On 2025-08-22 14:29, Udo Kaune wrote:
Am 22.08.25 um 17:05 schrieb Gary Dale:
I've been backing up my network using rsync for a long time because
I've rarely had a need to go back more than one day to retrieve a
file I wanted. However, after my upgrade to Debian 13, that backup
has stopped working. Rather than debug that, I figured now would be a
good time to implement a more versatile backup.
I've used bacula in the past for some business customers, but that
was pre-pandemic. My expertise is both dated and rusty.
My issue is, can I import my existing backup files into bacula and
use them as the basis for future incremental backups? They are
basically just copies of the files I want to back up, with the same
directory structure but with a different root. My idea is to import
them into bacula then switch the nightly backups to the original
folders so new backups reflect the changed files only.
The reason I want to do this is the rsync backups contain files that
may be missing from my current working folders. I don't want to lose
them but I also don't want to reverse the rsync to restore them to
their original locations.
Any help will be appreciated.
Hi Gary,
We are using rsync (very versatile #8-) to store customer data on a
daily basis. After that Bacula is using the latest version of that
data to backup to tape.
I understand that you copied the data in concern to a separate storage
space through rsync. You may very well backup this data using Bacula
but IMHO you cannot "trick" Bacula into believing that this storage
space backup is the base "Full" backup for your Incrementals to come
(from the live data paths).
Your best options are reactivating the rsync mechanism and using
Bacula on the storage space - or - backup the storage space as it is
and keep the tape separate, then start to backup from the live paths
with Bacula directly. In either case your first backup will be a "Full".
HTH, Udo
Thanks everyone. I'm thinking perhaps I can trick bacula into thinking
the rsync'd files are the source for the new backup via some file system
magic. So long as the paths are the same, shouldn't bacula treat them as
the same files?
e.g. my main rsync archive is at /mnt/backup/shares while my live files
are at /home/shares/. If I move the live files temporarily then mount or
link the backup there, would that accomplish what I want?
It's not as simple as being able to alter the main path of the bacula
target, but would it work?
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