Question on GRsync

[Mishimainizu]

I'm not advanced enough on Linux to use rsync with the necessary confidence. This is why I prefer to use GRsync for the moment.

Nevertheless there are things in GRsync too that I'am unable to grasp. For instance, I only use it to backup the /home directory and other files to an external USB driver (vfat-formatted, because I also want the possibility to use plug it into Windows in case of emergency). What I want to achieve is simple file mirroring, but I'm not sure how to set the various options to have GRsync copying only the files that have actually changed, not entire directories as it seems to be doing. Is this at all possible? This is something that FreeFileSync boasts in particular, but I would prefer GRsync simplicity.

Furthermore, is there a way in GRsync to see a list of the files that will be actually copied to the USB drive? Something that FreeFileSync on Linux and Syncback on Windows do, for instance.

Thanks in advance for any help and or suggestion.

[JayM]

A quick web search turned up this site
https://www.unixmen.com/grsync-gadmin-r ... sync-tool/
and there are several others. Also the grsync manual is probably available by typing

Code: Select all

man grsync

in a terminal. (I say "probably" because I don't have grsynch installed, I just use the Lucky Backup app that came preinstalled in MX. They're basically the same thing, GUIs for selecting parameters for the rsync command.)

[skidoo]

backup the /home directory and other files to an external USB driver (vfat-formatted, because

Files copied to a vfat filesystem will lose (lose track of) the unix permissions for the files.

[Mishimainizu]

I just use the Lucky Backup app that came preinstalled in MX.

I should admit that Lucky Backup is more complete than GRsync, so I've switched to it. Still, what I miss (from Windows) is the possibility to see in detail which files are going to be copied/deleted before proceeding with the actual backup. Sometimes this saves you from potentially serious problems.

[Mishimainizu]

Files copied to a vfat filesystem will lose (lose track of) the unix permissions for the files.

Ah, I didn't pay attention to this. Then, I will use a dedicated ext4 USB stick for the /home directory only. Thanks.

[JayM]

Lucky has the option of doing a "dry run" that lets you test the backup without actually copying/pasting any files so you can check what it will actually do before doing it.

[Mishimainizu]

Lucky has the option of doing a "dry run" that lets you test the backup without actually copying/pasting any files so you can check what it will actually do before doing it.

Yes, but other sync apps (FreeFileSync on Linux and Syncback on Windows, for example) allow you to interact with the dry run so that you can invert direction or skip files in case you are unsure of what the software would do if let work autonomously. Very useful.