Procedure Manual: Backing Up Your System with tar

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for creating a tar archive of your entire Linux system while excluding specific folders. A cheatsheet and troubleshooting section are included for quick reference.

Step 1: Prepare for the Backup

1. Decide on the Archive Location:
   Determine where to save the backup file. Ensure there is enough space on the destination drive.
   Example: /path/to/backup.tar.gz.

2. Identify Folders to Exclude:
   Common folders to exclude include:

   • /proc (kernel and process information)
   • /sys (system files)
   • /dev (device files)
   • /run (runtime data)
   • /tmp (temporary files)
   • /mnt and /media (mounted filesystems)
   • /lost+found (file system recovery data)

Step 2: Create the Backup

Option 1: Exclude Folders Directly in the Command

Use --exclude for each directory or file to exclude:

sudo tar --exclude=/proc --exclude=/sys --exclude=/dev --exclude=/run --exclude=/tmp --exclude=/mnt --exclude=/media --exclude=/lost+found -cvpzf /path/to/backup.tar.gz /

Option 2: Use an Exclude File

1. Create an Exclude File:
   List all directories and files to exclude in a plain text file (e.g., exclude.txt):

   /proc
   /sys
   /dev
   /run
   /tmp
   /mnt
   /media
   /lost+found

2. Run the Command with the Exclude File:

   sudo tar --exclude-from=/path/to/exclude.txt -cvpzf /path/to/backup.tar.gz /

Step 3: Verify the Archive

After creating the backup, verify its contents to ensure everything you need is included:

tar -tvf /path/to/backup.tar.gz

This will list all files in the archive without extracting them.

Cheatsheet for tar

Basic Syntax

sudo tar [OPTIONS] -f [ARCHIVE_NAME] [SOURCE]

Key Options

• -c: Create a new archive.
• -v: Verbose output (list files during the operation).
• -p: Preserve file permissions.
• -z: Compress the archive with gzip.
• -f: Specify the archive file name.
• --exclude: Exclude specific files or directories.
• --exclude-from: Use a file containing paths to exclude.

Common Commands

1. Create an Archive:

   sudo tar -cvpzf backup.tar.gz /path/to/source

2. Exclude Directories:

   sudo tar --exclude=/path/to/exclude -cvpzf backup.tar.gz /

3. Use an Exclude File:

   sudo tar --exclude-from=/path/to/exclude.txt -cvpzf backup.tar.gz /

4. List Archive Contents:

   tar -tvf backup.tar.gz

5. Extract an Archive:

   sudo tar -xvpzf backup.tar.gz -C /path/to/destination

Troubleshooting Tips

Problem: "tar: Exiting with failure status due to previous errors"

• Cause: Missing permissions or inaccessible files.
• Solution: Use sudo to ensure you have the necessary privileges.

Problem: Archive Fails to Compress

• Cause: Insufficient disk space for the compressed file.
• Solution: Check available space with df -h and ensure the destination drive has enough space.

Problem: Excluded Folders Are Still Included

• Cause: Incorrect --exclude syntax.
• Solution: Ensure the paths in the exclude file or command match the actual directory structure.

Problem: "gzip: stdin: unexpected end of file"

• Cause: Corrupted archive or interrupted backup process.
• Solution: Retry the backup process and ensure enough space and resources are available.

Problem: Performance Issues During Backup

• Cause: Limited CPU or disk I/O capacity.
• Solution: Limit resource usage by using the --checkpoint or --checkpoint-action options for progress monitoring or reduce compression by removing -z.