If you’re a systems administrator, it doesn’t matter what platform you use, so long as it can get the job done. Part of that job is ensuring the safety and viability of the data housed on those servers. Unless you can protect that data, and efficiently and effectively restore it (should disaster strike), you’re facing down failure.

If you are new to Linux, or need a course refresher, there are certain things you’ll need to know about the process of creating data backups, including which tools are available. To that end, you’d be surprised at just how many options you have for this task.

This guide, written by Jack Wallen for TechRepublic Premium, takes a look at the prospect of backing up data on your Linux servers.

Featured text from the download:

RSYNC

The rsync command is one of the first tools Linux admins turn to for backups. Why? Because it’s not only incredibly powerful, it’s flexible and reliable. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better tool for backing up and syncing data for both local drives and across a network. rsync can handle incremental backups, update entire directory systems, take care of remote backups, preserve permissions, ownerships, and links, and even has an optional graphical interface (called Grsync).

Backing up to a locally attached drive with rsync is as simple as:

rsync -av SOURCE DESTINATION

Enhance your Linux knowledge with our in-depth eight-page PDF. Previously priced at $49, this is now available for download at just $9. Alternatively, enjoy complimentary access with a Premium annual subscription. Click here to find out more.

TIME SAVED: Crafting this content required 16 hours of dedicated writing, editing, research and design.