Tag: backups

  • Finally have btrfs setup in RAID1

    A little under 3 years ago, I started exploring btrfs for its ability to help me limit data loss. Since then I’ve implemented a snapshot script to take advantage of the Copy-on-Write features of btrfs. But I hadn’t yet had the funds and the PC case space to do RAID1. I finally was able to…

  • Profiting from Inefficiencies?

    I went with Backblaze first because they were highly recommended by LifeHacker. Then I chose Crashplan for my main Linux computer because Backblaze doesn’t do Linux. Crashplan offers a family plan that covers 2-10 computers, but I only need to cover 2 computers (my laptops don’t have anything that needs backing up). Covering two computers…

  • Exploring btrfs for backups Part 6: Backup Drives and changing RAID levels VM

    Hard drives are relatively cheap, especially nowadays. But I still want to stay within my budget as I setup my backups and system redundancies. So, ideally, for my backup RAID I’d take advantage of btrs’ ability to change RAID types on the fly and start off with one drive. Then I’d add another and go…

  • Exploring btrfs for backups Part 5: RAID1 on the Main Disks in the VM

    So, back when I started this project, I laid out that one of the reasons I wanted to use btrfs on my home directory (don’t think it’s ready for / just yet) is that with RAID1, btrfs is self-healing. Obviously, magic can’t be done, but a checksum is stored as part of the data’s metadata…

  • Exploring btrfs for backups Part 4: Weekly Culls and Unit Testing

    Back in August I finally had some time to do some things I’d been wanting to do with my Snap-in-Time btrfs program for a while now. First of all, I finally added the weekly code. So now my snapshots are cleaned up every three days and then every other week. Next on the docket is…

  • Exploring btrfs for backups Part 3: The Script in Practice

    Night of the second day: # btrfs sub list /home ID 275 gen 3201 top level 5 path home ID 1021 gen 3193 top level 275 path .snapshots ID 1023 gen 1653 top level 275 path .snapshots/2014-03-13-2146 ID 1024 gen 1697 top level 275 path .snapshots/2014-03-13-2210 ID 1025 gen 1775 top level 275 path .snapshots/2014-03-13-2300…

  • Exploring btrfs for backups Part 2: Installing on My /Home Directory and using my new Python Script

    I got my new hard drive that would replace my old, aging /home hard drive. As you read in part 1, I wanted to put btrfs on it. This is my journey to get it up and running. Plugged it into my hard drive toaster and ran gparted. Because of the peculiarities of btrfs and…

  • Exploring btrfs for backups Part 1

    Recently I once again came across an article about the benefits of the btrfs Linux file system. Last time I’d come across it, it was still in alpha or beta, and I also didn’t understand why I would want to use it. However, the most I’ve learned about the fragility of our modern storage systems,…