Back Up Ubuntu with Déjà Dup - A Simple Guide
Déjà Dup: A User-Friendly Backup Solution for Ubuntu
Déjà Dup is a straightforward, yet remarkably effective, backup utility that is pre-installed on Ubuntu systems.
This tool leverages the capabilities of rsync, providing features like incremental backups, robust encryption, automated scheduling, and compatibility with remote storage services.
Key Features and Functionality
Utilizing Déjà Dup allows users to effortlessly restore previous file versions or recover lost files directly from within their file manager.
Essentially, it functions as a graphical user interface (GUI) for Duplicity, which in turn relies on the efficiency of rsync for its core operations.
The benefit of this architecture is that users gain access to the power and flexibility of rsync, but through an intuitive and easily navigable interface.
How Déjà Dup Simplifies Backups
- Incremental Backups: Only changes are saved, saving storage space and backup time.
- Encryption: Your backups are secured against unauthorized access.
- Scheduling: Automate backups to run at convenient intervals.
- Remote Support: Back up to various remote services for offsite protection.
In summary, Déjà Dup provides a comprehensive and accessible backup solution for Ubuntu users, combining powerful backend technology with a user-friendly front end.
Initiating Déjà Dup
Access to Déjà Dup is facilitated through the System Settings window. This window can be opened by selecting the gear-shaped menu icon present on the panel.
Within System Settings, the application is labeled as “Backup” and resides within the System group of icons.
Alternatively, the application can be directly launched by utilizing the Dash and searching for “Backup”.
This provides a convenient method for initiating the backup process.
Initial Configuration
The primary interface of Déjà Dup presents a summary of your current backup configuration. By default, the application is configured to back up your Home directory, excluding the Trash and Downloads directories. Backups are initially stored within your Ubuntu One account.
It is recommended to customize your backup settings before enabling automated backups. This ensures that the backups are tailored to your specific needs and preferences.
The Storage section allows for customization of the backup destination. Utilizing Ubuntu One for backup storage, provided it is configured on your system, grants accessibility to your backups from any computer. This facilitates easy restoration of your data across various Linux systems.
Alternative remote server options include FTP, SSH, WebDAV, and Windows shared folders. Encryption is employed by Déjà Dup to safeguard your data, requiring a user-defined password for access.
Local folder backups are also supported, enabling data storage on external drives or other local devices. However, storing backups on the same drive as the original files is strongly discouraged, as a drive failure would result in the loss of both the backup and the original data.
The Folders section provides a straightforward method for modifying the folders included in the backup process. If critical files are located within the Downloads folder, its exclusion from the “Folders to ignore” list should be removed.
Conversely, if a full Home folder backup is not desired, it can be removed from the “Folders to back up” list, and specific folders of interest can be added instead.
Within the Schedule section, automated backups can be configured to run daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Furthermore, the retention period for old backups can be specified.
Options range from “at least a week” to “at least a year,” or even “forever.” Déjà Dup will automatically manage disk space by deleting older backups as needed.
Initiating a Backup with Déjà Dup
After the initial configuration of Déjà Dup is complete, the first backup can be initiated by selecting the “Back Up Now” option within the Overview screen. For regularly scheduled backups, simply activate the automatic backups toggle; Déjà Dup will commence the initial backup immediately upon activation.
The duration of the backup process may vary initially, but subsequent backups will be completed more quickly. This efficiency is achieved through the use of incremental backups, a feature of rsync, which only saves data that has been modified since the previous backup.
Backup Encryption
During the backup procedure, you will be asked to set a password for enhanced security. This password will encrypt your backup data, preventing unauthorized access. Protecting your backup with a password is especially crucial when utilizing online storage solutions.
It is strongly recommended to securely record your chosen password, as recovery is impossible if it is lost or forgotten.
Recovering Files from a Full Backup
Initiate the restoration process by clicking the Restore button within the Déjà Dup interface. The application will, by default, pinpoint the most recently utilized backup folder. However, alternative folders containing backups can be manually selected.
Following this, the date corresponding to the backup’s creation must be chosen.
By default, Déjà Dup will reinstate files to their original locations. An alternative option exists to designate a specific folder for restoration, preventing any potential overwriting of current files.
Should a password have been implemented during the backup creation, its entry will be required to proceed with the file restoration.
The system will then begin the process of retrieving the backed-up data.
Recovering Specific Files
It is also possible to recover individual files from an existing backup. Within a Nautilus file manager window, a file can be selected, after which the Edit menu should be clicked and the option “Revert to Previous Version” chosen.
The restoration procedure will be similar, but the process will only affect the file that was specifically selected, returning it to its prior condition.
Furthermore, files that have been removed can be recovered by navigating to the File menu and selecting “Restore Missing Files.”
Déjà Dup will then examine your backups to identify files that were present in the current directory but are no longer located there. These can be restored with minimal effort.
Regular backups are vitally important – all computer users should implement a backup strategy. Déjà Dup simplifies this process directly within Ubuntu.
Déjà Dup is integrated into Ubuntu 11.10 and subsequent releases. For users of other Linux distributions, the application is typically available through their respective package repositories.