Best total system AND files backup? [Solved]

[Sparky]

Hi everyone. What's the best way to backup the entire state of a machine? If it makes a difference all of mine use MX KDE, although it should work fine on XFCE as well right?
I was thinking of using cloning software, but there must be a way that the updates only add the new data, not start from the beginning and redo all. I've heard of Pika, but I have never used it and I'm not sure if it backs up not just all my files, but also the OS and my configurations of it. Also, there is the question of the external drive that the backup will be done on. In cloning, it has to be the same size (although larger also works). However, that means the drive can only be used for this purpose. Is there a way to backup everything and be able to have a folder in the external drive to put other things on it?
Thank you!

[DukeComposed]

Also, there is the question of the external drive that the backup will be done on. In cloning, it has to be the same size (although larger also works). However, that means the drive can only be used for this purpose.

Clonezilla supports creating an image that can be stored offline just about anywhere there's space to hold it. The image is just a collection of compressed files that can be used by Clonezilla to restore one or more devices later. There's no need to make a full, functional copy on a dedicated drive. I keep a bunch of different Clonezilla images on an external hard drive I use for backup and repair.

[aika]

... What's the best way to backup the entire state of a machine?
... the OS and my configurations of it ...

MX-Snapshot !

[CharlesV]

... What's the best way to backup the entire state of a machine?
... the OS and my configurations of it ...

MX-Snapshot !

MX-Snapshot is great, and if used properly it can be a life saver ... however, that is NOT a backup utility. (And and any user with a serious amount of data needs something else. )

+1 on Clonezilla - just remember... your only as good as the last time it ran !!!

and if you want a true backup strategy , then imo you should:
_ Timeshift set for a daily backup of the system,
_ Something like BackInTime to back up your home and data ! ( Daily, incremental backups are fast and you can send this to any space that support symlinks)
_ MX Snapshot of the system - every month or so.

[ThemetresAtrometos]

MX Snapshot for the system.
FreeFilesync for data backup.
Save to an external disk not connected all the time. Connect it for the backup and when you finish disconnect.
And you can put to this disk anything more you want if there is space left.

I trust this method much more than cloning with any utility used. MX Snapshot it's the great card of MX Linux. Take advantage of this.

[Sparky]

... What's the best way to backup the entire state of a machine?
... the OS and my configurations of it ...

MX-Snapshot !

MX-Snapshot is great, and if used properly it can be a life saver ... however, that is NOT a backup utility. (And and any user with a serious amount of data needs something else. )

+1 on Clonezilla - just remember... your only as good as the last time it ran !!!

and if you want a true backup strategy , then imo you should:
_ Timeshift set for a daily backup of the system,
_ Something like BackInTime to back up your home and data ! ( Daily, incremental backups are fast and you can send this to any space that support symlinks)
_ MX Snapshot of the system - every month or so.

Thanks. That sounds like a plan, as well as looking for an external online solution to keep the clonezilla files.

[davidy]

+1 for zilla. I use it ~ 1/week. I always do a full disk backup though I just realized having a backup of the boot partition itself will come in handy. A full disk backup won't restore a boot part. The very latest release is also recommended which at this time is 3.1.3-8. My boot part, nvme0n1p1, is only ~256mb so that'll take no space. Clonezilla always defaults to a specific data compression that just works and other than making sure you do NOT enable any of the checks (to save a lot of time), it'll run just as fast as if you were to do a snapshot pretty much. FreeFilleSync is just a good program all around for general local file backups (and restores) I just wish I had payed for the pro version it's that good, imo. What really helps is having such a great OS as is MX.
I'm 2 days into using Libretto and am getting ready right now to do my 2nd full disk backup. Plan on snapshotting that to my HM90 minipc in my sig, eventually. My PhoenixLie win10 pc is going to remain as it is with no updates at all forever jk.

There is an OS based on MX called nutshell-acorn-20230712 which uses containers and is touted as a secure OS I might try eventually. Sounds interesting.

[aika]

... the OS and my configurations of it ...

... MX-Snapshot is great, and if used properly it can be a life saver ... however, that is NOT a backup utility. (And and any user with a serious amount of data needs something else. ) ...

Sparky wants to back up the operating system and configurations, not "My Documents". MX Snapshot is a new fork of Remastersys, which was originally used to back up the entire operating system before other backup programs existed. Using TimeShift on the same disk, for example, is less secure.

... looking for an external online solution to keep the clonezilla files.

What do you do if your system no longer goes online or no longer boots?

[CharlesV]

... the OS and my configurations of it ...

... MX-Snapshot is great, and if used properly it can be a life saver ... however, that is NOT a backup utility. (And and any user with a serious amount of data needs something else. ) ...

Sparky wants to back up the operating system and configurations, not "My Documents". MX Snapshot is a new fork of Remastersys, which was originally used to back up the entire operating system before other backup programs existed. Using TimeShift on the same disk, for example, is less secure.

I know what MX Snapshot is. And sorry your wrong, read what the OP posted! He asked about System AND Files . (entire STATE including data )

[davidy]

"What do you do if your system no longer goes online or no longer boots?"
Move to the backup cave