How do you back up your files?

[Tritone]

I have all my important files on two laptops, two encrypted USB sticks and in the cloud. Both laptops are encrypted, one USB stick is kept safely at home, I carry the other one with me. For cloud storage I've chosen Proton drive.

I know people who keep a copy of their files at family or friends homes or at work. You could also give it to your bank or a lawyer (if you have one), but these options seem a little bit to much for me.

 

[gvisoc]

For my files I use Pika backups, a front-end for Borg, to a NAS. For system recovery I use Clonezilla to a external SSD.

To sync my files I use Nextcloud self-hosted on an Intel NUC, which backups itself to the NAS through Borg.

I answered "other" because its not exactly "locally", as I could rent a VPS and install Borg on it.

 

[theLegionWithin]

timeshift to an external drive dedicated entirely to that one function.

 

[johns276]

I use Deja Dup to an eternal drive on my local network. That drive is dedicated to storing backups and nothing else.

 

[KGIII]

How To: Have A Proper Backup Of Your Data • Linux Tips

In today's article, we're going to show you how to have a proper backup of your data. I've wanted to write this article for a while.

linux-tips.us

Edited to add: If your backups are all in your house, it's not that great of a backup strategy. Much like an untested backup is not a backup at all.

 

[theLegionWithin]

If your backups are all in your house, it's not that great of a backup strategy.

that's a great point but I'll be honest, if the house were to catch on fire I wouldnt be too concerned about backed up data.

 

[Mike-BTU]

that's a great point but I'll be honest, if the house were to catch on fire I wouldnt be too concerned about backed up data.

Bank safe deposit box.
Outbuilding.
Friend's house

 

[Mike-BTU]

timeshift to an external drive dedicated entirely to that one function.

And how do you backup non-system files, like your documents and photos?

 

[KGIII]

I wouldnt be too concerned about backed up data.

I'd think the opposite. That's when I'd think most about backed up data, from insurance forms to family pictures, that'd be when I want a backup the most.

 

[theLegionWithin]

And how do you backup non-system files, like your documents and photos?

pics are on my phone and my cloud storage, same with documents. I dont consider them as backups since they never get saved locally (or rather, everything on my phone syncs to the cloud).

onsite backup is just for the OS and media. I can download both again as needed, but its faster to have onhand.

I should have expanded on my point in the earlier post - if the house is on fire, I'll grab the stuff that cant be replaced first (hand appliqued quilts my mom made, etc). if I have time, then electronics. I dont have much attachment to pictures.

 

[tinfoil-hat]

I use this script for local backup:

GitHub - laurent22/rsync-time-backup: Time Machine style backup with rsync.

Time Machine style backup with rsync. Contribute to laurent22/rsync-time-backup development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

and rclone + Opendrive for cloud backup

Rclone

Rclone syncs your files to cloud storage: Google Drive, S3, Swift, Dropbox, Google Cloud Storage, Azure, Box and many more.

rclone.org

Unlimited Cloud storage | Cloud Backups | Cloud Drive

Open Drive unlimited cloud storage - Store, sync, backup documents, sharing and collaboration with instant access all in a simple to use, secure environment

www.opendrive.com

Opendrive has real unlimited Sorage and it's all encrypted

 

[wizardfromoz]

And how do you backup non-system files, like your documents and photos?

Timeshift provides an option to include your Home folder in snapshots.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Manual copy/paste to external HDD.

I used to use cloud before, however I've uploaded only locally encrypted files with gpg.
Sadly free cloud is too small and is not free otherwise.

 

[Tritone]

that's a great point but I'll be honest, if the house were to catch on fire I wouldnt be too concerned about backed up data.

If you have an online backup you don't have to be concerned about it at all. That's the point of online backup.

I should have expanded on my point in the earlier post - if the house is on fire, I'll grab the stuff that cant be replaced first (hand appliqued quilts my mom made, etc). if I have time, then electronics. I dont have much attachment to pictures.

What if you're not at home or it happens at night when everybody has seconds to evacuate?

For me family photos and videos are something that can't be replaced. Scans of important documents can be very useful after originals are gone. TBH, I wouldn't care about any electronics with the exception of my phone.

 

[wizardfromoz]

@Tritone don't think I am being unkind, but this is JAP ... just another poll, IMO.

Statistically pointless, unless at least 1,000 or more of our Members post, which they won't. Only a sample size of that magnitude or preferably considerably more will even begin to show some quantifiable trends or preferences.

That being said, it may be of value if, and only if, you or others learn of a valid method or process previously undiscovered.

Posing "What if's" to others' methods, likewise has no purpose, because there are too many variables.

For example -

• you have a backup drive at your friend's house. A mudslide or a flood or a forest fire wipes out the town, all gone.
• you use The Cloud - that company falls foul of regulatory authorities - happened with Mega NZ and US authorities, kapoof
• you have it in a fireproof safe - earthuake sees it end up at the bottom of the San Andreas fault

...and on and on, you get the picture.

Any backup plan or redundancy plan or restoration plan is better than none, and the details best kept to one's self, not divulged here.

Cheers

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[Tritone]

@Tritone don't think I am being unkind, but this is JAP ... just another poll, IMO.

Yes, I agree 100%, but what's wrong in having a chat about how users of this forum back up their files and what's their opinion about the whole backup idea? Originally, I wanted to start it without a poll - just to have a chat. I added the poll at the very last time. Is it against the forum rules to have discussions like that? And why it's OK for others to post comments on different backup methods or even their opinion what's most important to them? Just remove the poll and let's have a friendly chat about the subject.

 

[wizardfromoz]

I'm about to sign off for my evening in Australia, so have a think about it and I will look in on my tomorrow.

It is likely that I can remove the poll component and leave the rest intact, but it is also important to not counter other people's methods with "what if" which is more likely to be seen as argumentative.

I'll leave you to think about.

Good night, for now,

Wizard

 

[Tritone]

Just delete the entire topic. I don't see anything wrong with being argumentative if it's done in a friendly way ("what if" discussions are generally the ones people can learn the most from - just have a look at programming forums, for example), but it's not my forum and if you don't want this kind of topics here then, of course, I'm gonna follow the rules.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

What if you're not at home or it happens at night when everybody has seconds to evacuate?

A state of any backup is uncertain until restore is attempted.

Just delete the entire topic.

Please forgive @wizardfromoz , he's sometimes grumpy ole man lol

 

[Tritone]

A state of any backup is uncertain until restore is attempted.

True.

Please forgive @wizardfromoz , he's sometimes grumpy ole man lol

I don't want to be a troublemaker. If the admins say no "what if" discussions then no "what if" discussions it is.