rsync syntax - how to add suffix to files to prevent overwriting?

Bloodrule · 10-06-2014, 03:27 AM

What is the syntax that would enable an rsync script to backup the same set of files to a new directory each time rysnc runs, or to the same directory but with each file being automatically renamed by adding a suffix of some sort?

In restoring, I want to be able to choose from old versions of files where necessary and not just have the latest, which may have overwritten the very text that I am looking for.

descendant_command · 10-06-2014, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by man rsync

-b, --backup make backups (see --suffix & --backup-dir)
--backup-dir=DIR make backups into hierarchy based in DIR
--suffix=SUFFIX backup suffix (default ~ w/o --backup-dir)

maybe use the date as a suffix or DIR?

SAbhi · 10-06-2014, 04:35 AM

So why dont you start telling us what you have tried ?

Did you saw the man page ?

Did you checked "-backup-dir" and "--suffix" switches in rync ?

i think you got your hint to start with. Do let us know if you see any error while playing with these.

Guttorm · 10-06-2014, 04:38 AM

Hi

Other option is to not use rsync. It was really not written to handle things like this. The utiltiy rdiff-backup works like rsync, but handles changed/new/deleted files much better. You could make your own system with suffix or similar, but it's easy to make mistakes. Why not use proper tool?

http://www.nongnu.org/rdiff-backup/

rknichols · 10-06-2014, 10:30 AM

The problem with rdiff-backup is that it has several outstanding bugs has been unmaintained since 2009. The problem with finding someone to take it over is that you need to be both a Python ace and also have good knowledge of Linux, Windows, and MAC filesystems. (No statistically significant relationship between close examination of the rdiff-backup Python code and increased risk of cancer of the eyeballs has been found. That's just folklore.)