The availability of low-cost storage space and affordable technology has allowed people to become tech savvy. Despite the levels of technological advancement, people always prefer to use the old proven backup methods to safeguard their data from any data loss.
Operating systems are getting better at avoiding fatal system crashes, resulting in data loss. However, as such losses are inevitable, businesses and general users need to ensure maximum data security through regular data backups.
Here are the 8 best apps best suited for business and general users for backing up system files.
The best enterprise backup solutions for Linux
These enterprise-grade backup applications are perfect for small, medium, and large businesses.
bacula
Bacula is a Linux-based open source backup tool that offers an interactive user interface. The application is aimed at enterprise-level activities involving large volumes of data. It can synchronize data from different networks, and the data scheduler is a useful offering for end users. Eventually, the scheduler automates the entire data backup process.
As an end user, all you have to do is set the backup frequency and Bacula will do the rest on the server. It features various interfaces to allow administrators to easily interact with the platform. TLS authentication, duplicate job checking, and virtual backups are some other useful features Bacula offers.
First, update your system using APT:
sudo apt-get update -y
Then, install MySQL Server:
sudo apt-get install mysql-server
Finally, install the Bacula package using APT:
sudo apt-get install bacula -y
You will need to configure the directory before you can start using Bacula to save files.
UrBackup
UrBackup is another open source server backup tool that supports Windows, macOS and Linux. This app is a perfect choice for server backups as it uses a combination of image and file backups to ensure data security and quick restores.
UrBackup's web interface shows all essential information such as customer status, recent activity and important statistics. Offers support for backup via CD and USB drive. This app sends backup reports to administrators and ensures an efficient and uninterrupted data backup process.
The software sends email notifications to the administrator if the backup is pending for a certain period of time. Quick restores and cross-platform support make it a suitable app for businesses.
Before installing UrBackup, update your system's repository list.
sudo apt-get update -y
Then, add the official UrBackup repository to your system.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:uroni/urbackup
Finally, install the package urbackup-server as follows:
sudo apt install urbackup-server
Clonezilla
Clonezilla is a free and popular data backup tool with useful features like partial cloning, image partitioning, and UDPcast. You can back up your data to a local drive, an SSH server, a SAMBA server, an NFS server, and even your existing home partition (this is not recommended).
Clonezilla ties its functionality to DBRL (Diskless Remote Boot in Linux), which benefits the client machine as it provides a diskless environment. The application is available in two versions:
- Clonezilla SE
- Live Clonezilla
The first version offers enterprise-centric features, while the second version caters specifically to individual machines.
To install, update your system's repository list using APT.
sudo apt-get update -y
Then, install Clonezilla as follows:
sudo apt-get install -y clonezilla
Rsync
Rsync is a Linux-based, CLI-based backup tool that continues to be a major contender for enterprise-wide activities. It offers superlative features such as incremental backups, with options to update the entire directory tree and file system support for local and remote backups, as well as preserving file permissions.
You can also use the Grsync graphical user interface; however, it is easier to use backup automation scripts within the command line version. You can synchronize two servers using the rsync backup tool.
Type the following command to install rsync on a Debian-based system:
sudo apt-get install rsync
Backup tools for regular Linux users
Leave Dup
Déjà Dup is a simple Linux-based backup tool that offers all the features needed for a normal computer. It offers encrypted, offsite and regular backup services using Duplicity as a backend.
It features support services for local, remote and cloud backup storage, compatible with Google Drive and Nextcloud.
Déjà Dup supports data encryption and compression for efficient backups. You can easily set the frequency of your backups and the application will automatically back up on a scheduled time slot. The best thing about Déjà Dup is that it can be easily integrated into the GNOME desktop environment.
To install Déjà Dup, update your system's resource list and then download the package using APT.
sudo apt update sudo apt install deja-dup
Back in time
Back In Time is an rsync-based backup utility; is capable of running on GNOME and KDE based desktops. It is written in Python3 and stores backups in plain text.
For backing up your files, the app meets the requirements of a regular Linux-based machine. It works by taking snapshots of directories and then directly backing up directories. You can configure the storage location to save backed up snapshots. The application also supports automatic backup via its handy backup scheduler.
To install Back In Time, you will need to add the PPA repository, then update your system and finally install Back In Time via the terminal.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bit-team/stable sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install backintime-qt4
T
Timeshift is mainly used to back up the entire operating system, including all system files. Like Back In Time, Timeshift also takes snapshots of directories and backs them up using rsync or Btrfs on the backend.
Timeshift is perfect for regular users who want to back up their entire system. The functionality of Timeshift is very similar to Windows System Restore on Windows and the Time Machine tool on Mac. You can use System Backup to restore your machine to the same state it was backed up to.
Enter the following command to install Timeshift on a Debian-based distribution such as Ubuntu:
sudo apt install timeshift
Amanda
Amanda is an open source backup tool that works flawlessly on Linux, Unix and GNU based systems. You can easily back up data from different network sources to a single server. It comes with a quick installer which makes the installation process seamless. It comes with an intelligent backup scheduler that suggests the best backup frequency for your setup.
The backup fault tolerance feature is beneficial as it synchronizes the started backup and avoids compromising the entire backup during a network outage. Amanda is equipped with broad platform protection that avoids malicious situations that compromise your server.
