Timeshift Backup/Recovery Program

[MzQ1NjExN2]

In the past I've ignored backup programs as I've read mixed reviews on them. I've always had a second or third computer running and would back up my files onto them. Recently I've used a encrypted (veracrypt) flash drive to store my home directory and use that as my main drive and I just create copies of it onto other encrypted flash drives. Works well, however, just in case my system ever goes bad I would like to create a backup image to save me time from setting up a system from scratch. Currently I'm using the latest version of Linux Mint (Ubuntu Cinnamon version) and it comes with Timeshift. I just watched a youtube video where a live usb was used with Timeshift to load a saved snapshot/image and recover the system. Looks like a good idea. Is Timeshift a good backup/recovery program? Has it failed for anyone here? Are there better programs out there. I'm assuming since it is included with Linux Mint it must be good.

 

[wizardfromoz]

G'day.

Is Timeshift a good backup/recovery program?

For the most part. Not sure that it works with encrypted files, but its default is to exclude $HOME so if you have an alternative in that regard, fine.

Timeshift was developed by Tony George of teejeetech.in in 2014 and I have been using it since then.

Linux Mint introduced it in Linux Mint 18.3, and then backported it to 18.2, 18.1 and 18.

In June 2022, handed it over to Linux Mint to maintain.

Best results are gained if you store your Snapshots on a different drive, and the, as you said

...where a live usb was used with Timeshift to load a saved snapshot/image and recover the system.

If your distro is still functioning and then you wish to remove software you have added but don't like or it does not work, then you can run the restoration from within Timeshift (provided it can access the stored snapshot), and it will go to a terminal-like environment, spool off output, and reboot you when finished.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

In June 2022, handed it over to Linux Mint to maintain.

Thanks for the feedack. Nice to know that it is maintained by the Mint team. I will go ahead and use Timeshift then.

Do you format the external hard drive/USB drive to a particular format when saving your Timeshift snapshot files? I noticed my USB drives don't show up on the Timeshift GUI when trying to select a drive to save a snapshot to.

 

[bob466]

I have Timeshift setup on an External 2TB Portable HDD and create a snapshot now and then but there are better options...Timeshift is my third choice. I have to format my External HDD to EXT4 with Timeshift.

My first choice is Foxclone...https://foxclone.org and second is... Redorescue https://sourceforge.net/projects/redobackup/
Both Foxclone and Redorescue create an image of the whole system...compress the image they create and have a Verify tool...so you know the image created is good...I never encrypt anything.

The created images are stored on a External Portable 1TB SSD...the image can be restored to the same Drive or a new Drive should the one your using fail...Foxclone can also Clone one Drive to another of the same size and it's never let me down.

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

I have Timeshift setup on an External 2TB Portable HDD and create a snapshot now and then but there are better options...Timeshift is my third choice.

My first choice is Foxclone...https://foxclone.org and second is... Redorescue https://sourceforge.net/projects/redobackup/
Both Foxclone and Redorescue create an image of the whole system...compress the image they create and have a Verify tool...so you know the image created is good...I never encrypt anything.

The created images are stored on a External Portable 1TB SSD...the image can be restored to the same Drive or a new Drive should the one your using fail...Foxclone can also Clone one Drive to another of the same size and it's never let me down. View attachment 26141

Oh by the way I forgot to mention that I used the encrypt the whole drive option when I had installed Linux Mint. So I have to put in a password when booting in to the system. Would this have any negative impact when using Timeshift or another backup program?

 

[Mike-BTU]

My first choice is Foxclone...https://foxclone.org

That's my first and ONLY choice.

Both Foxclone and Redorescue create an image of the whole system...compress the image they create and have a Verify tool...so you know the image created is good...I never encrypt anything.

The created images are stored on a External Portable 1TB SSD...the image can be restored to the same Drive or a new Drive should the one your using fail...Foxclone can also Clone one Drive to another of the same size and it's never let me down. View attachment 26141

Foxclone has ever let me down either!! I highly recommend it to anyone.

I have several USB3 External Portable drives. That way if one fails, I still have a recent clone of my main SSD.

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

That's my first and ONLY choice.



Foxclone has ever let me down either!! I highly recommend it to anyone.

I have several USB3 External Portable drives. That way if one fails, I still have a recent clone of my main SSD.

You know what I will go with both Foxclone and Timeshift and make a backup using both. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[bob466]

Oh by the way I forgot to mention that I used the encrypt the whole drive option when I had installed Linux Mint. So I have to put in a password when booting in to the system. Would this have any negative impact when using Timeshift or another backup program?

I don't encrypt anything and never have...Forums are full of people asking for help because they encrypted Drives.

When my computer Boots to the Login Screen I also type in my password but that's different...the same as installing software or some Terminal commands...unless you're a spy...I wouldn't advise encryption.

These are my images stored on my Portable SSD...

The compressed images are about 128GB each...it depends on how much used space is on the Internal SSD...the more used space the bigger the image. I can delete older ones when I like.

 

[Condobloke]

That way if one fails, I still have a recent clone of my main SSD.

Have you ever put the usb stick in place and hit Restore on your main SSD drive ?

 

[Mike-BTU]

Have you ever put the usb stick in place and hit Restore on your main SSD drive ?

I have indeed restored my main SSD. The USB stick contained Foxclone, and the external USB-3 HD contained the Foxclone backup from an earlier time. Worked flawlessly. Several times!

 

[Brickwizard]

Which ever you choose if you do a full backup of system and files , then you will be best to use a large capacity external drive

 

[Trynna3]

When I messed up my LMDE installation (twice) I was glad to have an exact clone I made via Rescuezilla, just two weeks prior my first hiccup. I had my entire system restored in under 10 minutes (not much data on the disk or the clone, just messing around). For incremental backups I use one of the free tools to direct the data onto a usb drive.
Clonezilla is often mentioned for cloning, but as many others I find it too technical. Rescuezilla is much easier to use.
Always test the clone that it actually works, before you put it aside for the hard times. Bad clone is useless.

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

I just did a test run with a Timeshift snapshot that was created last night. It rolled back/restored the system in 10 minutes or less. So it worked even with my entire Linux Mint system being encrypted.

Which ever you choose if you do a full backup of system and files , then you will be best to use a large capacity external drive

I am trying to figure out how to save a Timeshift snapshot on an external device. It seems that I have to change the device file format to a compatible format that Timeshift will recognize. What file format should I use?

 

[Brickwizard]

Although it's not the most secure, I use BTRF

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

Although it's not the most secure, I use BTRF

I thought BTRF was a different program until I took a look at Timeshift again just now. I realized it has two snapshot type options RSYNC and BTRFS. I'm assuming your referring to the snapshot type. For some reason I can't select BTRFS as it looks like it grayed out.

 

[f33dm3bits]

For some reason I can't select BTRFS as it looks like it grayed out.

Your system needs to be using the BTRFS filesystem to use that option, since you don't it's probably grayed out.

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

Your system needs to be using the BTRFS filesystem to use that option, since you don't it's probably grayed out.

I see and it looks like I need to format an external hard drive to the ext4 file format to save a snapshot to it.

 

[Condobloke]

It seems that I have to change the device file format to a compatible format that Timeshift will recognize.

I see and it looks like I can need to format an external hard drive to the ext4 file format to save a snapshot to it.

yes. Absolutely correct. Ext4 .

Just as an added thought. I also use Rescuezilla. One of the reasons I use it is because it also goes on an ext4 file formatted disc. ....the same as Timeshift. So, just the one...large capacity external disc, to hold ALL snapshots/backups.

The main reason I use it is because I have suffered a total annihilation of my Linux Mint.....and the backup by Rescuezilla,..... Restored it perfectly.

 

[Condobloke]

I am trying to figure out how to save a Timeshift snapshot on an external device. It seems that I have to change the device file format to a compatible format that Timeshift will recognize. What file format should I use?

Ext4 for the external.
In Timeshift settings.....

 

[wizardfromoz]

Just a note for all on Timeshift - although it includes a BTRFS option, it must be the BTRFS format as used by Ubuntu.

Further, the BTRFS snapshot facility is not as full of features as the EXT4 option.