FWIW, there's usually a bunch of configuration stuff that has changed
since installation. In his book, "Linux System Administration", Marcel
Gagne recommends the following files and directories from /etc be backed
up as what he calls an "identity backup":
passwd
group
shadow
profile
bashrc
sendmail.cw
sendmail.cf
hosts
hosts.allow
hosts.deny
named.conf
named.boot
hosts.lpd
diald.conf
aliases
rc.d
nsdata
ppp
sysconfig
and
/root.fetchmailrc
/usr/local/.Admin
Some of those are applicable only to multi-user systems, but . . . In
addition I would add (also from /etc):
fstab
printcap.cups
cups/printers.conf
cups/ppd/*
and the lilo or grub conf files from /etc or /boot. You might even do a
date-based find on /etc to ferret out any thing else that you might have
changed.
All of the above should fit on a 1.44MB floppy (or two). Make a script
to save the goodies that you're particularly fond of and run it
regularly. Much of the stuff will be be applicable even if you upgrade.
Remember, you can never be too rich, or too thin, . . . or have too
many backups!
-mj-
mike hoy wrote:
> thanks!
>
> */Bill Warner <wwarner42@cox.net>/* wrote:
>
> If you want the full details check out:
> http://tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Filesystem-Hierarchy/html/Linux-Filesystem-Hierarchy.html
>
> It looks like many have suggested backing up /home. I'd add /usr/local
> to that list as well if you compile and install any applications outside
> your standard distribution. /etc is small and can help in a quick
> restore of your system from original distribution media.
>
> Basically if you have /home /usr/local and /etc backed up you can
> reinstall your original operating system from cd with the same settings
> you installed with originally. then restore those three directories and
> you should be at least 99% of the way back to what you had when to did
> the backup.
>
> Hope that helps some
> -Bill W
>
> On Sat, 2004-10-23 at 12:53 -0700, mike hoy wrote:
> > hi,
> >
> > i use slackware 10 and have noticed the l ast couple of emails are
> > regarding backups.
> > i';ve used windoze for years and know exaclty what to backup but need
> > to know which directories are recommended for backups and if you
> could
> > tell me what the directory does. oh and don't tell me to backup my
> > home directory i figured that much out already.
> >
> > /bin directory ?? what goes in that directory
> > /usr directory ?? ..
> >
> > i'm not asking for an exhaustive explanation on EVERY directory just
> > basically and i mean basically which ones to backup and why.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> > My site http://www.solodiver.net
> >
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we.
> --
> Bill Warner
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> PLUG-dis cuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings:
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>
>
>
> My site http://www.solodiver.net
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> vote.yahoo.com <http://vote.yahoo.com> - Register online to vote today!
---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list -
PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
(text/plain)