The information that we save on our computer is very important to us, that is why knowing how to make a backup in Ubuntu is something fundamental, and today in Watch How to Do It we are going to explain how you can achieve it. To later save it on an external device or upload it to the cloud , and thus never lose it.
Index( )
- How to configure Deja Dup application and create a backup in Ubuntu?
- How to choose the files or documents to be backed up?
- How to prevent some Ubuntu files from being backed up?
- How to store backup folders in Ubuntu?
- On an ‘External’ hard drive
- Installing Dropbox
- What should be done to activate an automatic backup frequency in Ubuntu?
How to configure Deja Dup application and create a backup in Ubuntu?
Ubuntu has an application that is installed by default, and it is called Deja Dup, this application will allow us to make a backup , but before starting it is good that you know the version of Ubuntu that your computer has.
Once you do, to start using Deja Dup, you have to click on the icon that is located at the top of the Unity launcher, then you must write in the search bar Deja Dup. An icon in the form of a safe will appear, you must click on it.
The application will open automatically, whose interface is very basic, but completely sufficient to make our backup. On the left side you will see a menu with various sections. In this case we are interested in the one that says general view or it can also come out as Overview.
In this section you will see two options. One is to create backup and the second is to restore backups. Right at the bottom of all the options that are displayed, you can find the Install button.
Then next you have to open the terminal window, to do this use the following combination of keys Ctrl, Alt and T, all at the same time. Now you must write the following command: sudo apt-get install duplicity followed by this write this other sudo apt-get install – reinstall python-gi. Now close the app and then reopen it.
How to choose the files or documents to be backed up?
In order to choose the files and documents that you want to backup, you must click on the option that says folders to save. The home folder, which is already added by default, which means that the files and other home folders will be backed up.
The Home folder is the same as my documents, as it will contain your videos, photos, music, documents, and any other folders you’ve created. Apart from Home, there are also the configuration registers of the applications.
That is why many people with this Home folder make their backup, although there are other folders where you have important files that you also want to make a copy of. So to select it you must click on the plus + button, which is located at the bottom, then just look for the folders you want to add.
How to prevent some Ubuntu files from being backed up?
You can choose not to back up some folders. In order for the Deja Dup application to skip them, you will only have to click on the option that says ‘Folders to ignore’.
You will see that the Downloads and Trash folders are set to be ignored by default, you can change this if you want.
If you want to discard other folders, you must click on the button with the ‘+’ icon at the bottom of your screen. Then just find the folder you want to skip. If you want to discard multiple folders, you must repeat this procedure for each of them. If one of the folders is marked as ignored and you don’t want to skip, then click on its name and then click on the button that has the following form ‘-‘.
How to store backup folders in Ubuntu?
One very important decision you have to make is where to save the backup you just created. Since if you save it within the same unit where your files are, you can run the risk of losing them.
If, for example, the hard drive fails, then you would be losing both the original files and the backup. Next, we will leave you two alternatives so that you can save your backup and do not lose it.
On an ‘External’ hard drive
The first option to save your backup and which is a good idea is to use an external device, be it an external hard drive or even a USB device like a pen drive.
Installing Dropbox
Another option is to add your backup to some cloud storage like Dropbox , Google Drive or any other. This way you can save your files safely, even if your computer fails you.
What should be done to activate an automatic backup frequency in Ubuntu?
If you use your computer a lot to save files, it is good to plan when you want another backup to be made, so that in this way they are done automatically and regularly, so that if something happens you are not going to lose much information. So to do it just click on the button that says Plan. In this section you will see three options.
- The first is: to turn backup on or off automatically.
- The second option is: how often you want the backup to be done
- And finally there is the option of how long you want the copy to be kept.
In the first option if you want to plan when you want the backups to be done, then just slide the automatic backup button to the ON option. In the second option, the frequency option, you can set the backups to be done every day or at the end of the week. And with the last option, you can adjust how long you want the backups to take place.
- For about 6 months.
- For a full year.
