Ubuntu 20.04 System Backup and Restore step-by-step instructions
Using the following steps we will first create a system backup of the Ubuntu 20.04 system using the Timeshift graphical user interface. Later we will restore from the previously created system backup snapshot.
The first step is to install the Timeshift backup utility on your Ubuntu 20.04 System. To do this execute the following command:
$ sudo apt install timeshift
- Create a first backup simply by executing the below command:
$ sudo timeshift --create First run mode (config file not found) Selected default snapshot type: RSYNC Mounted /dev/sda2 at /media/root/359151f5-efb9-483d-a738-894d57e2d8c8. Selected default snapshot device: /dev/sda2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Estimating system size... Creating new snapshot...(RSYNC) Saving to device: /dev/sda2, mounted at path: /media/root/359151f5-efb9-483d-a738-894d57e2d8c8 Synching files with rsync... Created control file: /media/root/359151f5-efb9-483d-a738-894d57e2d8c8/timeshift/snapshots/2020-02-19_18-32-36/info.json RSYNC Snapshot saved successfully (39s) Tagged snapshot '2020-02-19_18-32-36': ondemand
The above command will also create a new configuration file located at the following location:
/etc/timeshift.json
. - List all your currently created system backup screenshots:
$ sudo timeshift --list Device : /dev/sda2 UUID : 359151f5-efb9-483d-a738-894d57e2d8c8 Path : /media/root/359151f5-efb9-483d-a738-894d57e2d8c8 Mode : RSYNC Device is OK 1 snapshots, 197.7 GB free Num Name Tags Description ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0 > 2020-02-19_18-32-36 O
- Restore from the backup snapshot:
$ sudo timeshift --restore --snapshot "2020-02-19_18-32-36"
- Delete selected backup snapshot:
$ sudo timeshift --delete --snapshot '2014-10-12_16-29-08'