Backup Software for Linux


Rob Kolstad, CEO of BSDi, told a story at the 1996 Australian Unix User Group national conference:

A BSD OS customer had telephoned up.

(customer:) "My hard disc has just crashed, and I need to get the data off it."
"What does it say on page 4 of the manual?"
(reading) "If you do not have a good backup, you will be sorry."
"Do you have a backup?"
"No"
"Are you sorry?"
"Yes!"
"There you are, then. Works as advertised!"


Linux backup software options can be broken into four categories:

  1. Non-tape options, all sorts. Not otherwise addressed here.

  2. Homebrewed script setups front-ending tar, cpio, afio, dump/restore.

    Suggest digging through ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/Linux/system/backup/ .

  3. Proprietary packages:

    • Arkeia (Arkeia Corporation, formerly Knox Software)
    • BackupEdge (Microlite Corporation)
    • Backup Exec Linux Agent (Veritas Software)
    • Backup Express (Syncsort)
    • Backup Professional (Unitrends Software Corporation)
    • BrightStore, formerly ArcserveIT (Computer Associates)
    • BRU (TOLIS Group, http://www.tolisgroup.com/, took over rights to BRU from defunct EST=Enhanced Software Technologies, http://www.estinc.com/ See also: XBRU, BRU-Pro, QuickStart, BRU 2000, BRU Personal Edition)
    • CommVault Galaxy (CommVault Systems)
    • CTAR / CTAR:NET (Unitrends Software Corporation)
    • EaseBackup Professional (KieSoft)
    • Lone-tar & Backup Professional (Lone Star Software / Cactus International)
    • NetVault (BakBone Software, Ltd., formerly NetVault, Ltd.)
    • Networker (Legato. Look around for the "unsupported Linux client" directory. Server requires Sun Solaris/etc. or MS-Windows NT.)
    • NovaNET (NovaStor Corporation)
    • Omniback II client for Linux (part of HP OpenView for HP/UX)
    • PC Parachute (Unitrends Software Corporation)
    • PerfectBackup+ (Merlin Software Technologies, Inc.)
    • SAMS:Alexandria (Computer Associates)
    • TapeWare Universal (Yosemite Software)
    • Time Navigator (Atempo, formerly Quadratec Software)
    • Uniback (Orbit Software)


  4. Open-source packages

    Mirrored at http://linuxmafia.com/pub/linux/backup (exceptions: amanda, kbackup, mondo, taper, GNU tar — removed on account of excess bandwidth draw):




    Good informational pages:

    http://www.storagemountain.com/ was: http://www.backupcentral.com/
    http://linuxmafia.com/~karsten/Linux/FAQs/backups.html Karsten M Self's
    Linux Backup FAQ
    http://linuxmafia.com/faq//Hardware/tape-backup-types.html taxonomy of tape drives/media
    http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Admin/backup-strategy.html fallacies and pitfalls of backup