Re: want to migrate to bacula from rsync backups.

On 2025-08-27 12:07, Rob Gerber wrote:
> Gary,
>
> Sorry about the delay in reply. I have a few moments now.
>
> Do the files you want to back up exist on different hosts, or only on 
> the one server? It sounds like they're only on the one server, but 
> please let me know which it is.

All the files exist on the one server. However, I will need to log in 
locally as root to be umount /home. ssh is set to disallow connecting as 
root.


>
> Phil said:
> But if I were you, if this rsync backup set contains *important* files
> that no longer exist "in production", so to speak, I would sort out
> those critical files into a distinct designated archive of their own and
> add *that archive* to your backup set.
>
> And I agree. However, that sorting process need not be manual. 
> Consider using dupe guru. It is open source software that compares two 
> datasets (even if folder structure isn't symmetrical) and finds 
> duplicate files. You will need a GUI - it cannot run in CLI alone.
>
> The general process will be as follows:
> 1. Double check the setting since dupeguru to ensure it will be 
> hashing every file you intend to compare.
> 2. On the main tab for dupeguru, click to compare by contents. In the 
> bottom pane, add two paths: the path to the root folder for your live 
> files and the path to the root folder for your rsync backups. For the 
> live file path, on the right say that it is a "reference" dataset. 
> Dupeguru wont take any action against a reference dataset.
> 3. Double check, everything, then click compare. Wait for the scans to 
> finish. No action will be taken until you make a decision in the 
> software. Expect this to take some time.
> 4. Look at the comparison results in the right tab. It should show you 
> filenames and full paths for original and duplicate files. Examine the 
> results for sanity, and then take action. I recommend hiding all 
> reference files, re-checking to ensure that it now only shows 
> duplicates, and they are all in your rsync backup folder. In dupeguru, 
> select the option to move the detected duplicate files to another 
> location on your system that is not among the live files or the rsync 
> files.
> 5. In your file management tools (dolphin, Nautilus, mc, ls, 
> whatever), examine the rsync backup folder. Is it now much smaller 
> with many fewer files? These are the deltas, the files that were 
> different from those seen in the live files.
> 6. Presumably a lot of duplicate files have been moved somewhere else. 
> Also, hopefully the space needs of the rsync files have been greatly 
> reduced. At this point, if you're satisfied with the results, you can 
> delete the duplicate files.
>
> Be careful. Double and triple check everything. Read the manual. Here 
> be dragons. Etc.

Sounds like more trouble than it's worth as it would still mean that I 
would have some files that I wouldn't be able to backup with their 
original paths.

I've started the process of installing and configuring Bacula on the 
server but it's not going well. However that's a separate issue.

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