Ubuntu
backintime package

Possible to restore on a non-linux filesystem (worrying about the cross-system compatibility of the hardlinks/incremental backup features)

Asked by Syl

Hello,

I've read about the incremental nature of BIT backups and how they rely on hardlinks, and wonder how cross-system compatible it is.

Context :
- Source files : on an Ubuntu machine
- Backup : with BIT in Ubuntu, on the same machine
- Target : an NTFS formatted external disc, that I might have to share with Windows or Apple users.

* Is it possible to correctly browse a BIT backup from a non-linux system? Are the hardlinks understandable for all systems?
* Is it possible to restore a file or folder with copy/paste from my NTFS BIT backup to a NTFS, HFS or FAT32 drive/usb key/system?
* Is BIT meant for copy/paste restore at all, or should I only use its own restore function?

Thank you!
Syl

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Germar
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Revision history for this message
Syl (sjallard) said : 		#1

Related question :
* Is it possible to make the snapshots *non* incremental ?

Revision history for this message
Best Germar (germar) said : 		#2

* Is it possible to correctly browse a BIT backup from a non-linux system? Are the hardlinks understandable for all systems?

Yes, NTFS has native hardlink support. Every system which supports NTFS can 'understand' BiT snapshots.

* Is it possible to restore a file or folder with copy/paste from my NTFS BIT backup to a NTFS, HFS or FAT32 drive/usb key/system?

Yes

* Is BIT meant for copy/paste restore at all, or should I only use its own restore function?

It's one of BiTs key features that you can browse and restore backups with every filemanager/shell/whatever. Only permissions might be lost if you just copy files from snapshots. They are backed up in a separate file and only get restored with BiTs restore function

* Is it possible to make the snapshots *non* incremental ?

Not directly. You could move all previous snapshots temporary into a different folder, create a new (non incremental) snapshot and move them back. But I don't see the point of this. Just waste of space

Revision history for this message
Syl (sjallard) said : 		#3

Thanks Germar, that solved my question.