Backup Solution

[erik]

Hello,

An easy to use and cheap solution is using rsync. You jest need some 
spare gigabites. I use it to backup my linux based zaurus pda and to 
make a complete backup of my redhat 7.2 system on an intel pc.

ssh and rsync is part of the standard installation of ydl and mac os x.

example:

rsync -av -e ssh /home/ 192.168.1.200:/backupydl

This will backup the home directory on the pc you are working on to the 
directory /backupydl on the "backup pc". Use / to backup the whole 
system. Take notice of the backslashes in the command above. This 
command is for  use on the machine you want to backup

rsync -av -e ssh 192.168.1.201:/home  /backupydl

This comand can be used from the machine you want the backup on.

192.168.1.200 is the IP number of the pc you use to put the backup on
/backupydl is the directory on the pc the backup is copied to

For more info google to ssh rsync howto


Advice:
Use an old pc, install linux on it (whatever distribution)  with ssh, 
rsync and midnight commander (mc) on it. X-server is ot realy needed. 
You even can use knoppix (a bootable cd-rom distribution) and mount the 
drive
be sure you have enough space on the back up pc
connect the pc and the ydl ppc with a cable (cross over cable when you 
connect them directly without a hub or switch)	
execute the command above (change it to fit your own situation)
wait for a while
!!Your backup is ready!!

When you run it a second time only the changed files will be backuped 
again. When you have to restore be sure there is enough space on the ppc 
to be restored. New files are backuped but old ones, that aren't on the 
ppc anymore aren't erased on the backup pc. You can delete the files you 
don't need before restoring using mc.

You can rsync a complete system and run it on the other machine. If it 
is also a ppc you can start the system on the other machine. You can 
also use an external drive and rsync it localy.  Restoring goes the same 
way but the other way around. If you think this is an interesting 
solution for you please read the rsync and ssh howto's. With a little 
mistake (especialy the backslashes) you can ruin your system. As soon as 
you know the command you need you can put it in a sript (a flat text 
file with extension .sh) and run the scrip (be sure it is excecutable 
chmod 755 script.sh) to backup your ydl systemm. You can easily make a 
menu option for the script in your menu with the meu editor in the 
control center.

I hope the info is helpfull for someone

With friendly regards


Erik de Wild