search

linuxmint / timeshift

System restore tool for Linux. Creates filesystem snapshots using rsync+hardlinks, or BTRFS snapshots. Supports scheduled snapshots, multiple backup levels, and exclude filters. Snapshots can be restored while system is running or from Live CD/USB.
2.38k stars 86 forks source link

Backing up @home should be the default #303

Open jgarvin opened 4 months ago

jgarvin commented 4 months ago

Nowadays package managers make it less likely you blow up your system root. The real danger for most users is losing the data in their home directory. I very nearly had useless backups because for the first few days of use I didn't notice the checkbox in timeshift-gtk to also include @home. I think as a general rule defaults should be the safest settings. Power users can opt out of backing up a subset if they want, but I think by default it should be all the subvolumes, or if not that at least include @home.

ykarrde commented 4 months ago

I kind a disagree. Just this month I had 2 issues one with a update from Nvidias proprietary 535 to 550 and later one trying to upgrade from KDE Plasma 5.27 to Plasma 6 that both independently made my system unable to boot, the Nvidia issue even prevented access from a TTY. The package manager has not prevented any of these in fact I even used the package manager to perform the upgrades in the first place, go figure. In both cases Timeshift was a absolute lifesaver. Furthermore my Notebook has only one (big) SSD where also the timeshift backups resides. I would not feel save to backup my important @home stuff to the same drive because if that SSD fails even timeshift would no longer be able to help. (I regularly backup my @home stuff to a network NAS and not as regularly additionally to the cloud but these are not always attached/available witch makes automated backups kind of not as easy to do).

jgarvin commented 4 months ago

@ykarrde I don't mean to imply that system breakage can never happen, but the impact of losing home is worse for just people. Usually the worst consequence of messing up the install is having to reinstall. The worst consequence of rm -r * could be losing all your photos, source code, etc. I'm not suggesting only backing up @home, just including it additionally by default, so AFAICT your scenario would be handled. You would also still be able to backup @home elsewhere, it's not mutually exclusive. Users that know they have other backups could still opt out.

Satlinker commented 3 months ago

Backing up home is great with Btrfs, because its much faster than rsync. You don't even notice hourly backups with btrfs, which would lead to the interruption of time-critical applications with rsync. Rsync backups, on the other hand, are more secure as they can be written to a different medium. Unfortunately, both methods together are not yet possible in Timeshift. There should be another option to exclude or include the home files when restoring. It should also be possible to exclude the .cash folder in home.