Timeshift (software)
| Original author(s) | Tony "teejee2008". George |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 24 October 2017[1] |
| Stable release | 19.01
/ 20 January 2019[1] |
| Repository | https://github.com/teejee2008/timeshift |
| Written in | Vala, Shell |
| Engine | |
| Operating system | POSIX: Linux |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Data recovery |
| License | LGPLv3[2] |
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Timeshift is a software tool for making incremental backups that can be restored at a later date to revert system changes. The software has two different back-up modes which utilize two different algorithms for creating "snapshots". The first mode available on all systems (given the system is formatted as ext) is rsync mode, which utilizes the rsync algorithm of data synchronization with common hard-links shared between snapshots. The other mode is Btrfs mode which utilizes the in-built snapshot features of Btrfs filesystems with Ubuntu-type subvolume layouts.[3]
The software features multiple levels of frequency in which automatic snapshots can be taken, similar to Microsoft Drive Optimizer on Windows. Snapshots can automatically be taken hourly, weekly, daily, monthly, or on boot. When boot snapshots are set to be taken, there is a 10 minute delay so that startup is not affected.[3]
Differences in Back-up Modes
from the software directly
Rsync snapshots:
- Snapshots are created by creating copies of system files using rsync, and hard-linking unchanging files from previous snapshots.
- All files are copied when the first snapshot is created. Subsequent snapshots are incremental. Unchanged files will be hard-linked from the previous snapshot if available.
- Snapshots can be saved to any disk formatted with a Linux file system. Saving snapshots to non-system or external disk allows the system to be restored even if the system disk is damaged or re-formatted.
- Files and directories can be excluded to save disk space.
BTRFS snapshots:
- Snapshots are created using the built-in features of the BTRFS file system.
- Snapshots are created and restored instantly. Snapshot creation is an atomic transaction at the file system level.
- Snapshots are restored by replacing system subvolumes. Since files are never copied, deleted or overwritten, there is no risk of data loss. The existing system is preserved as a new snapshot after restore.
- Snapshots are perfect, byte-for-byte copies of the system. Nothing is excluded.
- Snapshots are saved on the same disk from which they are created (system disk). Storage on other disks is not supported. If the system disk fails then snapshots stored on it will be lost along with the system.
- Size of BTRFS snapshots are initially zero. As system files gradually change with time, data gets written to new data blocks which take up disk space (copy-on-write). Files in the snapshot continue to point to original data blocks.
A default option to keep in mind is that user data are not included in snapshots that aren't byte-for-byte copies (rsync snapshots), only system files. This can be disabled, however it is not recommended.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Releases - teejee2008/timeshift". Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ↑ "timeshift/LICENCE.md at master - teejee2008/timeshift". Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "timeshift/README.md at master - teejee2008/timeshift". Retrieved 20 August 2019.
Timeshift (software)
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