Backup question

[AMFA]

Hello everyone, as I work and learn new things with Llinux I have been reading and started using Arch. It took me some trial and error I was however able to get it installed. I then installed xorg, awesome, lightdm, anyway I been working in a VM until I am able to confidently understand what I am doing and then replicate it on a Dell laptop. My question is how do you guys back something up. Like is it possible to back my entire system up say onto a USB so I could reinstall everything from the USB I am probably not correct here but like an ISO that when installed would take me to exactly where I am at currently. Now I am to the point where I dont want to do it in the VM and just work on my hardware but am concerned that if I break something and cant fix it, I would have to start from ground zero. I am documenting along the way what I do so I could do that (and would learn more along the way) but trying to have some kind of safety net.

Thanks guys, Linux is so awesome, I just wish I was not such a noob with it.



Alan

 

[BoringZombie]

You can use timeshift and create a snapshot of your system to an external device or you can use dd or other system cloning tools to clone your system to an external device.

 

[gvisoc]

In addition to backing up your system, you may want to back up your user files separately.

My setup is always to exclude /home in system backups (e.g.: with timeshift) and use duplicity for home folders. You can have separate external drives (or network drives) for those two purposes.

The reason is that, usually, /home is by far the largest directory, and excluding it from the snapshots make them smaller and quicker to be taken.

 

[AMFA]

In addition to backing up your system, you may want to back up your user files separately.

My setup is always to exclude /home in system backups (e.g.: with timeshift) and use duplicity for home folders. You can have separate external drives (or network drives) for those two purposes.

The reason is that, usually, /home is by far the largest directory, and excluding it from the snapshots make them smaller and quicker to be taken.

Thank you that makes sense, I appreciate your reply and your help. Wishing you Happy Holiday Season sir thanks again

 

[gvisoc]

Thank you too!