Restore Linux Lite - Systemback or Timeshift?

[Wirezfree]

I have voted for Systemback,
It gives the Windows like restore points, and an option to create a "Live Image ISO" of your working system.
I have however only tested the "Live Image ISO's" in Virtualbox at this point, it worked fine.

I have still not settled on my "ideal" a backup regime,
Still playing with various applications, they all do various backups, but some in different ways.



If some very smart coder/dev could combine:
> Aptik for just quick "settings/config" backups
> Systemback for re-store points & live images
> BackInTime for Documents

With a simple GUI with 4 buttons for backup:
[settings] [re-store points] [image system] [Documents]

It would be a winner   

[torreydale]

I have to say I haven't heard of Systemback or Timeshift before either, so thanks to the Linux Lite community for bringing them both to my attention.

I consider myself an ambassador of Linux Lite to those in my circle of influence.  Though I would prefer to personally use Systemback, because I can see how it could help me get a new user's Linux Lite distro up and running faster with the use of a Live CD that I create, the Timeshift app looks better when I look at it with the eyes of a newbie.  The interface is simple.  The Scheduler and Auto-remove features are easy to interpret. 

To those who say Timeshift doesn't include personal files (home folder stuff), it seems it only does so by default.  It appears that you can add personal files and directories to the restore point using the Advanced Settings. 

One gripe I have with Timeshift, though, is the "Backup Device" button.  It's misleading and could conflict with how a new user perceives the Deja Dup backup program in Linux Lite.  "Create restore point" is a more accurate name for that button.  Another gripe is it appears that the /Timeshift folder is located by default on the root partition...the partition that is slated to be restored.  If added to the Linux Lite Distro, perhaps the developers could move that default location.  If not, I'll create a Live CD using Systemback with the default location moved.    Hee hee.

Those of us who tend to participate in this forum are at least intermediate PC users, even if we're new to Linux Lite.  We should take one for the team and install Systemback on our own, if we need it.  But in keeping with the simple mantra of Linux Lite, I vote for Timeshift to be added to the distro.  The average smartphone owner, like my mother, who has a PC to Internet surf and check email could understand it.

[N4RPS]

Hello!

Will give Systemback a try. I haven't used anything like this up until now, but I probably should...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob

[Shady]

I never used neither of them but looking at the links..

I voted for Systemback

Systemback - I like the look of it and you can pick and choose which files to include and exclude in the system restore.

Timeshift - you don't get to choose what to restore, you're stuck only restoring system files and settings.  Documents, pictures and music are excluded, which is a turn off for me.

[avj]

I am not familiar with either of them either, but I chose Systemback because it seemed to be the more intuitive of the two, and I have to admit I like the way it looks better too.  Looks aside I like that it can make a live cd/dvd of the system, that is a major plus to me.

[Trip]

I've not used any backup software on Linux like this but Systemback can also be run via CLI and has livecd/usb creation built in by the looks of it.
Out of the two, that's the one that I would probably try first

[Jerry]

Great feedback so far, thank you folks

[TMG1961]

I dont use either of them. Dont even know them. I make a weekly backup of .thunderbird and documents. I create an image with clonezilla once a month and use that to restore laptop. Then put back documents and .thunderbird folder and then i am ready to go.

[justme2]

I have voted for Systemback on the basis of the content of the links provided, as I have not actually used either. However, Systemback  looks more akin to Windows System Restore and I think I would be more comfortable with it. Currently I make system images after each update of Linux Lite, by booting Clonezilla Live from a USB memory stick and that has given me 100% success in restoring an image, after I've messed up the system *whilst not knowing what I was doing*.

I do like the option of making a Live system from Systemback though.

[Coastie]

Both look a little complicated for a newby including including me after using Linux since January 2014. I use Deja Dup but have never had to use it to restore. I manually backup before a new install .mozilla, .thunderbird, documents, music, pictures, sounds, and videos.

If Deja Dups was preset to backup those or similar files, it would easy for a newby to just stick in a flash drive and have it save to it. The problem I have had with Deja Dup is that it keeps backups too long and does not delete old backups when it get low on space as it is suppose to do. I have to go in and manually delete old backups. I probably should just use a bigger flash drive. 

[greenisland]

I voted Systemback. I have been using it successfully for several months to create live-usb versions of my system (including user data) which I then use to set up other computers. I have not yet tried to use it to restore a system on the same computer for which a backup was made.  But knowing that I have a live-usb version seems to me a step of confidence above a normal backup.  If the error is so great that the system cannot be booted, then would not Timeshift would have a problem? (how would you boot up and how then restore?)

[rokytnji]

Voted systembackup after reading your links.

I do not use either. So cannot really comment Jerry. I have a personal way I have locked away in my pastebin for taking snapshots of my install to a external drive using dd. Then zipping it up. Then using a live cd to restore  from external hard drive using
using gunzip and dd again.

[Jerry]

At some point, we're going to have to include a system restore tool for Linux Lite. Given that our OS is aimed at new folk to linux, this feature is not only expected, but will prove to be a life saver for getting people out of a mess.

Systemback - http://www.unixmen.com/systemback-restore-linux-system-previous-state/
Timeshift - http://www.teejeetech.in/p/timeshift.html

The following is a community Poll to gauge how you feel about either piece of software and why you like it.

Thank you for your contributions