As Matt pointed out, the rsync "--backup-dir" option will do exactly what you requested. However, you may also be interested in the "--link-dest" option.
This rsync "--link-dest" option is used by LBackup. This option instructs rsync to create hard links for files which have not changed. The result, in most situtations is a reduction in the space requirmnets for each backup snapshot. If you are planning to write a backup system, script or system which uses rsync, then I would suggest that you read the following document, written by Mike Rubel : http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/ In addition, you may find the Link-Backup project of interest. Link-Backup in some situations is able to further reduce the space requirments of each backup snapshot. This is done by tracking files as they move within the file system and the use of hard links : http://www.scottlu.com/Content/Link-Backup.html Finally, the LBackup may be of interest to you. This is particularly ture, if you want to quickly get your backup running. Configuring LBackup should take no more than 10 miniutes. Also, if your machine is configured to send emails, then it should take only a couple more miniutes to configure LBackup to email you the backup reports. There are screen casts online to help you with get started with your first backup : http://www.lucidsystems.org/tools/lbackup Hope this information is helpful. All the best with your backup. ================================================ Disclaimer : I am an active developer on the LBackup project. >> I have got three folders: >> - /home/backup/2008-10-20 - place for differential backup >> - /mnt/for_backup - folder with files for backup >> - /home/backup/2008-10-01 - place where the last full backup is >> >> My question: is below command prepared correctly to make differential >> backup? >> >> rsync -avPbn --backup-dir=/home/backup/2008-10-20/ --exclude "System >> Volume Information" --exclude "RECYCLER" /mnt/do_backup >> /home/backup/2008-10-01 > >No. --backup-dir does not do what you think it does. To make a forward >differential backup, you want to use --compare-dest: > >rsync -avPbn --compare-dest=/home/backup/2008-10-01/ \ > --exclude "System Volume Information" --exclude "RECYCLER" \ > /mnt/do_backup /home/backup/2008-10-20 > >Consider whether you want a trailing slash on the source; see the second >and third examples in the "USAGE" section of the man page. > >Matt > -- Please use reply-all for most replies to avoid omitting the mailing list. To unsubscribe or change options: https://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/rsync Before posting, read: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
