this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2024
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Linux noobie here. Any tips on what to search for for instructions on how to do this? Bonus points if it has a GUI and is easy to use.
Timeshift. It has an easy to understand GUI that doesn't really need much of an intro: You create snapshots of your system files and configs that can be restored if/when you bungle it up.
Timeshift works best if you use BTRFS for your root partition because snapshots can be taken instantly. I have mine setup to automatically take a snapshot every day.
Thanks, all setup!
Never used it myself and i am still a linix noob but what is the restore process if your OS isnt bootable?
If their like a rescue environment you boot into or something?
There are many approaches, depending on what broke. In my case the system was fine, just xorg being completely borked. So I logged into the console and fixed it.
If regular console doesn't work, something really went bad during boot, for which there's single-user mode which is kind of similar to safe mode from Windows 98 (I'm sure there's something similar in newer windows versions).
And of that doesn't work, there's the minimalistic rescue shell.
And if that doesn't work, you can boot from a USB or some other external media and try to fix your system from that, maybe even using chroot to use the system somewhat normally.
As long as your file system is on BTRFS, timeshift is, I O, the easiest backup app for Linux, specially if you're just getting your feet wet in it.
Why does Timeshift only support btrfs? Is it just a lack of developers? LVM supports snapshots too, even if you're just using ext4. ZFS supports snapshots too.
Timeshift supports rsync snapshots. No btrfs needed :)
Thanks for letting me know. It's never worked on any FS other than BTRFS for me, I'll give it another shot.