Using rsync to syncronise / backup data

Tested on the 12th January 2008 using version 2.6.9 on Debian Etch 4.0

Install rsync:

• From the terminal run:
• apt-get update
• apt-get upgrade
• apt-get install rsync
• Note: If using across a network to another computer, rsync needs to be installed on both the server and the client

Using rsync (examples):

• To syncronise or backup a directory to another directory on the same computer, run the following from the terminal:
• rsync -av --delete /home/ /backup/
• To syncronise or backup a directory to another computer on the network, run the following from the terminal:
• rsync -av --delete /home/ computer_ip:/backup/
• Note: To copy files up to another computer you will be prompted for the computers password (usually root)

The above are where:

• a = archive mode
• v = increase verbosity
• delete = deletes any files from the destination that are not in the source directory
• home = the source directory (to be backed up)
• backup = the destination directory (where the backup files are placed)
• computer_ip = the IP address of the computer where the destination directory is located

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