RSYNC (Remote Sync) is an open source command-line tool used for synchronizing and transferring files across systems. It operates by using the delta transfer algorithm, recognizing only the parts of files that have changed instead of copying the entire file. This leads to quick and efficient backups and transfers. RSYNC is can be used to backup entire servers.
Here’s a proposed scheme of using RSYNC to back up an entire server:
Step 1: Set Up
Assuming an ubuntu server, use the following command to install RSYNC:
`sudo apt-get install rsync`
Step 2: Identify Source and Destination
In a generic command, your source and destination would be defined:
`rsync options source destination`
For a web server, your source could be your web directory (ex: `/var/www/html/`) and your destination can be the directory you’re backing up to. Consider an external drive `(/mnt/backup_web/)` for example.
Full command:
`rsync -av —progress /var/www/html/ /mnt/backup_web/`
Step 3: Analyze the Command
`-a` option stands for ‘archive mode’ that preserves symbolic links, file permissions, user & group ownerships and timestamps.
`-v` stands for ‘verbose’ that increases the amount of information you are given during the transfer.
`—progress` shows the progress during transfer.
This one-way transfer command would effectively create a backup of your web directory.
Step 4: Setting A Cron Job
For scheduling regular backups, you can set a cron job. Open crontab with the following command:
`sudo crontab -e`
This could schedule a daily backup at a specific time (2 AM in this case):
`0 2 * * * rsync -av —progress /var/www/html/ /mnt/backup_web/`
However, please note that manual backups and manual restorations are not always suitable for every situation. It’s essential to test the backup and restoration processes before relying on them completely.
This answer is based on information from Ubuntu’s manual pages on RSYNC and CRONTAB, the RSYNC project homepage, DigitalOcean’s community tutorials on RSYNC and CRONTAB, and various StackExchange threads on related topics.
Sources:
- [Ubuntu Manpage – rsync](http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/saucy/man1/rsync.1.html)
- [Ubuntu Manpage – crontab](http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/natty/man5/crontab.5.html)
- [DigitalOcean – How To Use Rsync to Sync Local and Remote Directories](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-rsync-to-sync-local-and-remote-directories-on-a-vps)
- [DigitalOcean – How To Schedule Routine Tasks With Cron and Anacron](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-schedule-routine-tasks-with-cron-and-anacron-on-a-vps)
- [RSYNC homepage](https://rsync.samba.org/)
