HACKER Q&A
📣 JonathanBuchh

How do you manage backups?


How do people on HN handle backups?

Personally, I use MacOS's Time Machine, since it is super polished and makes restoring files and browsing what the filesystem previously looked like a breeze. It "just works" and is the only backup solution I have used to restore lost files (who knows how well a backup solution works unless you actually test it). I have even been able to set up a Samba server on a Raspberry Pi so I don't need to plug a hard drive into my computer to backup. I upload an encrypted sparesebundle to Backblaze B2 every day with rclone. As I have been looked into using Linux as a daily driver, I have wondered if there was any backup solution as flawless as Time Machine. Does such a piece of software exist?

In sum, I just want to hear how other people on HN do backups – even if it does not solve my problem, though software suggestions are appreciated ;)


  👤 smackeyacky Accepted Answer ✓
Rclone works well with OneDrive and others on Linux.

AWS S3 bucket and the aws s3 sync CLI is easy, can be scripted or used with a github action.

Use the glacier option on S3 for really old stuff you would only want in an emergency.

I also use an old LTO2 tape drive. Its surprisingly fast and on Linux is well supported , although I just use tar as my back up software for that.

Linux has a lot more options than windows, at least thats what I found after I switched full time a few months ago.

I've never used time machine though.


👤 kimchidude
I used to also use Time Machine, but about a year ago I switched back to PC and now just use DropBox as essentially my hard drive and Google Docs for anything ‘live’ that I’m working on.

👤 EnigmaCurry
I use restic with systemd timers: https://blog.rymcg.tech/blog/linux/restic_backup/

👤 coolestguy
I use Afi.ai & keep all my important files on a one-drive backup folder/sharepoint.

For both work (business owner) and personal.


👤 Trystans
I use iCloud and OneDrive, Google Drive is also a good one.

👤 bethecloud
RClone + Storj DCS (Decentralized Cloud Storage)