copy-synchronize folders & files -- How? [UNRESOLVED]

[markfilipak]

Overview: I thought using 'rsync' resolved the problem, but it turns out that 'rsync' doesn't verify writes and can't be made to verify writes (regardless of what the 'rsync' documentation says), so this issue is still unresolved.

I need to automatically make a backup of my TBird profile on shutdown.
How to schedule it for shutdown I will leave for another day.
Today, I just want to learn how to create the backup.

It should copy-synchronize from '~/.thunderbird/0ysydkep.default' to '/media/sf_G_DRIVE/thunderbird/0ysydkep.default'.
It should be recursive.
It should delete files in '/media/sf_G_DRIVE/thunderbird/0ysydkep.default' that no longer exist in '~/.thunderbird/0ysydkep.default'.
It should skip files that have not changed.
I don't want to archive or compress, just copy.

I've been struggling with this off and on for days.

Any ideas?

Related: Is there a list of built-in commands? Submitting "help" produces an incomplete list.

[Cosmo.]

At first, copy the complete .thunderbird folder. This costs a few bytes, but it makes life easier in case, that you need the backup later for another computer.

Second: I recommend to use the backup-software BackInTime. For files, that have not been changed, it creates a hard link, that means near to no time needed and absolutely no space.

Third: Don't backup before shutting down, but if you boot. BackInTime can be set to do this backup automatically.

[markfilipak]

At first, copy the complete .thunderbird folder. This costs a few bytes, but it makes life easier in case, that you need the backup later for another computer.

Second: I recommend to use the backup-software BackInTime. For files, that have not been changed, it creates a hard link, that means near to no time needed and absolutely no space.

Third: Don't backup before shutting down, but if you boot. BackInTime can be set to do this backup automatically.

Thank you for your suggestions, Cosmo. I don't want hard links. I just want to copy-synchronize.

[Cosmo.]

I don't want hard links.

Do you have a reason?

If you want simply a copy, than do a copy, every time to another target subdirectory. Be prepared that after 1 week the needed space will be 7 times the original, after a month 30 times.

You can also use FreeFileSync. https://freefilesync.org/download.php. The tool is fine, but I would not name the result as backup; you used this word in the first sentence.

[hans123]

use rsync:

Code: Select all

rsync -rtv --delete /sourcedir/ /destdir

note: sourcedir with backslash at the end, destdir without
rsync is very powerful and fast.
search the internet for "systemd hook at shutdown" to execute this at shutdown.

[AndyMH]

I use backintime to take care of everything in home. If I was going to use a script, I'd use rsync, or as an alternative to freefilesync - unison.

search the internet for "systemd hook at shutdown" to execute this at shutdown.

If you find this too difficult, get your script to shutdown the system.

[markfilipak]

I don't want hard links.

Do you have a reason?

The result has to be readable by Windows.

If you want simply a copy, than do a copy, every time to another target subdirectory. Be prepared that after 1 week the needed space will be 7 times the original, after a month 30 times.

I don't want to do that.

You can also use FreeFileSync. https://freefilesync.org/download.php. The tool is fine, but I would not name the result as backup; you used this word in the first sentence.

Sorry. How about incremental backup?

[Cosmo.]

The result has to be readable by Windows.

This excludes the usage of a Linux file system.

Take a look at FreeFileSync, it has a number of synchronization options. It is also available for Windows. Only you can check and decide, if this is what you want.

[markfilipak]

... If you find this too difficult, get your script to shutdown the system.

That's an excellent idea!! I could change my "shutdown now" menu item to a shutdown script that does all sorts of things, ending with "shutdown now".

[markfilipak]

... Take a look at FreeFileSync, it has a number of synchronization options. It is also available for Windows. Only you can check and decide, if this is what you want.

What about this:

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rsync --delete --recursive --times ~/.thunderbird/0ysydkep.default/ /media/sf_G_DRIVE/~[.thunderbird][0ysydkep.default]

Yes, the target directory's name is ~[.thunderbird][0ysydkep.default] -- not a typo.

Do you see anything I should know? Any hazards? I value all opinions.

[markfilipak]

This is a wrap!
My shutdown script, 'shutdown.sh':

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash
echo Backing up '~/.thunderbird/0ysydkep.default/' as '/media/sf_G_DRIVE/~[.thunderbird][0ysydkep.default]'. Please wait.
rsync --delete --recursive --times ~/.thunderbird/0ysydkep.default/ /media/sf_G_DRIVE/~[.thunderbird][0ysydkep.default]
shutdown now

works. I'd be much happier with my profile out in a VBox shared folder (that can grow and grow and grow without bumpping into the fixed size of my virtual machine), but until Mozilla fixes their bugs -- Yeah, right! -- this will have to do.

Thanks, Cosmo. Thanks for suggesting rsync, Hans. And thanks, Andy, for the shutdown idea. You folks are the best.