(12-03-2019, 06:16 AM)robinc link Wrote: Absolutely agree with above. Target drive needs to be reformatted to ext4

Also do make sure you include your hidden files in the timeshift backup esp if you use t'bird or browser with local portable config eg Firefox ESR

Re: System backup to another drive - Sprintrdriver - 12-03-2019

I've always being using Clonezilla for system backup purposes. The nice thing about CZ is that it limits the image file size, so that FAT32 maximum file size won't be a concern.

Re: System backup to another drive - robinc - 12-04-2019

(12-03-2019, 02:00 PM)Tyrannocaster link Wrote: [quote author=robinc link=topic=6899.msg49708#msg49708 date=1575353816]
Absolutely agree with above. Target drive needs to be reformatted to ext4

Also do make sure you include your hidden files in the timeshift backup esp if you use t'bird or browser with local portable config eg Firefox ESR

Good point; thanks. I am going to try using an external drive, reformatted just for this.

I admit I am perplexed that Timsehift tells me my system drive is not a Linux-formatted device, though. EDIT: just figured out that it does show the system drive as LINUX, but only until you click on the other drive - after that, the system drive returns the error message. I think this is a bug in timeshift.

Also, what is the difference between "Include hidden" and "Include all"? Wouldn't both of those mean the hidden files are included? Right now, it is set for root being Include All and my home dir as Include Hidden.
[/quote]
The restore process is not particularly granular. If you are using it to transfer to a new drive, you will have first installed a system on the new drive. The restore will take the dot files and folders that have been created during the new installation and put them all in a new visible folder in your user space. It will then apply the hidden files from your backup.

If you have 'include all' in your backup you'll a. have a humungous backup (assuming you keep your data in your home) and b. a long long long restore.

I use Backintime for personal data - OK it's just another rsync tool, but it keeps the 2 apart and like Timeshift creates a fully browsable file system if needed.

Re: System backup to another drive - Tyrannocaster - 12-04-2019

My data is all on my secondary drives, except for stuff like browser login, cookies, prefs, and email, etc. Backup size is something like 11 gigs IIRC, so not really a problem.

Re: System backup to another drive - Tyrannocaster - 12-04-2019

(12-03-2019, 10:37 PM)Sprintrdriver link Wrote: I've always being using Clonezilla for system backup purposes. The nice thing about CZ is that it limits the image file size, so that FAT32 maximum file size won't be a concern.

Clonezilla works, but it's not the easiest program to figure out, especially if, like me, you don't need to use it often. If Timeshift will work for me, I'll give it a try.