Script to automate backups

We share with you a script prepared by one of our readers to carry out backup copies automatically. One more chance to learn to use the terminal and develop scripts customized. 🙂

Functionality

• Make backups using the rsync command.
• Use a bash script.
• The current version only allows use locally.

Requirements and Installation

For the script to work, the system must have the gdialog application.

It does not require installation, simply place the script in the $ HOME / .copies / directory. This parameter is located in the variable script_directory and can be changed.

Selecting the source and destination directories for the copy

In the current version they are specified by editing the copies.sh script. The format used makes use of the -acv and -delete options.

For example:

rsync -acv --delete $ user_directory'directory_to_backup '$ target_directory

where we will replace directory_to_back up with the name of the desired directory.

The variable $ user_directory is assigned a value in the script.

The variable $ destination_directory is assigned the value read in copies.cfg

Configuration file

The configuration file is called copies.cfg and is located in the directory $ HOME / .copies /

Configuration file structure

The second line specifies the destination of the backup:

#Destination / media / Iomega_HDD /

Files Accessories

The copy_ini.sh script file checks if backups have been made with a periodicity interval. Currently there is no parameter in the configuration file to specify this, which is set in the same script daily.

Automate the backup process

1.- Put in cron with the crontab -e command in a similar way to the following:

# mh dom mon dow command
0 20 * * * DISPLAY = »: 0 ″ ​​/home/user/.copies/copias.sh

In this example, the execution of the script would be launched at 20:00 hours each day

2.- Add to the programs to be executed at the beginning the script copies_ini.sh indicating the full path to it