Minimal backups? Solution!

[blk_jack]

I made a post a few days back about suggestions for having a minimalistic backup solution, however no one replied.

So right now I'm using a script I saw posted on another thread and I essentially exclude all files except my home directories and /var/* (Excluding distfiles and tmp) and /etc/*. I also exclude a few unneeded (and rather large) home directories including my mp3s, movies, and cache directories. The tar file itself came to just under 500mb.

I got the backup itself working and had it automatically burn to a CD in no time. However I needed to test how easily I could restore my system to it's previous state.

Load up VMWare, do a base install (stage3), emerge to the new portage (important), and uncompress my backup tar over top of everything and use the rmerge script to emerge -e world (It was using my backup world file). Voila! Everything essentially compiled and worked without a hitch and I'm in the process of testing to make sure it all works accordingly.

If anybody has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

[Naan Yaar]

It would be useful if you post the original script or your modified version with this tip.

[blk_jack]

Ah yes, good point.

The article that has the scripts is right here.

..and, ahem, for the record it was the script you posted that I use