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8.3. Automating Periodic Backups 8.3. Automating Periodic Backups In the tool’s main window, click on Advanced Configuration and then on the When button. In the backup scheduling window (see Figure 19.23, Daemon Options Window [299]) select Use daemon to define the schedule. Figure 19.23. Daemon Options Window You are then asked to specify the interval (or period) between each backup operation and the storage media. In our example we set up a customized calendar (custom period selected) to perform a backup every Friday at a quarter to midnight and store it on CD. You can also specify hourly (i.e.: performed 1 minute after the hour), daily (i.e.: performed at 4:02AM), weekly (performed at 4:22AM) and monthly (performed at 4:42AM) periods instead of custom. 8.4. Advanced Backup Wizard Configuration Click on Advanced Configuration and then on the More Options button to set more backup options (see Figure 19.24, Miscellaneous Options Window [300]).

8.2. Restoring Backups 8.2. Restoring Backups Figure 19.22. Choosing the Restore Type to Perform Make sure the media you want to restore the backup from is accessible and ready and click on the Restore button. In our example we restore the whole backup so on the restore dialog (Figure 19.22, Choosing the Restore Type to Perform [298]) click on Restore all backups and then on the Restore button to start the restoration process. Existing files in the target restoration directory (same location where the backup was made from, by default) will be overwritten. Feel free to investigate the other restore options if you want to restore part of a backup instead of the full file set.

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard 8.1.4. Performing the Backup Figure 19.21. Backup Progress Dialog Click on Backup Now , make sure the corresponding media is ready (the recordable CDs in our example), and then on Backup Now from configuration file to perform the backup. If the backup set size exceeds the medium’s available capacity, the backup operation might just fail. This is a known issue and it’s being worked on. As a work-around, please try to remove files from the backup set so its size never exceeds the medium’s available capacity. A dialog (see Figure 19.21, Backup Progress Dialog [297]) will display the current progress of the operation. Please be patient: the time it takes to back up depends on many factors such as the size of the backup file set, the speed of the storage option selected, and so on. Once the operation is finished a report is shown: look for possible errors on it and take corrective measures if needed.

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard 8.1.3. Third Step: Review and Store the Configuration Figure 19.20. Review Configuration Parameters The last wizard step shows a summary of the configuration parameters. Use the Previous button to change any parameter you are not satisfied with. Click on Save to store them. The backup set is now ready to be performed.

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard Figure 19.19. Setting Optical Media Parameters If it isn’t done automatically, use the Choose your CD/DVD device combo box to set the CD/DVD device. Set the medium’s type and size, multisession and erasing options. For multisession recordings, please bear in mind that the option to erase the medium is only effective for the 1st session and also that session-related information recording takes some space out (20 to 30 MB) for each session, so the real data storage space will actually be less than the medium’s size.

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard Hard Disk Drive The local hard disk drive is used to prepare backups for all media except NFS and direct to tape. You should not perform backups on your local hard disk anyway, you should always backup on remote or removable media. You can set the directory for storage and the limit of storage space. You can also set how many days to keep incremental or differential backups in order to save disk space. Across the Network To store the backup on a remote computer accessible using different methods. You can set the connection parameters as well as the access method and its options (if applicable). Please note that NFS backups are considered to be local disk backups, even if they are effectively stored on a remote system. On Tape You can set the tape device if it’s not detected automatically, and tape parameters such as writing directly on tape, whether or not to rewind, erase and eject the tape. Optical Media (CD-R) This is our preferred media for the example, so click on its Configure button to set the required parameters (see Figure 19.19, Setting Optical Media Parameters [295]).

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard Do not include the browser cache. Selecting this option is recommended due to the very nature of the ever-changing browser’s cache. Use Incremental/Differential Backups. Selecting this will preserve old backups. Choosing Use Incremental Backups will only save files which have been changed or added since the last backup operation. Choosing Use Differential Backups will only save files which have been changed or added since the first backup operation (also known as the base backup). This last option takes more space than the first one, but allows you to restore the system as it was at any given point in time for which a differential backup was made. 8.1.2. Second Step: Where to Store the Backup Figure 19.18. Selecting Where to Store the Backup All possible backup media are listed, along with a Configure button to change media-dependent options:

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard 8.1.1. First Step: What to Backup Figure 19.17. Selecting What to Backup Select Backup System to include the /etc directory where all your current system configuration files lie. This allows you to transport your system to a different computer with little effort: only hardware-dependent configuration will have to be revised. The system backup does not include applications themselves (i.e. executable files, libraries). A priori this makes sense because it is likely that you will have access to the system’s installation media from which applications can be easily installed again on the target computer. Select Backup Users to include all the files included in all of your users’ /home directories. Clicking on the Select user manually button lets you select individual users and give you the following options:

8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard 8.1. A Practical Example Using the Wizard Figure 19.16. Main Backup Wizard Window You can access this tool by clicking on the Backups icon in Mandriva Linux Control Center’s System section. Click on the Wizard Configuration button to start the wizard. After making your choices in each step click on Next .

8. Backing Up and Restoring your Files The dialog is made of the following tabs: User Data Allows you to modify information provided when the user was created. Account Info Enables you to provide an expiration date for that account, after which the user won’t be able to connect to the system. This is useful for temporary accounts. It’s also possible to temporary lock an account to prevent a user from logging in. Finally, this tab allows you to change the icon associated with the user. Password Info Allows you to provide a password expiration date, after which the user will have to change his password. Groups Shows the list of available groups where you can select the groups to which any user should belong. For our users we just need to look for the fileshare entry and check the box asso ciated to it. Then click on the OK button to make the changes effective. 8. Backing Up and Restoring your Files This tool allows you to back up data present on your computer onto different media and also to a remote machine over a network. Once the parameters are set, you can run the backup periodically. Then, you can forget about it until you wish to restore some files.