What is the best way to clone the system and backup files in Ubuntu 18.10

Question

After spending so much time to change the settings to make the system work, I want to clone the system so that when something goes wrong, I can recover the system to its last cloned state. What is the best way to do it?

As for regularly backing up files, what is the best way to do so?

Thanks

All your user settings are in /home. Only if you made some system wide settings changes like edit of grub, then you may want to backup /etc. Only if server type install may you have other folders in / to backup. I just back up the few files I manually edit in /etc. And export list of installed apps. Then a new install & restore from backups will work and restore your configurations. That is what a good backup should do anyway. — oldfred, Oct 22 '18 at 19:12
Possible duplicate of How to make a disk image and restore from it later? — karel, Oct 24 '18 at 03:59

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 22 '18 at 19:02

1

I would suggest using clonezilla to clone your OS. youo could also use gparted if you prefer see MovingLinuxPartition.

For backups you can use the Ubuntu "backups" tool and set the location you want to back up to I would suggest a different harddrive. you could instead use rsync running in a cron job if you prefer. But I would suggest just using the normal backup tool.

answered Oct 22 '18 at 19:02

Jeff

1,674

I heard clonezilla is good but is there an equally good one with better GUI? – lovedrinking Oct 24 '18 at 04:09

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 22 '18 at 19:01

From this answer: Bash script to clone Ubuntu to new partition for testing 18.04 LTS upgrade you can create a working clone that you can boot with new options added to from your menu.

The advantage of cloning this way is you can try new upgrades out on the clone or even intentionally destroy parts of the clone. Then later you can clone your live system again.

It uses incremental copying so only files that are different from the last time cloning was done are copied or deleted.

Tricky issues such as creating new grub menu options or changing UUID's in /etc/fstab are done automatically.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 23 '18 at 00:23

0

I wouldn't worry about cloning the entire system, just your home directory where all your individual settings are stored. That's what I do. Anyways you will have a built in backup system made for Gnome/Ubuntu. It might not be installed but to do so, install 'deja-dup & duplicity' from your package manager or the console.

answered Oct 23 '18 at 00:23

SD Allen

119

If I just backup the home directory, if the system fails? I just install the vanilla version of Ubuntu and drag and drop the home directory? Will the system allow it as it probably uses some files in Home all the time. – lovedrinking Oct 25 '18 at 13:19
By default it will back up everything in the Home Directory except 'Downloads'. Of course you can select which directories you want excluded. It won't complain, just overwrite the dotfiles if they're named the same. But one can also select specific items on restore - It's not complicated and intended to be used by a regular user NOT a system admin. So, yeah, I think you've got the idea! – SD Allen Oct 26 '18 at 17:29

What is the best way to clone the system and backup files in Ubuntu 18.10

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