What files should I clean up before creating a disk snapshot?

Question

After setting up a new Ubuntu virtual machine guest, I like to take a disk snapshot so that I can restore to a working state in case I break something later on. I'd like to avoid snapshotting unnecessary files, so I always run apt-get clean beforehand.

What else might I be interested in cleaning up before taking the snapshot?

What are you using the VM for? Does it have a GUI? If yes, are you using it for internet browsing? — Lekensteyn, Jun 07 '11 at 16:24
@Lekensteyn It's for typical desktop use, so I can pull up an unmodified installation when helping out others, and to provide a place to test out experimental configurations without putting my primary installation at risk. — ændrük, Jun 07 '11 at 16:31
You might want to check the question What files and directories can be excluded from a backup of the home directory? — Lekensteyn, Jun 07 '11 at 16:54
As snapshots will need considerable space you may consider cloning your fresh VM and play with the clone. — Takkat, Jun 07 '11 at 18:20

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 07 '11 at 16:24

3

Not sure what cruft there should be on a fresh installation apart from the apt cache. I'd rather concentrate on uninstalling unneeded packages. In synaptic you can sort them by install size.

answered Jun 07 '11 at 16:24

htorque

64,798

Martin Ueding · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-12T13:57:39.213

0

Depending on your programs, but I think that you can pretty much purge everything in /var/cache/ and ~/.cache and also delete your browser's cache or other programs like that.

edited Oct 12 '11 at 13:57

answered Jun 07 '11 at 17:53

Martin Ueding

8,348

What files should I clean up before creating a disk snapshot?

2 Answers2