I recently lost my /home directory and realized I need a reliable backup plan. I'm still a Linux beginner running Debian, and I currently don't have another computer or an external hard drive. What backup methods or tools would you recommend, and how should I set them up?
4 Answers
Once you can get one, an external USB drive is usually the simplest backup destination. You could run a nightly rsync job for important folders, or use Borg for versioned backups. Keep the drive disconnected when it isn’t being used so malware, accidental deletion, or a damaged system cannot affect the backup as easily.
Copying files to another folder or partition on the same physical disk is not a real backup. A disk failure could destroy both copies. Until you obtain another drive, back up only your most important files to encrypted cloud storage, then move toward a local plus off-site setup when possible.
If you have no extra hardware, cloud storage is your practical short-term option. Tools such as Restic or Borg can encrypt your files before uploading them to an object-storage provider. You can schedule the backup with cron. This works well for documents and photos, although storing very large files can become expensive, so check the provider’s storage and download fees first.
A good general rule is 3-2-1: keep three copies of your data, on at least two types of storage, with one copy stored somewhere else. BorgBackup is a reliable Linux tool for creating encrypted, deduplicated backups, and Vorta provides a graphical interface for it. Whatever tool you choose, test restoring files regularly—an untested backup may not be usable when you need it.
That makes sense. I’ll start with cloud storage for my important personal files and add an external drive later.