Oct 19, 2006 4:59 PM

Backing Up Ubuntu

A blogger named Arsgeek has posted about his experiences working with Ubuntu, specifically running backups with rsync, tar and a 200GB external firewire drive. I’ve always thought that the safest way to store regular backups would be to use an NAS running RAID 5 or some other striped array, but not everyone has that luxury. […]

A blogger named Arsgeek has posted about his experiences working with Ubuntu, specifically running backups with rsync, tar and a 200GB external firewire drive.

I've always thought that the safest way to store regular backups would be to use an NAS running RAID 5 or some other striped array, but not everyone has that luxury. The author has some advice about using a smaller drive or a primary partition for your backups:

Be cautious of your space limitations. Backing up a 3 GB install onto a 40 GB disk is fine, but backing up 63GB of data to your 80GB drive... not so good. This is one of the two reasons I use an external 200 GB drive. Lots of space. The other reason is that moving a backup file off of my primary partition after I'm done backing it up just seems like an extra step.

All in all, an excellent howto. Read the whole thing at Arsgeek.com.

Michael Calore oversees WIRED's coverage of consumer technology and internet culture. As a writer, he covers a range of topics including music, film, art, software, and underground culture. ... Read More

Director, Consumer Tech and Culture

Topicssoftware Webmonkey

Aeronaut Is an Actual Mac App for Bluesky

If you miss social media on your desktop—à la Tweetbot, TweetDeck, or the official Twitter app—then check out this macOS client for Bluesky.

Justin Pot

Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are

Companies hope that biometric age-verification tech in cartridges could put flavored vapes back in business. But it's unlikely to solve the real problems.

Boone Ashworth

Save Up to 40% With These Acer Promo Codes and Discounts

From 40% off accessory bundles to verified student and military discounts, here's how to save on Predator, Nitro, and Swift laptops and monitors at Acer.com.

Luke Larsen

What’s With the US Ban on Foreign Routers?

The FCC just banned the sale of new consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the US. Here’s what it means for you.

Simon Hill

Exclusive LegalZoom Promo Code for 10% Off Services for April

Save on top services at LegalZoom, like LLC registration, incorporation, estate plans, and more with coupons and deals from WIRED.

Parker Hall

Even Artemis II Astronauts Have Microsoft Outlook Problems

The mission commander’s email inbox failed during the journey to the moon. Have they tried turning the computer off and back on again?

Jeremy White

Google Now Lets You Change Your Gmail Address. Here’s How

You’ve probably had the same Gmail address for years. Now, it’s easy to make a name change without worrying about the transition.

Reece Rogers

Livestream Replay: The War Machine

A panel of WIRED experts dissected the defense tech industry’s impact on modern warfare.

Tim Marchman

The Best External Hard Drives to Back Up Everything You Have

Need an ultrafast drive for video editing or a rugged option to back up your photos in the field? We’ve got a solution for every situation.

Scott Gilbertson

This Windows Laptop Is a MacBook Neo Killer, and It’s Only $500

The HP OmniBook 5 is a better laptop than the MacBook Neo in almost every way. Right now, it’s also $100 cheaper.

Luke Larsen

Firewire's Neutrino Looks Like an Ironing Board and Takes Off Like a Shot

Firewire makes the most innovative surfboards in the industry. This winter, I tried the Neutrino, Machado, and Revo Max to see if they're worth the hype.

Brent Rose

How to Organize Your Random Box of Cables and the Rest of Your Tech

You will never need that weird charger from 2012. These tips to tidy up your tech will help you sort out your cable collection, organize your gadgets, and get rid of aging ones.

Simon Hill