How to Backup and Restore Files with Rsnapshot on Ubuntu

Install rsnapshot

Because the tool lives in the default Ubuntu repositories, getting it onto your machine takes only a moment. Run the command below to install the 💿 package.

After installation, running the command `rsnapshot –version` will display Rsnapshot’s binary location and version on Ubuntu. This command verifies that the software installed correctly and is ready for use, showing you have version 1.4.4 or later.

which rsnapshot
rsnapshot --version

Configure SSH authentication for remote system

Before configuring rsnapshot, establish SSH authentication so the Ubuntu host communicates with target machines without prompting for passwords. Generating an SSH key pair (cryptographic credentials for secure logins) lets your local machine talk to remote servers without requiring a password every time, sending the public half over to the destination host. This step secures remote communication channels.

Use the ssh-keygen -t ed25519 command below to generate your SSH keypair. Then, use ssh-copy-id to copy the public key to the remote server.

ssh-keygen -t ed25519
ssh-copy-id username@remote_server_name

Replace the username and remote_server_name with your actual username and system names.

For more on setting up SSH authentication, check out the post below.

How to set up SSH key based authentication login on Ubuntu

Configure rsnapshot

After setting up SSH, configure rsnapshot on your Ubuntu system. This file dictates target paths and destination directories. Before making changes, copy existing settings using `sudo cp /etc/rsnapshot.conf /etc/rsnapshot.conf.orig`, then open the file with `sudo nano /etc/rsnapshot.conf` to set backup locations.

Before making changes, back up the original configuration file.

sudo cp /etc/rsnapshot.conf /etc/rsnapshot.conf.orig

Then, open the file and make your adjustments.

sudo nano /etc/rsnapshot.conf

Choose where to store your snapshots.

# All snapshots will be stored under this root directory.
#
snapshot_root   /var/cache/rsnapshot/

# rsync must be enabled for anything to work. This is the only command that
# must be enabled.
#
cmd_rsync       /usr/bin/rsync

# Uncomment this to enable remote ssh backups over rsync.
#
cmd_ssh /usr/bin/ssh

You can also change how often backups occur.

#########################################
#     BACKUP LEVELS / INTERVALS         #
# Must be unique and in ascending order #
# e.g. alpha, beta, gamma, etc.         #
#########################################

retain  daily   6
retain  weekly    7
retain  monthly   4
#retain delta   3

SSH normally uses port 22, but you can specify a custom port here.

# ssh has no args passed by default, but you can specify some here.
#
ssh_args        -p 22

The backup section is where you'll tell Rsnapshot what to back up and where. The highlighted lines demonstrate how to back up a remote server and specify a local path.

###############################
### BACKUP POINTS / SCRIPTS ###
###############################

# LOCALHOST
backup  /home/          localhost/
backup  /etc/           localhost/
backup  /usr/local/     localhost/
backup username@remote_server_name:/etc/ local_server_name
backup username@remote_server_name:/www/data/ local_server_name

#backup /var/log/rsnapshot              localhost/
#backup /etc/passwd     localhost/
#backup /home/foo/My Documents/         localhost/
#backup /foo/bar/       localhost/      one_fs=1,rsync_short_args=-urltvpog
#backup_script  /usr/local/bin/backup_pgsql.sh  localhost/postgres/
# You must set linux_lvm_* parameters below before using lvm snapshots
#backup lvm://vg0/xen-home/     lvm-vg0/xen-home/

Once you're done, save your changes and exit.

Automatic backup with Cron

Automating rsnapshot execution on Ubuntu relies on Cron for scheduling routines. Edit the cron job file with `sudo nano /etc/cron.d/rsnapshot` to set up the backup schedule. This ensures data archiving happens regularly based on rules defined within `rsnapshot.conf`, bypassing manual intervention entirely.

sudo nano /etc/cron.d/rsnapshot

Set up the backup settings you defined in the `rsnapshot.conf` file.

# This is a sample cron file for rsnapshot.
# The values used correspond to the examples in /etc/rsnapshot.conf.
# There you can also set the backup points and many other things.
#
# To activate this cron file you have to uncomment the lines below.
# Feel free to adapt it to your needs.

  0 0 * * *          root    /usr/bin/rsnapshot daily
  0 0 * * 0          root    /usr/bin/rsnapshot weekly
  0 0 1 * *          root    /usr/bin/rsnapshot monthly

Save the file and exit.

For help setting up a cron task, check out the post below.

How to run cron jobs on Ubuntu

To restore your data, copy files from the snapshots location you defined in the Rsnapshot file.

That completes the setup process.

Conclusion:

Backing up and restoring files with Rsnapshot on Ubuntu provides an efficient method for safeguarding critical data. Review these core operational points:

• Automated Backups: Rsnapshot allows for easy scheduling of automated backups, ensuring your data is regularly protected without manual intervention.
• Incremental Backups: By utilizing hard links, rsnapshot can perform incremental backups, saving both time and storage space.
• Remote Backups: The tool can back up files to and from remote systems, enhancing flexibility and security for critical data.
• Simple Configuration: With its straightforward configuration file, users can easily manage backup settings, including frequency and directories to back up.
• Ease of Restoration: Restoring data from snapshots is a simple process, making recovery quick and efficient in case of data loss.

Incorporating Rsnapshot into your data management routine significantly enhances file safety and system reliability.