On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 12:09 PM Default User <hunguponcont...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 12:03 PM David Christensen < > dpchr...@holgerdanske.com> wrote: > >> On 4/10/22 22:15, to...@tuxteam.de wrote: >> > On Sun, Apr 10, 2022 at 09:44:59PM -0700, David Christensen wrote: >> >> On 4/10/22 19:58, Default User wrote: >> >>> Hello! >> >>> >> >>> My setup: >> >>> - single home x86-64 computer running Debian 11 Stable, up to date. >> >>> - one 4-Tb external usb hard drive to use as a backup device, labeled >> MSD1. >> >>> - another identical usb hard drive, labeled MSD2, to use as a copy of >> the >> >>> backups on MSD1. >> >>> - the computer and all storage devices are formatted ext4, not >> encrypted. >> >>> - two old Clonezilla disk images from when I installed Debian 11 last >> year >> >>> (probably irrelevant). >> >>> - Timeshift to daily back up system EXCEPT for data directories. >> >>> - Back in Time to daily back up data directories. >> >>> - Borgbackup to also daily back up data directories. >> >>> - Rsync to frequently backup any changed data between the daily Back >> in >> >>> Time and Borgbackup backups of data directories, using this command: >> >>> >> >>> sudo rsync -aAXHxvv --delete --info=progress2,stats2,name2 >> --exclude-from >> >>> "/home/default/rsync_exclude_list.txt" /home >> >>> /media/default/MSD1/rsync_backups_of_host_home_directory_only >> >>> >> >>> Each type of backup is in a separate subdirectory on MSD1 (Timeshift, >> Back >> >>> in TIme, Rsync, etc.). >> >>> >> >>> It "seems" to work okay, BUT . . . >> >>> >> >>> Then I try to use rsync to make an identical copy of backup device >> MSD1 on >> >>> an absolutely identical 4-Tb external usb hard drive, >> >>> labeled MSD2, using this command: >> >>> >> >>> sudo rsync -aAXHxvv --delete --info=progress2,stats2,name2 >> >>> /media/default/MSD1/ /media/default/MSD2 >> >> >> >> >> >> See 'man 1 rsync'. You have a slash at the end of SRC, but not at the >> end >> >> of DEST. I would add a slash after "MSD2": >> > >> > The only thing I find in rsync's man page about trailing slashes >> > in the `dest' argument would be relevant if MSD2 didn't exist (in >> > the OP's case it seems it does, no?) >> >> >> There are four combinations for rsync(1) SRC and DEST vs. trailing >> slashes. I use two -- trailing slashes on SRC and DEST for directories, >> and no trailing slashes on SRC and DEST for single files. The other two >> combinations may "work" under certain circumstances, but they have >> caused me grief in the past and I avoid them as a matter of habit. >> >> >> David >> >> > > Hey guys, sorry for just getting back with you now. > Unfortunately, I am just now recovering from a self-inflicted computer > disaster. > > While fighting with rsync, I did either: > > sudo rsync -aAXHSxvv --delete --info=progress2,stats2,name2 > /media/default/MSD1/ /media/default/MSD2 > or > sudo rsync -aAXHxvv --delete --info=progress2,stats2,name2 > /media/default/MSD1/ /media/default/MSD2/ > > Just one small problem: MSD2 was not connected to my computer! > (Don't say it . . . ) > > Instead of giving an error message, rsync just created a directory on my > computer called /media/defaultMSD2, and filled it up until my / partition > was full, and THEN my desktop environment (Cinnamon) popped up a > notification saying so. How thoughtful. > > The computer then would not reboot into the operating system. > > No problem, I say. I will just use Timeshift to restore from its backup of > a few hours earlier. > > But that did not work, even after deleting the extra directory, and trying > restores from multiple Timeshift backups. > > Anyway, I never could fix the problem. But I did take it as an opportunity > to "start over". I put in a new(er) SSD, and did a fresh install, replacing > Cinnamon with Gnome. Mistake - now I remember why I dislike Gnome, ever > since Gnome 3. Wish I had re-installed Cinnamon, but too late now, out of > time. For now I will just have to grit my teeth and live with it. > > [BTW, yes, I do have all of my data. Backfilling it into my new setup will > no doubt be an ongoing adventure.] > > Anyway, just a few notes about the rsync situation: > > 1) Having or not having a trailing / on the destination directory did not > seem to make any difference in the size of the copy made, or otherwise. > Nevertheless, I intend to heed the advice given to have a trailing / after > both source and destination, or neither, as appropriate. > > 2) Using or not using an "S" option with rsync did not seem to make any > difference, at least concerning the size of the copy made. > > 3) Yes, I really should check into using checksums to avoid "bot rot". > Good advice. > > Finally, Gnome sucks. (Did I mention that?) > > Thanks for the replies. > > Uh oh . . . I just realized, this was supposed to have been sent to debian-user@lists.debian,org - NOT directly to Daivd Christensen. Sorry for the mistake. (Gmail also sucks. At least as far as composing and sending email.)
