Backup only a subset of datasets, rather than entire pools

[joelweinberger]

I should be able to backup only a subset of my datasets. Namely, if I have the datasets:
fishtank/ubuntu-1
fishtank/ubuntu-2
I should be able to specify just to backi up fishtank/ubuntu-1 (and all of its dependent datasets, of course).

Where to put this on the destination pool is another question. For example, if I have the backup pool fishhatchery, and I want to only backup fishtank/ubuntu-1, should the resultant backup be fishhatchery/fishtank/ubuntu-1 or fishhatchery/ubuntu-1? Propbably the former as that would seem to have fewer conflicts in the long run.

[mfinifter]

Definitely the former. This is already what we are doing -- backups go to BACKUP_POOL_NAME/DATASET_NAME.

I agree that this is a useful feature. The question is opt-in vs. opt-out. I think in this case, I'm in favor of opt-out. Proposal: do not backup a dataset that has set the property "zfs-auto-backup:no-backup".

This actually makes me wonder if all config shouldn't occur as properties within the datasets. E.g.,

zfs set zfs-auto-backup:backup-pools=backup_ocean,backup_lake salmon_tank

This is opt-in, but it seems flexible enough to address both this issue and #6.

[joelweinberger]

I think this is a great point, and it's exactly correct. This should all be
properties on datasets. Good call.

On Wed, Jul 11, 2012 at 11:31 AM, Matthew Finifter <
reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

Definitely the former. This is already what we are doing -- backups go to
BACKUP_POOL_NAME/DATASET_NAME.

I agree that this is a useful feature. The question is opt-in vs.
opt-out. I think in this case, I'm in favor of opt-out. Proposal: do not
backup a dataset that has set the property "zfs-auto-backup:no-backup".

This actually makes me wonder if all config shouldn't occur as properties
within the datasets. E.g.,

zfs set zfs-auto-backup:backup-pools=backup_ocean,backup_lake salmon_tank

This is opt-in, but it seems flexible enough to address both this issue
and #6.

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub:
https://github.com/mfinifter/zfs-auto-backup/issues/7#issuecomment-6915291

[mfinifter]

Closing as a duplicate of #8.