Correct btrfs partitioning for timeshift

[linuxed]

Hi. I installed linux on ext4, then converted to btrfs using btrfs-tools, and timeshift does not want to take snapshots in btrfs mode. I know it has to do with subvolumes, but how to edit them to not format them, I don't know. The layout is /dev/sda4 is /, /dev/sda5 is /home
Thanks.

[dhril]

Hi,

root filesystem has to be mounted on subvolume named @ and same goes for /home on @home

Try creating snapshot of / and name it @ , than edit fstab to mount @ subvol and if you done it correctly you should reboot into @

btrfs subvolume snapshot / /@

Something like this should be in /etc/fstab

/dev/sda4 / btrfs defaults,space_cache,subvol=@ 0 1


Once you are satisfied you can mount volume root (/) and delete all above @ subvolume directory (parent)
Same process is for home.
Be careful as you may end with unbootable system if you mess it up.

You can also look into this once you create @ subvolume snapshot of / if you prefer it

btrfs subvolume set-default <subvolid> <path>
Set the default subvolume of the filesystem mounted as default.




Let me know if it helps

[linuxed]

I have two btrfs partitions: home and root. Timeshift require on one partition?

[linuxed]

I edited fstab, but system load in / not /@ (I see @ in root folder)
fstab:

Code: Select all

#UUID=e355ea87-c5b9-4ed8-a054-f50d0c4c4bb9 / btrfs defaults 0 1
/dev/sda4 / btrfs defaults,space_cache,subvol=@ 0 1

[dhril]

I have two btrfs partitions: home and root. Timeshift require on one partition?

It does not, you can have @ for root / and @home for /home

[dhril]

I edited fstab, but system load in / not /@ (I see @ in root folder)
fstab:

Code: Select all

#UUID=e355ea87-c5b9-4ed8-a054-f50d0c4c4bb9 / btrfs defaults 0 1
/dev/sda4 / btrfs defaults,space_cache,subvol=@ 0 1

Try adding subvolid option to fstab mount line.

Run

Code: Select all

# btrfs subvolume list /
ID 2210 gen 2251154 top level 5 path @

Then on its output locate ID of your @ snapshot (on my system is 2210) and of @home (do fresh / snapshot if this one is old, you can safely delete @ and recreate it with btrfs subvolume delete /@) recreate it, find its id and add subvolid=XXXX option to you fstab options.

If that fails try running btrfs subvolume set-default leaving the subvolid & subvol mount options in fstab

Be careful so you don't lose data if you mess something

[linuxed]

I have two btrfs partitions: home and root. Timeshift require on one partition?

gpt partitions, not subvolumes

[dhril]

I have two btrfs partitions: home and root. Timeshift require on one partition?

gpt partitions, not subvolumes

I believe that it does not care because it works with subvolumes, as long as you have it on @ and @home subvolumes, I am not 100%, you can test that by trying.
Also In timeshift you can choose to snapshot only / should there be any issues with @home.

You may wish to look into apt-btrfs-snapshot if you want snapshot on each apt install/remove operation, though with apt-btrfs-snapshot you have to delete snapshots manually.

Let me know if any of this helped you so far.

Thanks

[linuxed]

What i need to edit - /etc/fstab, or /@/etc/fstab?

[dhril]

What i need to edit - /etc/fstab, or /@/etc/fstab?

you need to edit /@/etc/fstab

My apologies I forgot to tell one critical part, that you also must modify grub configuration to start system from @ subvolume

I done this a while ago, and forgot the details, I can not offer you further assistance

[dhril]

Take a look at this one, though you do not need Live bootable media as you can boot the system as is, but I recommend you have one ready in case you render system ubootable

https://forum.peppermintos.com/index.php?topic=10162.0

[linuxed]

idk
I uninstall LMDE (it works bad) and install ubuntu-mint already on btrfs. Topic is not solved, but I solve it by reinstalling.