Make backup to external server without writing it to the local disk?

[postcd]

Hello,

i want to ask if its doable to make backup of local files (tar.gz) without writing these backup files to local disk, but creating these archives right on remote backup server, i want to use tar, not rsync or similar.

What i found is sshfs which can mount remote folder as local folder, but the quesiton is if that tarring is done without writting on local disk if i set destination fodler that one i mounted by sshfs? or any other way to not write to local disk? thx

 

[VitalkaDrug]

I know about two ways:
1. ssh/scp (http://gnuru.org/article/1522/copying-with-scp-stdin)
2. netcat (http://nakkaya.com/2009/04/15/using-netcat-for-file-transfers/)

 

[JD P]

Just to clarify the ssh option. It uses pipes.
# tar zcvf - /wwwdata | ssh [email protected] "cat > /backup/wwwdata.tar.gz"
taken from http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-use-tar-command-through-network-over-ssh-session/

I'm confused about the desire to avoid rsync and similar tools? Versioned backups are critical for many, many reasons. Having a backup tool handle it simplifies doing the backups and many don't modify any local files. rdiff-backup is an awesome backup tool. http://www.kirya.net/articles/backups-using-rdiff-backup/ has the best guide that I know.