USB flash drive – Paul's Tech Talk

Why Do I need to back up in Linux?

This is something near and dear to my heart because of just how important it is to back up you important data. I’ve already talked about backup before but I never really thought about back up for Linux until recently. Let’s face it when you came to Linux, you probably didn’t think you would need to back but you really do. I learned the hard way on this. My Story so others can learn from my mistake, I have been working on a big database for to keep track of who comes in and what they usually order but I had a problem today, and thought I had backed up my database before I re-installed the Linux distro. In reality, I didn’t actually. I wasn’t happy when I found out that the Database wasn’t their after I had wiped the drive and re-installed.

Are you ready for a Disaster?

I ask that because I know I wasn’t ready and I know most of you are probably the same way. You probably didn’t even think about backing up in Linux. I am not really worried about backing up the distro but to back up the important data. I wanted to share some of them with you and so you can update yours accordingly. So here are a few good Ubuntu/Kubuntu back programs:

KBackup — This is the one that I am using right now but will be looking for a way to do offline back up in the cloud. (apt-get install KBackup)

Simple Backup Solutions — Another one that I have found that will be playing with later on this month. (apt-get install simplebackup)

fwbackups — This is one of the more easier backup programs, that can do single and scheduled backups. This might be the one for me but only time will tell. (apt-get install fwbackups)

Amanda — If your have several different clients who need to have offsite backups this would be one way to do. Allows you to have mulitple backups to a single server. This might be good for my clients, will have to look into this one.

And more . . . . . .

There are even more out there but these are the ones that interest me and I thought they would interest your also. I will look online for some cloud storage later on this week. You should always have more than one backup plan. I always like the Rule of 3’s when it comes to backup:

In the Home

A pen drive

Off site

It’s time to change

If you haven’t already started a backup plan for your Linux machine, it is always time to change. You probably have something you want to keep and not lose. You could have Pictures, documents, and client information that you need later on. So what are you waiting for?

I’m backing up Now!!

Paul Sylvester

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Deja Dup Makes Backup A Simple Task [Linux] (maketecheasier.com)

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As technicians we have way to many pen drives!

If you are like me, you probably have several different USB Flash drives laying around like I do. I usually have special ones for special projects. You’d probably have one for Virus removal and another one for fixing Hard Drives like Spinrite. A few years ago, I would have 6 to 10 Pen drives for just those special occasions. I’d even have one for all my saved games and other important files that I might need.

One Pen Drive to rule them all, One Pen Drive to find them,
One Pen Drive to bring them all and in the darkness bind them!

So I have found some great programs to create one massive Pen Drive so I don’t have to have so many USB Flash Drives laying around on the desk! I figured I would go about talking about the best way to pack your USB drive with all that valuable information and have it at your finger tips in case of the some problems with the system.

YUMI – Multiboot USB Creator — This is what you will need to pack that USB with all your favorite ISO‘s. The only requirement is the size of the Pendrive. If you don’t have a big enough Pen drive then you will ultimately have to split them into small pen drives. I have several different useful programs on my pen drive. The only down side is that it is Windows only. I would love them to make it for Linux or even OS X but It is still darn useful.
WSUS Offline Upate — This is darn useful program. If you ever needed to update a Windows without being online this is for you. It will download the files and then make an ISO. Once you have the ISO you can Yumi to put it on the Pen Drive. Good news about this is you can keep using Yumi to replace the ISO every month and it doesn’t take much time. Just don’t delete the files that WSUS downloads or you will have to redownload them again. Just keep those files safe and all you will have to do is download the updates each month and then copy the new ISO to Yumi.
Puppy Linux — Is by far my Favorite little Linux Distro because it will allow me to save my personal settings in any computer I use and thus when I come back to the system with Puppy, I do not have to redo anything I did before.
Ultimate Boot CD — Is another great little ISO to install in the Pen Drive. If your having problems with the system. This will let you test the system in ways you probably never thought about doing. Very useful for any Technician who is doing some kind of problem solving.
System rescue CD — If you ever needed to rescue the system from a variety of problems like partition problems or hard drive crashes. This is goo for that resource. This Distro contains many different tools for Networks, file restoration and Many more.
Spinrite — The is obviously the best tool there is because it will already come as an ISO and all you will need to do is us YUMI to put it on the USB drive. Once on the drive you have a plug and hard drive repair program for any occasion.

I pretty much gave you a baseline of ISO and programs to use to make your Ultimate Pen drive for when you might need them. I won’t go on to much longer because I know your itching to try these programs and find even more programs to install onto your USB Flash Drive. I will say if you search long and hard you could find some really good treasures to make it even better and worth while. I like having only a few Pen drives than having a hand full of them. Don’t you??