from Hacker News

Ask HN: How do you manage backups?

by JonathanBuchh on 2/26/22, 9:02 PM with 6 comments

How do people on HN handle backups?

Personally, I use MacOS's Time Machine, since it is super polished and makes restoring files and browsing what the filesystem previously looked like a breeze. It "just works" and is the only backup solution I have used to restore lost files (who knows how well a backup solution works unless you actually test it). I have even been able to set up a Samba server on a Raspberry Pi so I don't need to plug a hard drive into my computer to backup. I upload an encrypted sparesebundle to Backblaze B2 every day with rclone. As I have been looked into using Linux as a daily driver, I have wondered if there was any backup solution as flawless as Time Machine. Does such a piece of software exist?

In sum, I just want to hear how other people on HN do backups – even if it does not solve my problem, though software suggestions are appreciated ;)

  • by smackeyacky on 2/26/22, 11:57 PM

    Rclone works well with OneDrive and others on Linux.

    AWS S3 bucket and the aws s3 sync CLI is easy, can be scripted or used with a github action.

    Use the glacier option on S3 for really old stuff you would only want in an emergency.

    I also use an old LTO2 tape drive. Its surprisingly fast and on Linux is well supported , although I just use tar as my back up software for that.

    Linux has a lot more options than windows, at least thats what I found after I switched full time a few months ago.

    I've never used time machine though.

  • by kimchidude on 2/27/22, 1:37 AM

    I used to also use Time Machine, but about a year ago I switched back to PC and now just use DropBox as essentially my hard drive and Google Docs for anything ‘live’ that I’m working on.

  • by EnigmaCurry on 2/27/22, 6:51 AM

    I use restic with systemd timers: https://blog.rymcg.tech/blog/linux/restic_backup/

  • by coolestguy on 2/26/22, 11:45 PM

    I use Afi.ai & keep all my important files on a one-drive backup folder/sharepoint.

    For both work (business owner) and personal.

  • by Trystans on 3/1/22, 4:01 PM

    I use iCloud and OneDrive, Google Drive is also a good one.

  • by bethecloud on 2/27/22, 3:05 AM

    RClone + Storj DCS (Decentralized Cloud Storage)