Rsnapshot

Rsnapshot

Rsnapshot is an open-source utility for Linux that provides incremental backup functionality using rsync. It makes it easy to maintain a local backup of a remote system by only transferring the changes since the last backup.
Rsnapshot image
rsync incremental backup open-source

Rsnapshot: Open-Source Utility for Incremental Linux Backup

An open-source utility for Linux that provides incremental backup functionality using rsync, making it easy to maintain a local backup of a remote system by only transferring the changes since the last backup.

What is Rsnapshot?

Rsnapshot is an open-source backup utility for Linux operating systems that provides incremental backup functionality using rsync. It is designed to make it easy to maintain a backup of a remote system by only transferring the changes that have occurred since the last backup.

Some key features of Rsnapshot include:

  • Incremental backups using rsync - only changed files are transferred after the initial backup, making the process very efficient.
  • The ability to keep multiple backups - daily, weekly, and monthly backups can be maintained.
  • Hardlink based - uses hardlinks whenever possible to save space.
  • Rotation of backups - old backups are automatically removed based on configurable settings.
  • Backup to local, remove, or mounted filesystems.
  • Configuration using a single config file.

Rsnapshot is a popular choice for Linux admins to backup remote servers, databases, client machines, and other systems. The incremental nature allows backing up frequently without using a lot of bandwidth or disk space after the initial seed backup. Retaining multiple increments (daily, weekly, etc.) provides redundancy and facilitates restore from different points in time.

Rsnapshot Features

Features

  1. Incremental backups using rsync
  2. Hard link creation for space efficiency
  3. Backup rotation with configurable intervals
  4. Remote system backups without installing agent
  5. Backup retention policies
  6. Configuration via single config file

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and easy to setup

Leverages rsync for efficient transfers

Hard linking minimizes storage usage

Flexible retention policies

No agents required on remote systems

Cons

Limited reporting capabilities

No encryption built-in

No web-based interface

Linux-only

Steep learning curve


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