Re: [rdiff-backup-users] Re: restore a specific directory

[Andrew Ferguson]

On Aug 17, 2008, at 1:07 PM, Max Duessar wrote:
> When I run "--check-destination-dir" I get more errors:
>
> $ sudo rdiff-backup --check-destination-dir /Volumes/Backup320/
> Exception '[Errno 2] No such file or directory:
> '/Volumes/Backup320/rdiff-backup-data/increments/System. 
> 2008-08-15T02:04:40-05:00.dir''

Yes, your rdiff-backup repository has come out of sync somehow. I  
would suggest starting over unless you are feeling very ambitious  
about digging around inside the rdiff-backup-data directory and  
recreating missing files, etc.

> > Also, what command line are you using to run rdiff-backup?
>
> rdiff-backup \
>         --force \
>         --exclude-fifos \
>         --exclude-other-filesystems \
>         --exclude-sockets \
>         --exclude /.Spotlight-V100 \
>         --exclude /automount \
>         --exclude /cores \
>         --exclude /Network \
>         --exclude /private/tmp \
>         --exclude /private/var/vm \
>         --exclude /tmp \
>         --exclude "/Users/*/.Trash" \
>         --exclude "/Users/*/Library/Caches" \
>         --exclude "/Users/*/tmp" \
>         --exclude /Volumes/ \
>         / /Volumes/Backup320


I urge you to remove the "--force" option from your command. Using the  
--force option can permit all kinds of destructive behavior; sometimes  
it will silently allow you to use rdiff-backup in ways in which it was  
not intended (thus leading to trouble later). This is how the man page  
describes the option:

       --force
              Authorize  a more drastic modification of a directory  
than usual
              (for instance, when overwriting of a destination path,   
or  when
              removing  multiple  sessions  with --remove-older- 
than).  rdiff-
              backup will generally tell you if it needs this.    
WARNING:  You
              can cause data loss if you mis-use this option.   
Furthermore, do
              NOT use this option when doing a  restore,  as  it   
will  DELETE
              FILES, unless you absolutely know what you are doing.


> > Also, since you have a /Volumes folder, I assume you are using a  
> > Mac. Did
> > you uncheck the 'Ignore Permissions on this Volume' option in the  
> > Finder?
> > (Select the Backup320 volume, then go to File -> Get Info)
>
> Hm, I'm on Leopard... there's an option called "Ignore ownership on
> this volume" which sounds like the same (Tiger?) option. It is not
> checked.

Yes, that's the option. I was quoting it from memory. Not checked is  
the correct setting for this use.

> Should I just cut my losses and reformat the backup drive and start
> over? I'm getting those errors with any rdiff-backup command that's
> run.


I would suggest that.



Andrew