[#]: collector: (lujun9972) [#]: translator: (geekpi) [#]: reviewer: ( ) [#]: publisher: ( ) [#]: url: ( ) [#]: subject: (How to Use TimeShift to Backup and Restore Ubuntu Linux) [#]: via: (https://www.linuxtechi.com/timeshift-backup-restore-ubuntu-linux/) [#]: author: (James Kiarie https://www.linuxtechi.com/author/james/) How to Use TimeShift to Backup and Restore Ubuntu Linux ====== Have you ever wondered how you can backup and restore your **Ubuntu** or **Debian system** ? **Timeshift** is a free and opensource tool that allows you to create incremental snapshots of your filesystem. You can create a snapshot using either **RSYNC** or **BTRFS**. [![TimeShift-Backup-Restore-Tool-Ubuntu][1]][2] With that. let’s delve in and install Timeshift. For this tutorial, we shall install on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS system. ### Installing TimeShift on Ubuntu / Debian Linux TimeShift is not hosted officially on Ubuntu and Debian repositories. With that in mind, we are going to run the command below to add the PPA: ``` # add-apt-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/ppa ``` ![Add-timeshift-repository][1] Next, update the system packages with the command: ``` # apt update ``` After a successful system update, install timeshift by running following apt command : ``` # apt install timeshift ``` ![apt-install-timeshift][1] ### Preparing a backup storage device Best practice demands that we save the system snapshot on a separate storage volume, aside from the system’s hard drive. For this guide, we are using a 16 GB flash drive as the secondary drive on which we are going to save the snapshot. ``` # lsblk | grep sdb ``` ![lsblk-sdb-ubuntu][1] For the flash drive to be used as a backup location for the snapshot, we need to create a partition table on the device. Run the following commands: ``` # parted /dev/sdb mklabel gpt # parted /dev/sdb mkpart primary 0% 100% # mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1 ``` ![create-partition-table-on-drive-ubuntu][1] After creating a partition table on the USB flash drive, we are all set to begin creating filesystem’s snapshots! ### Using Timeshift to create snapshots To launch Timeshift, use the application menu to search for the  Timeshift application. ![Access-Timeshift-Ubuntu][1] Click on the Timeshift icon and the system will prompt you for the Administrator’s password. Provide the password and click on Authenticate ![Authentication-required-ubuntu][1] Next, select your preferred snapshot type. ![Select-Rsync-option-timeshift][1] Click ‘**Next**’.  Select the destination drive for the snapshot. In this case, my location is the external USB drive labeled as **/dev/sdb** ![Select-snapshot location][1] Next, define the snapshot levels. Levels refer to the intervals during which the snapshots are created.  You can choose to have either monthly, weekly, daily, or hourly snapshot levels. ![Select-snapshot-levels-Timeshift][1] Click ‘Finish’ On the next Window, click on the ‘**Create**’ button to begin creating the snapshot. Thereafter, the system will begin creating the snapshot. ![Create-snapshot-timeshift][1] Finally, your snapshot will be displayed as shown ![Snapshot-created-TimeShift][1] ### Restoring Ubuntu / Debian from a snapshot Having created a system snapshot, let’s now see how you can restore your system from the same snapshot. On the same Timeshift window, click on the snapshot and click on the ‘**Restore**’ button as shown. ![Restore-snapshot-timeshift][1] Next, you will be prompted to select the target device.  leave the default selection and hit ‘**Next**’. ![Select-target-device-timeshift][1] A dry run will be performed by Timeshift before the restore process commences. ![Comparing-files-Dry-Run-timeshift][1] In the next window, hit the ‘**Next**’  button to confirm actions displayed. ![Confirm-actions-timeshift][1] You’ll get a warning and a disclaimer as shown. Click ‘**Next**’ to initialize the restoration process. Thereafter, the restore process will commence and finally, the system will thereafter reboot into an earlier version as defined by the snapshot. ![Restoring-snapshot-timeshift][1] **Conclusion** As you have seen it quite easy to use TimeShift to restore your system from a snapshot. It comes in handy when backing up system files and allows you to recover in the event of a system fault. So don’t get scared to tinker with your system or mess up. TimeShift will give you the ability to go back to a point in time when everything was running smoothly. * [Facebook][3] * [Twitter][4] * [LinkedIn][5] * [Reddit][6] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- via: https://www.linuxtechi.com/timeshift-backup-restore-ubuntu-linux/ 作者：[James Kiarie][a] 选题：[lujun9972][b] 译者：[译者ID](https://github.com/译者ID) 校对：[校对者ID](https://github.com/校对者ID) 本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出 [a]: https://www.linuxtechi.com/author/james/ [b]: https://github.com/lujun9972 [1]: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 [2]: https://www.linuxtechi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TimeShift-Backup-Restore-Tool-Ubuntu.png [3]: http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linuxtechi.com%2Ftimeshift-backup-restore-ubuntu-linux%2F&t=How%20to%20Use%20TimeShift%20to%20Backup%20and%20Restore%20Ubuntu%20Linux [4]: http://twitter.com/share?text=How%20to%20Use%20TimeShift%20to%20Backup%20and%20Restore%20Ubuntu%20Linux&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linuxtechi.com%2Ftimeshift-backup-restore-ubuntu-linux%2F&via=Linuxtechi [5]: http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linuxtechi.com%2Ftimeshift-backup-restore-ubuntu-linux%2F&title=How%20to%20Use%20TimeShift%20to%20Backup%20and%20Restore%20Ubuntu%20Linux [6]: http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linuxtechi.com%2Ftimeshift-backup-restore-ubuntu-linux%2F&title=How%20to%20Use%20TimeShift%20to%20Backup%20and%20Restore%20Ubuntu%20Linux