OVERALL: I would use an external hard drive coupled with an online backup solution like CrashPlan; but you can do everything with rsync and ssh too if you wanted. Many ways to do that task. The HOW: I use Simple Backup (Debian/Linux Mint/Ubuntu) (sbackup) which stores files incrementally daily with full backups weekly, also using the Logarithmic Purging enabled. Again, many methods, but this is the one I have chosen to use. It works for me, probably will for you, but ultimately it's your call to make on whatever method you decide to use. The WHAT: If I'm backing up the OS and applications, I use remastersys If I'm backing up the OS, applications, configurations and personal files, I use CloneZilla. If I'm backing up a one or more directories of files, I use Simple Backup. I also have a custom script which creates, backs up, and tar.gz certain configuration files. The WHERE: I backup to 3 places.... 1) A 2nd internal hard drive 2) An external hard drive 3) Online Storage space All of these can be (and are in my case) automated. You could aos do RAID 0+1 as well for the internal drives. <code><pre> # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # BACKUPS AND RESTORE # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Backup aliases alias backup-bashaliases='sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases.backup && echo bash_aliases is now backed up' # Backup bashrc alias backup-bashrc='sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/.bashrc $HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup && echo bashrc is now backed up' # Backup etc alias backup-etc='sudo mkisofs -J -r -V "etc.backup" -o $HOME/etc.backup.iso /etc && echo the entire etc directory is now backed up to an iso image' # Restore aliases alias restore-bashaliases='sudo cp -f bash_aliases.backup $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases && echo bash_aliases is now backed up' # Restore bashrc alias restore-bashrc='sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup $HOME/$user/.bashrc && echo bashrc is now restored' # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # Backup iptables alias backup-iptables='sudo iptables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f /etc/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules.backup && echo iptables.rules is now backed up' # Backup ip6tables alias backup-ip6tables='sudo ip6tables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f /etc/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && echo ip6tables.rules is now backed up' # Backup all iptables and ip6tables alias backup-iptables-all='sudo iptables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sudo /etc/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules.backup && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo ip6tables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sudo /etc/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && echo iptables and ip6tables.rules are both now backed up' # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # restore-iptables alias restore-iptables='sudo iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.rules.backup && sudo iptables-save -c > $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && echo iptables,rules is now restored' # restore-ip6tables alias restore-ip6tables='sudo ip6tables-restore < /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sudo ip6tables-save -c > $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && echo ip6tables,rules is now restored' # backup-iptables-all alias backup-iptables-all='sudo iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.rules.backup && sudo iptables-save -c > $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sudo ip6tables-save -c > $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.ruless && echo iptables.rules and ip6tables.rules are now restored' # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # Backup sources.list alias backup-source='sudo cp -f /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup && echo sources.list is now backed up' # Restore sources.list alias restore-source='sudo cp -f /etc/apt/sources.list.backup /etc/apt/sources.list && echo sources.list is now restored' # Backup gnome alias backup-gnome='gconftool --dump /apps/panel > $HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml && echo gnome settings are now backed up to $HOME/$user/gnome-back.xml' # Restore gnome alias restore-gnome='cd $HOME/$user/Desktop && gconftool --load gnome.backup.xml && echo gnome settings are now restored from gnome-back.xml && $HOME/$user' # Backup xorg alias backup-xorg='sudo cp -f /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup && sudo cp -f /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup && echo xorg is now backed up' # Restore xorg alias restore-xorg='sudo cp -f /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf && sudo cp -f /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf && echo xorg is now restores' # Backup denyhosts alias backup-denyhosts='sudo cp -f /etc/denyhosts.conf /etc/denyhosts.conf.backup && echo denyhosts is now backed up' # Restore denyhosts alias restore-denyhosts='sudo cp -f /etc/denyhosts.conf.backup /etc/denyhosts.conf && echo denyhosts is now restored' # Backup logrotate alias backup-logrotate='sudo cp -f /etc/logrotate.conf /etc/logrotate.conf.backup && echo logrotate.conf is now backed up' # Restore logrotate alias restore-logrotate='sudo cp -f /etc/logrotate.conf.backup /etc/logrotate.conf && echo logrotate.conf is now restored' # Backup interfaces alias backup-interfaces='sudo cp -f /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.backup && echo the interfaces configuraion file is now backed up' # Restore interfaces alias restore-interfaces='sudo cp -f /etc/network/interfaces.backup /etc/network/interfaces && echo the interfaces configuration file is now restored' # Backup samba alias backup-samba='sudo cp -f /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup && echo smb.conf is now backed up' # Restore samba alias restore-samba='sudo cp -f /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup /etc/samba/smb.conf && echo smb.conf is now restored' # Backup ssh client alias backup-ssh-client='sudo cp -f /etc/ssh/ssh_config /etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup && echo ssh_config is now backed up' # Restore ssh client alias restore-ssh-client='sudo cp -f /etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup /etc/ssh/ssh_config && echo ssh_config is now restored' # Backup syslog alias backup-syslog='sudo cp -f /etc/syslog.conf /etc/syslog.conf.backup && echo syslog.conf is now backed up' # Restore syslog alias restore-syslog='sudo cp -f /etc/syslog.conf.backup /etc/syslog.conf && echo syslog.conf is now restored' # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # THESE ALIASES BELOW RELY ON OTHER ALIASES # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # # ===================================================================================================================== # ============================= ======================================== # ===================================================================================================================== alias backup-all='backup-bashaliases && backup-bashrc && backup-iptables && backup-ip6tables && backup-source && backup-gnome && backup-denyhosts && backup-logrotate && backup-interfaces && backup-samba && backup-ssh-client && backup-syslog && backup-xorg && echo all configuration files have been backed up to their respective directories' alias backup-archive='cd $HOME/$user/Desktop && tar -cvpf configuration-backups-$HOSTNAME-`date +%Y%m%d` "$HOME/$user/.bash_aliases.backup" "$HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup" "/etc/iptables.rules.backup" "/etc/ip6tables.rules.backup" "/etc/apt/sources.list.backup" "$HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml" "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup" "/usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup" "/etc/denyhosts.conf.backup" "/etc/logrotate.conf.backup" "/etc/network/interfaces.backup" "/etc/samba/smb.conf.backup" "/etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup" "/etc/syslog.conf.backup" && echo all configuration files have been backed up in their respective directories as well as being copied to an archive on $HOME/$user/Desktop' # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- alias restore-all='restore-bashaliases && restore-bashrc && restore-iptables && restore-ip6tables && restore-source && restore-gnome && restore-denyhosts && restore-logrotate && restore-interfaces && restore-samba && restore-ssh-client && restore-syslog && restore-xorg s&& echo all configuration files have been restored to their respective directories' alias restore-archive='cd $HOME/$user/Desktop && sudo tar -xvzpf $1 "/etc/iptables.rules.backup" "/etc/ip6tables.rules.backup" "/etc/apt/sources.list.backup" "$HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml" "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup" "/usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup" "/etc/denyhosts.conf.backup" "/etc/logrotate.conf.backup" "/etc/network/interfaces.backup" "/etc/samba/smb.conf.backup" "/etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup" "/etc/syslog.conf.backup && echo all configuration files have been restored to their respective directories' # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # # This section is for references only for which files are being backed up. # # $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases.backup # $HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup # /etc/iptables.rules.backup # /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup # /etc/apt/sources.list.backup # $HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml # /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup # /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup # /etc/denyhosts.conf.backup # /etc/logrotate.conf.backup # /etc/network/interfaces.backup # /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup # /etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup # /etc/syslog.conf.backup # # # ===================================================================================================================== # ============================= ======================================== # </code></pre>

OVERALL: I would use an external hard drive coupled with an online backup solution like CrashPlan; but you can do everything with rsync and ssh too if you wanted. Many ways to do that task. The HOW: I use Simple Backup (Debian/Linux Mint/Ubuntu) (sbackup) which stores files incrementally daily with full backups weekly, also using the Logarithmic Purging enabled. Again, many methods, but this is the one I have chosen to use. It works for me, probably will for you, but ultimately it's your call to make on whatever method you decide to use. The WHAT: If I'm backing up the OS and applications, I use remastersys If I'm backing up the OS, applications, configurations and personal files, I use CloneZilla. If I'm backing up a one or more directories of files, I use Simple Backup. I also have a custom script which creates, backs up, and tar.gz certain configuration files. <code><pre> # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # BACKUPS AND RESTORE # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Backup aliases alias backup-bashaliases='sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases.backup && echo bash_aliases is now backed up' # Backup bashrc alias backup-bashrc='sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/.bashrc $HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup && echo bashrc is now backed up' # Backup etc alias backup-etc='sudo mkisofs -J -r -V "etc.backup" -o $HOME/etc.backup.iso /etc && echo the entire etc directory is now backed up to an iso image' # Restore aliases alias restore-bashaliases='sudo cp -f bash_aliases.backup $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases && echo bash_aliases is now backed up' # Restore bashrc alias restore-bashrc='sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup $HOME/$user/.bashrc && echo bashrc is now restored' # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # Backup iptables alias backup-iptables='sudo iptables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f /etc/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules.backup && echo iptables.rules is now backed up' # Backup ip6tables alias backup-ip6tables='sudo ip6tables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f /etc/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && echo ip6tables.rules is now backed up' # Backup all iptables and ip6tables alias backup-iptables-all='sudo iptables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sudo /etc/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules.backup && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo ip6tables-save -c > /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sudo /etc/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f /$HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && echo iptables and ip6tables.rules are both now backed up' # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # restore-iptables alias restore-iptables='sudo iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.rules.backup && sudo iptables-save -c > $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && echo iptables,rules is now restored' # restore-ip6tables alias restore-ip6tables='sudo ip6tables-restore < /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sudo ip6tables-save -c > $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && echo ip6tables,rules is now restored' # backup-iptables-all alias backup-iptables-all='sudo iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.rules.backup && sudo iptables-save -c > $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo iptables-restore < $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules /etc/iptables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/iptables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup && sudo ip6tables-save -c > $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo ip6tables-restore < $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules && sudo cp -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.rules /etc/ip6tables.rules && sleep 3s && sudo rm -f $HOME/$user/ip6tables.ruless && echo iptables.rules and ip6tables.rules are now restored' # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # Backup sources.list alias backup-source='sudo cp -f /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup && echo sources.list is now backed up' # Restore sources.list alias restore-source='sudo cp -f /etc/apt/sources.list.backup /etc/apt/sources.list && echo sources.list is now restored' # Backup gnome alias backup-gnome='gconftool --dump /apps/panel > $HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml && echo gnome settings are now backed up to $HOME/$user/gnome-back.xml' # Restore gnome alias restore-gnome='cd $HOME/$user/Desktop && gconftool --load gnome.backup.xml && echo gnome settings are now restored from gnome-back.xml && $HOME/$user' # Backup xorg alias backup-xorg='sudo cp -f /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup && sudo cp -f /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup && echo xorg is now backed up' # Restore xorg alias restore-xorg='sudo cp -f /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf && sudo cp -f /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf && echo xorg is now restores' # Backup denyhosts alias backup-denyhosts='sudo cp -f /etc/denyhosts.conf /etc/denyhosts.conf.backup && echo denyhosts is now backed up' # Restore denyhosts alias restore-denyhosts='sudo cp -f /etc/denyhosts.conf.backup /etc/denyhosts.conf && echo denyhosts is now restored' # Backup logrotate alias backup-logrotate='sudo cp -f /etc/logrotate.conf /etc/logrotate.conf.backup && echo logrotate.conf is now backed up' # Restore logrotate alias restore-logrotate='sudo cp -f /etc/logrotate.conf.backup /etc/logrotate.conf && echo logrotate.conf is now restored' # Backup interfaces alias backup-interfaces='sudo cp -f /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.backup && echo the interfaces configuraion file is now backed up' # Restore interfaces alias restore-interfaces='sudo cp -f /etc/network/interfaces.backup /etc/network/interfaces && echo the interfaces configuration file is now restored' # Backup samba alias backup-samba='sudo cp -f /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup && echo smb.conf is now backed up' # Restore samba alias restore-samba='sudo cp -f /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup /etc/samba/smb.conf && echo smb.conf is now restored' # Backup ssh client alias backup-ssh-client='sudo cp -f /etc/ssh/ssh_config /etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup && echo ssh_config is now backed up' # Restore ssh client alias restore-ssh-client='sudo cp -f /etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup /etc/ssh/ssh_config && echo ssh_config is now restored' # Backup syslog alias backup-syslog='sudo cp -f /etc/syslog.conf /etc/syslog.conf.backup && echo syslog.conf is now backed up' # Restore syslog alias restore-syslog='sudo cp -f /etc/syslog.conf.backup /etc/syslog.conf && echo syslog.conf is now restored' # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # THESE ALIASES BELOW RELY ON OTHER ALIASES # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # # ===================================================================================================================== # ============================= ======================================== # ===================================================================================================================== alias backup-all='backup-bashaliases && backup-bashrc && backup-iptables && backup-ip6tables && backup-source && backup-gnome && backup-denyhosts && backup-logrotate && backup-interfaces && backup-samba && backup-ssh-client && backup-syslog && backup-xorg && echo all configuration files have been backed up to their respective directories' alias backup-archive='cd $HOME/$user/Desktop && tar -cvpf configuration-backups-$HOSTNAME-`date +%Y%m%d` "$HOME/$user/.bash_aliases.backup" "$HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup" "/etc/iptables.rules.backup" "/etc/ip6tables.rules.backup" "/etc/apt/sources.list.backup" "$HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml" "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup" "/usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup" "/etc/denyhosts.conf.backup" "/etc/logrotate.conf.backup" "/etc/network/interfaces.backup" "/etc/samba/smb.conf.backup" "/etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup" "/etc/syslog.conf.backup" && echo all configuration files have been backed up in their respective directories as well as being copied to an archive on $HOME/$user/Desktop' # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- alias restore-all='restore-bashaliases && restore-bashrc && restore-iptables && restore-ip6tables && restore-source && restore-gnome && restore-denyhosts && restore-logrotate && restore-interfaces && restore-samba && restore-ssh-client && restore-syslog && restore-xorg s&& echo all configuration files have been restored to their respective directories' alias restore-archive='cd $HOME/$user/Desktop && sudo tar -xvzpf $1 "/etc/iptables.rules.backup" "/etc/ip6tables.rules.backup" "/etc/apt/sources.list.backup" "$HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml" "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup" "/usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup" "/etc/denyhosts.conf.backup" "/etc/logrotate.conf.backup" "/etc/network/interfaces.backup" "/etc/samba/smb.conf.backup" "/etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup" "/etc/syslog.conf.backup && echo all configuration files have been restored to their respective directories' # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # # This section is for references only for which files are being backed up. # # $HOME/$user/.bash_aliases.backup # $HOME/$user/.bashrc.backup # /etc/iptables.rules.backup # /etc/ip6tables.rules.backup # /etc/apt/sources.list.backup # $HOME/$user/gnome.backup.xml # /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup # /usr/share/xresprobe/xorg.conf.backup # /etc/denyhosts.conf.backup # /etc/logrotate.conf.backup # /etc/network/interfaces.backup # /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup # /etc/ssh/ssh_config.backup # /etc/syslog.conf.backup # # # ===================================================================================================================== # ============================= ======================================== # </code></pre>