Another Feature Request (actually 3!!!)

[nasserma]

Hello Mansour:

I hope things are going well. I have been using your Python script for my backups for almost 2 years now and everything is going well.

I have learned more about btrfs, and many new features have been added, which got me thinking:

1. Your script is quite useful and is a simple but more effective solution (IMO) than what the btrfs developers point users to:

https://btrfs.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/UseCases#How_can_I_use_btrfs_for_backups.2Ftime-machine.3F

I think you should contact them and get your script added to the list.

2. One minor issue I tend to run into is that the source filesystem (one being backed up) is typically mounted RW and not RO. I solve this problem by creating a RO snapshot (the source is also btrfs) working from that. It might be nice to add this to your script; the user can specify that the source filesystem is btrfs.

3. I know this might be inconvenience because of the name of the script, but btrfs now supports send/recv functionality that could perform incremental backup without rsync:

https://btrfs.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Incremental_Backup

it would be nice to make this an option.

I know all of this is alot of work, but I think this is a great script and item #3 would greatly increase the user-base. I am willing to contribute some money to have items 2-3 implemented since I am sure you have other tasks competing for your time, and time is money!

Nasser

[oxplot]

Wow, I'm really glad to hear that. I'm still using the shell based one myself. As for your requests:

1. I signed up with btrfs wiki and when and if I get approved, I add it to the list. If not, I'll email them about it.
2. My first thought is to just include such preparations in one's own script. In fact, now that I think about it, the whole automatic RO/RW remounting business that's currently going on shouldn't be happening. It's not unixy so to speak. I'll think about it some more.
3. That is really cool—I didn't know about it. I'll look into it for sure.

I'll open a separate issue for each request so they can be tracked individually. Thanks a lot.

[nasserma]

Good to hear about #1, I think your script will get a ton of usage if more people know about it.

Regarding #2, this is currently what I do so I will just continue that.

Regarding #3, I will post to that issue directly, there are some caveats.