Unexpected backup every half an hour

Hi Martin!

please post the output of 'grep -A4 "CRON" /var/log/syslog | tail -n30'

Regards,
Germar

Hi Germar! Many thanks, and please see below.

martin@martin:~$ grep -A4 "CRON" /var/log/syslog | tail -n30
Sep 17 10:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Lock
Sep 17 10:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
Sep 17 10:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile
--
Sep 17 10:17:01 martin CRON[5875]: (root) CMD ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly)
Sep 17 10:17:38 martin org.gnome.zeitgeist.SimpleIndexer[2089]: ** (zeitgeist-fts:2687): WARNING **: Unable to get info on application://nautilus-autostart.desktop
Sep 17 10:17:40 martin gnome-session[2184]: ** (zeitgeist-datahub:2676): WARNING **: utils.vala:47: Couldn't get file contents /usr/local/share/applications/libreoffice4.4-writer.desktop: Error opening file: No such file or directory
Sep 17 10:17:40 martin gnome-session[2184]: ** (zeitgeist-datahub:2676): WARNING **: utils.vala:47: Couldn't get file contents /usr/local/share/applications/libreoffice4.4-calc.desktop: Error opening file: No such file or directory
Sep 17 10:17:40 martin gnome-session[2184]: ** (zeitgeist-datahub:2676): WARNING **: utils.vala:47: Couldn't get file contents /usr/local/share/applications/libreoffice4.4-draw.desktop: Error opening file: No such file or directory
--
Sep 17 10:30:01 martin CRON[6012]: (martin) CMD (/usr/bin/nice -n 19 /usr/bin/ionice -c2 -n7 /usr/bin/backintime --profile-id 2 --backup-job >/dev/null 2>&1)
Sep 17 10:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Run command 'backup-job' instead of argument '--backup-job' due to backwards compatibility.
Sep 17 10:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Lock
Sep 17 10:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
Sep 17 10:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile
--
Sep 17 11:00:01 martin CRON[6584]: (martin) CMD (/usr/bin/nice -n 19 /usr/bin/ionice -c2 -n7 /usr/bin/backintime --backup-job >/dev/null 2>&1)
Sep 17 11:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Run command 'backup-job' instead of argument '--backup-job' due to backwards compatibility.
Sep 17 11:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Lock
Sep 17 11:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
Sep 17 11:00:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile
--
Sep 17 11:17:01 martin CRON[7047]: (root) CMD ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly)
Sep 17 11:25:04 martin smartd[1003]: Device: /dev/sdb [SAT], 3 Currently unreadable (pending) sectors
Sep 17 11:25:04 martin smartd[1003]: Device: /dev/sdb [SAT], Failed SMART usage Attribute: 1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate.
Sep 17 11:30:01 martin CRON[7152]: (martin) CMD (/usr/bin/nice -n 19 /usr/bin/ionice -c2 -n7 /usr/bin/backintime --profile-id 2 --backup-job >/dev/null 2>&1)
Sep 17 11:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Run command 'backup-job' instead of argument '--backup-job' due to backwards compatibility.
Sep 17 11:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Lock
Sep 17 11:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
Sep 17 11:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile
martin@martin:~$

Looks like a bug in current dev version. But I'm not yet able to reproduce/fix it.

You did not open Settings dialog in BIT and pressed OK after updating to current dev version. Please don't do this until we found the bug ;-) otherwise he might slip away as the problem might be solved with writing a new crontab from BIT.

Both writing of crontab and parsing the command line arguments have changed in current dev version.

Please run 'crontab -e' and add --debug after /usr/bin/backintime. After the next half-hour snapshot please post the first ~20 lines from /var/log/syslog starting at:
Sep 1x xx:30:01 martin CRON[6012]: (martin) CMD (/usr/bin/nice -n 19 /usr/bin/ionice -c2 -n7 /usr/bin/backintime --debug --profile-id 2 --backup-job >/dev/null 2>&1)

Also please run 'backintime --debug --profile-id 2 backup-job' in Terminal and post the output, too.

Many thanks for testing the dev version. I was about to release a new version this weekend. But this bug is a show-stopper.

Kind regards,
Germar

Many thanks Germar. Herewith the details from /var/sys/log after the first half-hour backup (this is the complete BiT section):

Sep 18 09:30:01 martin CRON[4425]: (martin) CMD (/usr/bin/nice -n 19 /usr/bin/ionice -c2 -n7 /usr/bin/backintime --debug --profile-id 2 --backup-job >/dev/null 2>&1)
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:372 start_app] Arguments: {'parser': ArgumentParser(prog='backintime', usage=None, description='Back In Time - a simple backup tool for Linux.', formatter_class=<class 'argparse.HelpFormatter'>, conflict_handler='error', add_help=True), 'func': <function aliasParser at 0x7fb1adbe9598>, 'debug': True, 'profile_id': 2, 'alias': 'backup-job', 'replace': '--backup-job'}
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/backintime.py:420 aliasParser] Run command 'backup-job' instead of argument '--backup-job' due to backwards compatibility.
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:428 getConfig] config file: /home/martin/.config/backintime
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:429 getConfig] profiles: ['1', '2']
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:88 PluginManager.load_plugins] Register plugin path /usr/share/backintime/plugins
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:104 PluginManager.load_plugins] Add plugin qt4plugin.py
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:104 PluginManager.load_plugins] Add plugin notifyplugin.py
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:104 PluginManager.load_plugins] Add plugin userscriptsplugin.py
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:917 Snapshots.has_old_snapshots] Found old snapshots: False
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:955 Snapshots.take_snapshot] Lock
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/tools.py:744 inhibitSuspend] Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/mount.py:50 Mount.__init__] pw-cache is not running
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/mount.py:58 Mount.__init__] Call command: backintime pw-cache start
Sep 18 09:30:01 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:988 Snapshots.take_snapshot] Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile

When I run backintime --debug --profile-id 2 backup-job the output is very long (a lot of Permission denied and similar) and I cannot capture it all in the terminal. Could you pleas kindly send me an instruction for how to direct the output to a file, so that I can capture everything and send to you (unfortunately I don't know how to do this).

With thanks, Martin

Please download this patch http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/12457177/ and install it with
sudo patch /usr/share/backintime/common/backintime.py < download_file

This will add some more debug messages that may help to find the bug. After patching please post the above syslog part again. To write the output into file use
backintime --debug --profile-id 2 backup-job >~/bit.log 2>&1

Many thanks Germar. Herewith the syslog (output file of backup to follow):

Sep 19 12:30:01 martin CRON[3622]: (martin) CMD (/usr/bin/nice -n 19 /usr/bin/ionice -c2 -n7 /usr/bin/backintime --debug --profile-id 2 --backup-job >/dev/null 2>&1)
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:372 start_app] Arguments: {'profile_id': 2, 'replace': '--backup-job', 'parser': ArgumentParser(prog='backintime', usage=None, description='Back In Time - a simple backup tool for Linux.', formatter_class=<class 'argparse.HelpFormatter'>, conflict_handler='error', add_help=True), 'func': <function aliasParser at 0x7f5d2fdf8598>, 'alias': 'backup-job', 'debug': True}
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/backintime.py:420 aliasParser] Run command 'backup-job' instead of argument '--backup-job' due to backwards compatibility.
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:422 aliasParser] Call parser with new sys.argv: ['--debug', '--profile-id', '2', 'backup-job']
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:425 aliasParser] New arguments: {'func': <function backupJob at 0x7f5d2fdf8950>}
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:431 getConfig] config file: /home/martin/.config/backintime
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:432 getConfig] profiles: ['1', '2']
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:434 getConfig] Found 'profile_id' in 'args' value: None Type <class 'NoneType'>
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:441 getConfig] Found 'profile' in 'args' value: None Type <class 'NoneType'>
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:88 PluginManager.load_plugins] Register plugin path /usr/share/backintime/plugins
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:104 PluginManager.load_plugins] Add plugin qt4plugin.py
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:104 PluginManager.load_plugins] Add plugin notifyplugin.py
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/pluginmanager.py:104 PluginManager.load_plugins] Add plugin userscriptsplugin.py
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:917 Snapshots.has_old_snapshots] Found old snapshots: False
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:955 Snapshots.take_snapshot] Lock
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/tools.py:744 inhibitSuspend] Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/mount.py:50 Mount.__init__] pw-cache is not running
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/mount.py:58 Mount.__init__] Call command: backintime pw-cache start
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:988 Snapshots.take_snapshot] Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin kernel: [ 5279.637531] EXT4-fs error: 30 callbacks suppressed
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin kernel: [ 5279.637535] EXT4-fs error (device sdc1): ext4_lookup:1417: inode #16386: comm python3: deleted inode referenced: 17828897
Sep 19 12:30:02 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [qt4systrayicon] begin loop
Sep 19 12:30:07 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:1278 Snapshots._take_snapshot] Compare with old snapshot: 20150919-120002-800
Sep 19 12:30:07 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1284 Snapshots._take_snapshot] Call command "rsync -rtDHh --links --no-p --no-g --no-o --info=progress2 --no-i-r --delete --delete-excluded -i --dry-run --out-format="BACKINTIME: %i %n%L" --chmod=Du+wx --exclude="/media/littleblack" --exclude="/home/martin/.local/share/backintime" --exclude=".local/share/backintime/mnt" --include="/home/martin/Desktop/" --include="/home/martin/" --include="/home/" --include="/home/martin/Documents/" --include="/home/martin/Music/" --include="/home/martin/Pictures/" --include="/home/martin/Videos/" --exclude=".gvfs" --exclude=".cache*" --exclude="[Cc]ache*" --exclude=".thumbnails*" --exclude="[Tt]rash*" --exclude="*.backup*" --exclude="*~" --exclude=".dropbox*" --exclude="/proc/*" --exclude="/sys/*" --exclude="/dev/*" --exclude="/run/*" --exclude=".*" --include="/home/martin/Desktop/**" --include="/home/martin/Documents/**" --include="/home/martin/Music/**"
Sep 19 12:30:07 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: CONTINUE: --include="/home/martin/Pictures/**" --include="/home/martin/Videos/**" --exclude="*" / "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150919-120002-800/backup/""
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1284 Snapshots._take_snapshot] Command "rsync -rtDHh --l..." returns 0
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:1288 Snapshots._take_snapshot] Nothing changed, no back needed
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1017 Snapshots.take_snapshot] Call command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150919-123002-614""
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1017 Snapshots.take_snapshot] Command "rm -rf "/media/l..." returns 0
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): WARNING: [common/snapshots.py:1024 Snapshots.take_snapshot] No new snapshot
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:1641 Snapshots._free_space] Remove backups older than: 20050901-000000
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin kernel: [ 5288.164117] EXT4-fs error (device sdc1): ext4_lookup:1417: inode #16386: comm python3: deleted inode referenced: 17828897
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1512 Snapshots.smart_remove] Considered: ['20150919-120002-800', '20150919-102809-480', '20150918-170001-285', '20150918-163001-288', '20150918-160001-418', '20150918-153001-828', '20150918-150001-675', '20150918-143001-803', '20150918-140001-126', '20150918-133001-717', '20150918-130001-466', '20150918-123001-507', '20150918-120001-657', '20150918-113001-744', '20150918-110001-796', '20150918-101851-501', '20150918-100001-220', '20150918-090001-174', '20150917-173001-676', '20150917-143001-477', '20150917-110001-686', '20150917-103001-227', '20150917-100001-263', '20150917-083001-851', '20150916-173001-933', '20150915-163001-284', '20150914-163001-511', '20150908-163002-184', '20150904-173001-864', '20150828-173002-745', '20150727-180001-393', '20150630-170002-837', '20150522-150001-576', '20150430-170001-272', '20150331-160001-152', '20150317-120001-273', '20150227-180001-739', '20150130-170006-134',
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: CONTINUE: '20141120-091934-517', '20141031-160002-861', '20140930-160002-612', '20140829-140008-610', '20140731-160007-919', '20140630-170007-363', '20140524-160001-298', '20140430-150002-998', '20140331-170009-324', '20140228-130003-610', '20140131-110003-336', '20131220-140002-631', '20131128-150002-295', '20131025-120003-422', '20130930-150001-153', '20130731-140010-538', '20130412-180008-975', '20130305-130008-359', '20130305-120002-806', '20130305-110008-456', '20130305-100002-792', '20130304-180008-863', '20130304-170008-402', '20130304-160001-788', '20130304-150009-113', '20130304-140003-922', '20130304-120009-482', '20130304-110003-712', '20130304-100007-922', '20130301-170008-499', '20130228-170009-318', '20130227-180008-632', '20130221-170002-832', '20130217-170001-945', '20130131-170008-108', '20121216-100007-591', '20121130-180002-462', '20121018-170001-663', '20111214-210007-939', '20111109-160002-556']
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1471 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_all_] Keep all >= 20150917-000000-588 and < 20150920-000000-587
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150919-000000-128 and < 20150920-000000-820
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150918-000000-907 and < 20150919-000000-268
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150917-000000-758 and < 20150918-000000-920
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150916-000000-241 and < 20150917-000000-474
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150915-000000-992 and < 20150916-000000-323
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150914-000000-897 and < 20150915-000000-730
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150913-000000-347 and < 20150914-000000-318
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150913-000000-218 and < 20150921-000000-854
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150906-000000-269 and < 20150914-000000-590
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150830-000000-740 and < 20150907-000000-934
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150823-000000-749 and < 20150831-000000-328
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150901-000000-316 and < 20151001-000000-187
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150801-000000-240 and < 20150901-000000-395
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150701-000000-833 and < 20150801-000000-337
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150601-000000-928 and < 20150701-000000-149
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150501-000000-149 and < 20150601-000000-498
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150401-000000-419 and < 20150501-000000-317
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150301-000000-777 and < 20150401-000000-362
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150201-000000-875 and < 20150301-000000-969
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150101-000000-969 and < 20150201-000000-124
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20141201-000000-323 and < 20150101-000000-322
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20141101-000000-721 and < 20141201-000000-234
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20141001-000000-197 and < 20141101-000000-188
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin kernel: [ 5288.165726] EXT4-fs error (device sdc1): ext4_lookup:1417: inode #16386: comm python3: deleted inode referenced: 17828897
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140901-000000-910 and < 20141001-000000-117
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140801-000000-170 and < 20140901-000000-588
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140701-000000-450 and < 20140801-000000-743
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140601-000000-363 and < 20140701-000000-119
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140501-000000-183 and < 20140601-000000-868
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140401-000000-539 and < 20140501-000000-714
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140301-000000-927 and < 20140401-000000-514
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140201-000000-983 and < 20140301-000000-413
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140101-000000-464 and < 20140201-000000-418
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20131201-000000-331 and < 20140101-000000-340
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20131101-000000-634 and < 20131201-000000-447
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20131001-000000-224 and < 20131101-000000-271
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20110101-000000-309 and < 20120101-000000-490
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20120101-000000-616 and < 20130101-000000-948
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20130101-000000-962 and < 20140101-000000-135
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20140101-000000-197 and < 20150101-000000-998
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1484 Snapshots._smart_remove_keep_first_] Keep first >= 20150101-000000-582 and < 20160101-000000-557
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:1557 Snapshots.smart_remove] Keep snapshots: ['20150919-120002-800', '20150919-102809-480', '20150918-170001-285', '20150918-163001-288', '20150918-160001-418', '20150918-153001-828', '20150918-150001-675', '20150918-143001-803', '20150918-140001-126', '20150918-133001-717', '20150918-130001-466', '20150918-123001-507', '20150918-120001-657', '20150918-113001-744', '20150918-110001-796', '20150918-101851-501', '20150918-100001-220', '20150918-090001-174', '20150917-173001-676', '20150917-143001-477', '20150917-110001-686', '20150917-103001-227', '20150917-100001-263', '20150917-083001-851', '20150916-173001-933', '20150915-163001-284', '20150914-163001-511', '20150908-163002-184', '20150904-173001-864', '20150828-173002-745', '20150727-180001-393', '20150630-170002-837', '20150522-150001-576', '20150430-170001-272', '20150331-160001-152', '20150227-180001-739', '20150130-170006-134', '20141120-091934-517',
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: CONTINUE: '20141031-160002-861', '20140930-160002-612', '20140829-140008-610', '20140731-160007-919', '20140630-170007-363', '20140524-160001-298', '20140430-150002-998', '20140331-170009-324', '20140228-130003-610', '20140131-110003-336', '20131220-140002-631', '20131128-150002-295', '20131025-120003-422', '20111214-210007-939', '20121216-100007-591']
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): INFO: [common/snapshots.py:1626 Snapshots.smart_remove] [smart remove] remove snapshots: ['20150317-120001-273', '20130930-150001-153', '20130731-140010-538', '20130412-180008-975', '20130305-130008-359', '20130305-120002-806', '20130305-110008-456', '20130305-100002-792', '20130304-180008-863', '20130304-170008-402', '20130304-160001-788', '20130304-150009-113', '20130304-140003-922', '20130304-120009-482', '20130304-110003-712', '20130304-100007-922', '20130301-170008-499', '20130228-170009-318', '20130227-180008-632', '20130221-170002-832', '20130217-170001-945', '20130131-170008-108', '20121130-180002-462', '20121018-170001-663', '20111109-160002-556']
Sep 19 12:30:10 martin backintime (martin/1): DEBUG: [common/snapshots.py:794 Snapshots.remove_snapshot] Call command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +"

...and using backintime --debug --profile-id 2 backup-job >~/bit.log 2>&1 here is the backup log. It is HUGE so I am pasting here just the first few and last few lines (let me know if you require more).

beginning:

find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/pixel.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/image-content.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA8AAAASCAQAAAAul0yEAAAAO0lEQVQoz9XPsQ0AIAwDwYzuzZ8iQjIQUiLh9r5xh’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/ANX_async_usersync.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/carOLEV_Go_Ultra_Low_300x250.swf’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/climate-change-aggravating-cyclone-damage-scientists-say_12.html’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/B8546521.115486389;sz=728x90;kw=%5Burl_encoded_publisher_data%5D;ord=3063456808’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTQiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxNCAxNCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d_002.dat’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/8deee817-f055-41ae-b814-5d5c4278edfa-140x84.jpeg’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/53594817e4b03f13dce91c45.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTQiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxNCAxNCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d_003.dat’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/237904-15.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/511b13fde4b0c704f12cfd68_v279.swf’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/climate-change-aggravating-cyclone-damage-scientists-say.css’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/8ecf7487-fbfa-4f82-9c37-d09d07adf633-140x84.jpeg’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/411f1e96-3bde-4d85-b17e-63749e5f0695.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/moatad.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAAECAAAAACMmsGiAAAAGElEQVR4AWMItbW1ZbANBRJ2QJIByAsFACn9BDLFz’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/implement-r_001.js’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/bird.svg’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/3’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/controltag.js.3b90e5a6f48ce0db82eee20c2ac6f129’: Input/output error

end:

rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20121018-170001-663/backup/home/martin/Documents/Oryx/Mss_Preparation/Sent_for_setting/Oryx-11-A-0073_Vasconcelos /Oryx-11-A-0073_Vasconcelos_author_to_chk_trackchanges.pdf’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20121018-170001-663/backup/home/martin/Documents/Oryx/Mss_Preparation/Sent_for_setting/Oryx-11-A-0073_Vasconcelos /Oryx-11-A-0073_Vasconcelos_author_to_chk_trackchanges.doc’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma32’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma08’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma87’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma17’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma13’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma07’: Input/output error
find: ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma62’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma32’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma08’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma87’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma17’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma13’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma07’: Input/output error
rm: cannot remove ‘/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556/backup/home/martin/Documents/Ross/Archive/Sigma/sigma62’: Input/output error
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130930-150001-153" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130930-150001-153"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130731-140010-538" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130731-140010-538"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130412-180008-975" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130412-180008-975"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-130008-359" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-130008-359"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-120002-806" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-120002-806"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-110008-456" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-110008-456"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-100002-792" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-100002-792"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-180008-863" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-180008-863"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-170008-402" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-170008-402"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-160001-788" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-160001-788"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-150009-113" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-150009-113"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-140003-922" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-140003-922"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-120009-482" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-120009-482"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-110003-712" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-110003-712"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-100007-922" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130304-100007-922"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130301-170008-499" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130301-170008-499"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130228-170009-318" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130228-170009-318"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130227-180008-632" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130227-180008-632"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130221-170002-832" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130221-170002-832"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130217-170001-945" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130217-170001-945"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130131-170008-108" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130131-170008-108"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20121130-180002-462" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20121130-180002-462"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20121018-170001-663" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20121018-170001-663"" returns 256
WARNING: Command "find "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556" -type d -exec chmod u+wx "{}" +" returns 256
WARNING: Command "rm -rf "/media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20111109-160002-556"" returns 256

Back In Time
Version: 1.1.8~beta2

Back In Time comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it
under certain conditions; type `backintime --license' for details.

INFO: Lock
INFO: Inhibit Suspend started. Reason: take snapshot
INFO: Take a new snapshot. Profile: 1 Main profile
INFO: Compare with old snapshot: 20150919-120002-800
INFO: Create hard-links
INFO: Call rsync to take the snapshot
INFO: Save config file
INFO: Save permissions
INFO: Create info file
INFO: Remove backups older than: 20050901-000000
INFO: [smart remove] remove snapshots: ['20150317-120001-273', '20130930-150001-153', '20130731-140010-538', '20130412-180008-975', '20130305-130008-359', '20130305-120002-806', '20130305-110008-456', '20130305-100002-792', '20130304-180008-863', '20130304-170008-402', '20130304-160001-788', '20130304-150009-113', '20130304-140003-922', '20130304-120009-482', '20130304-110003-712', '20130304-100007-922', '20130301-170008-499', '20130228-170009-318', '20130227-180008-632', '20130221-170002-832', '20130217-170001-945', '20130131-170008-108', '20121130-180002-462', '20121018-170001-663', '20111109-160002-556']
INFO: Keep min free disk space: 1024 Mb
INFO: Keep min 2% free inodes
INFO: Unlock
INFO: Release inhibit Suspend
INFO: [qt4systrayicon] begin loop
INFO: [qt4systrayicon] end loop

Hi Martin,

Good news first: it will be fixed as soon as you open and close Settings dialog once. But I'd highly appreciate if you'd stay with me until I found the root of the problem.

The problem is in these three lines:
INFO: [common/backintime.py:420 aliasParser] Run command 'backup-job' instead of argument '--backup-job' due to backwards compatibility.
DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:422 aliasParser] Call parser with new sys.argv: ['--debug', '--profile-id', '2', 'backup-job']
DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:425 aliasParser] New arguments: {'func': <function backupJob at 0x7f5d2fdf8950>}

The aliasParser doesn't get get --debug and --profile-id arguments. Last line should be instead:
DEBUG: [common/backintime.py:425 aliasParser] New arguments: {'func': <function backupJob at 0x7f5d2fdf8950>, 'profile_id': 2, 'debug': True}

Which Ubuntu version do you use? Please post the output of
python3 --version
python3 -c 'import argparse; print(argparse.__version__)'

------------------------

There is an other problem with smart-remove on your drive. Looks like it isn't able to remove couple old snapshots. But I'd like to fix the profile issue first and comeback to the smart-remove issue later on. So please deactivate smart-remove for now with:
sed -e 's/\(profile1.snapshots.smart_remove=\)true/\1false/g' -i ~/.config/backintime/config

Hi Germar - Thanks again and herewith:

Ubuntu 15.04

python3 --version
Python 3.4.3

python3 -c 'import argparse; print(argparse.__version__)'
1.1

I have deativted smart-remove

Martin

Okay, I was now able to reproduce this in a 15.04 VM. Seems to be related to 15.04 as it works well on 14.04

Thanks a lot for your help. Feel free to open and close Settings dialog in BIT to fix that problem for now. I'll come back later to help you fixing the smart-remove issue

Hi Germar

Many thanks, and I have done that. However, I am still unable to run a Profile 2 backup, and Profile 1 still makes a backup on the half hour as well as on the hour.

Martin

Oh, indeed. So I'm searching at the wrong place m)

1.1.8~beta3 on testing PPA will fix the issue

Many thanks Germar. I have tested the update and now both of my profiles run. Shortly Profile 2 will run on the half hour and I will report whether this backups correctly.

...and profile 2 now backups up on the half hour, and within profile 2 (not within profile 1, as formerly).

Thanks for the feedback. So lets activate smart-remove again (you can do that in Settings) and work on that one ;-)

First of all please make sure the drive is healthy. Run 'df /media/littleblack'. This will show the device of your drive as first item. Something like /dev/sdb1. Remember that one. Next run 'sudo umount /media/littleblack' and 'sudo fsck /dev/sdb1' where /dev/sdb1 is what you found out before.

If this doesn't help please run:
ls -la /media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20150317-120001-273/backup/home/martin/Documents/Zotero/storage/6JM2TM36/

and post the output.

Hi Germar

Many thanks. I ran fsck and there were many errors on the drive, and I let fsck correct them all. I have now run profile 1, activated smart-remove and run a backup. A number of older backups have now being removed. I keep one snapshot per month for the last 24 months but some months had several: now only March 2013 has an extra backup.

However, I do not think the problem is yet completely resolved. As I retain one snapshot per year for all years, I think the one snapshot per month of 2013 should now have been removed and only a single snapshot retained. I ran backintime with debug (your earlier suggestion backintime --debug --profile-id 2 backup-job >~/bit.log 2>&1) and it seems there are a lot of permission denied problems associated with some files in the 2013 backups.

I could probably quite safely delete all 2013 snapshot except the December 2013. I searched in bit.log from the above command an none of the errors are associated with the December 2013 backup, which is 20131220). Would you advise doing this or would it be best to otherwise resolve the problem?

Again, I am very grateful for your expert advice.

Yours, Martin

I guess that snapshots (or parts of it) is owned by an other user or root. You can check this with (one line):
find /media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-100002-792 ! -user martin -exec ls -lad {} +

I'd just remove them manually with:
rm -rf /media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/201303*

Or if that still doesn't work use:
sudo rm -rf /media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/201303*

As your drive had many problems I suggest running one snapshot with 'backintime --checksum backup' to make sure all files are the healty. This will use files checksums instead of time and size to check if a file has changed. But it will take a lot more time.

Thank you again Germar. I have now deleted all of the 2013 backups except for that of December (I checked and some of them had files owned by root rather than by myself).

I tried to run backintime --checksum backup' but BiT complains about --checksum. I checked man backintime and I can't understand why this is. I am now running this backup using the appropriate option in the GUI (it is taking a loooong time however!).

To improve my meagre commend line knowledge I have tried to understand

find /media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-100002-792 ! -user martin -exec ls -lad {} +

I am guessing that '! - user martin' means not belonging to the user martin?

And that 'exec ls -lad {} +' means execute ls to list files (but {} + is a mystery to me).

With thanks, Martin

Hmmm. The new argument parser only takes 'backintime backup --checksum' and not the other way around >:|

I'll have a look if I can change this.

'-user martin' is a test command for find. It will search for files which belongs to 'martin'. With '!' you can invert every test in find. So '! -user martin' will search for all files which doesn't belong to martin.

If you would run 'find /path ! -user martin' by it's own it would have shown you all files that are not owned by martin. But you wouldn't know to whom they belong. 'find' as no options to output files in a long list format. So I used a trick:

'-exec COMMAND {} +' is an action for find. It will execute COMMAND with all files it found until the new command reaches the maximum argument lenght. {} will be replaced by the filenames. There is an other method with '-exec COMMAND {} \;' which will execute COMMAND for every file. The first one is of course faster.

So '-exec ls -lad {} +' will construct 'ls -lad file1 file2 file3 file4...' and once that command-line reached maximum argument length it will execute it and start building a new command 'ls -lad file624 file625 file626...'

Hi Germar

Many thanks for explaining the commands - most appreciated.

Martin

Just as comment:

The find command does have an option to output files in a long list format, namely the -ls action, so the command

find /media/littleblack/backintime/martin-laptop/martin/1/20130305-100002-792 ! -user martin -ls

might have worked as well.

You're right Manfred. Didn't know that one :)
Thanks