snap2 is an advanced yet easy-to-use rsync-based backup program for all Linux desktop computers. GNU General Public Licence FREE software.

Overview, Features, and Screenshots

This is the official website of snap2, an rsync-based, open-source, free backup program for Linux.
Version: 4.x
Status: Production (stable/tested)

Snap2 can create and manage a series of rotating backup snapshots.  A backup snapshot is a full backup of your files as they were at a given point in time.  However, thanks to Linux hard links and the fact that rsync only has to transmit changes in files, these backups only take a small amount of disk space and bandwidth.

You can fit gigabytes of full backups on a one-gig USB flash drive, with no file compression!

This program is written in bash (Linux shell script) and uses gtkdialog for the GUI.  There were other similar solutions available several years ago when I wrote the first version of this program, but none of them gave me all the features I wanted:  read more »

Download and Installation

Debian and Debian derivatives such as Ubuntu:

Install the following line into the file /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://files.lstandish.com/  utilities/

You can also add the repository using a Debian package management program such as synaptic or adept.

Adding the repository to your repository list is the best way to install and update this program, because dependencies will automatically be met, and updates will be easy to install.  After adding the new repository, be sure to refresh your package list (apt-get update). 

Once the repository is added, install snap2 using your favorite package manager (such as synaptic or adept), or at the command line as root: apt-get install snap2

You can also download the latest .deb file directly from the repository at:
http://files.lstandish.com/utilities/  In this case, after downloading you would click on the downloaded .deb to install it, or, as root, execute dpkg -i snap2.deb  read more »

Backing up using snap2

Run snap2 (the GUI) to set up and optionally run your backups.  If running a Debian-based distribution, Look for the snap2 menu entries in the KDE menu, under "Utilities," or in the Debian menu, under "Applications/File Management.

In Puppy Linux, the menu entries will be in 'Utility.'

As indicated by the snap2 program, there are basically 3 steps to setting up your backups:  read more »

Snapshot Backup vs Mirror Backup

The biggest feature of snap2 is the snapshot type backup.  A backup snapshot captures the state of all files at a given point in time. It is essentially a full backup, but due to the use of Linux hard links, only new and modified files actually take up space on disk as new snapshot backups are made.  read more »

Free Web Editor Overview and Features

LGS Webedit is an open source, multi-platform "what you see is what you get" browser-based web editor built upon the famous open source FCKeditor javascript html editor.  It is a complete web editing solution, suitable for small or large websites.  It is very easy to use.  read more »

Backup Exclusions

snap2 has a built-in default list of wildcard patterns.  It is:

- *~
- *.log
- temp/
- tmp

This means the program does not backup files or directories ending '~' and '.log', and ignores all files in directories named temp, and all directories or files named 'tmp'.  This list is stored in the file ~/.snap2/default/exclude/default.  If you ever want to change or add to these default exclusions, click the 'Default Exclusions' button on the 'ADVANCED SETTINGS' tab. (Or of course, you could edit the file directly.)  read more »

Backing Up to a Remote Server

snap2 will only back up to remote servers using public key authentication. rsync MUST be installed on the remote server, but not in daemon mode.

Snap2 can automatically set up ssh password-less (public key) authentication for you to a remote server running ssh.  If you prefer that a passphrase be used to lock your public key, you should create your key pair yourself before running snap2, and you will need to set up ssh-agent to tie your passphrase to your local user account.  read more »

snap2 Version History

4.15 (soon to be released)

  • (snap2) Avoid unnecessary downloading of backup list after backup deletion
  • (snap2) Adjusted maximum report size for viewing with internal viewer
  • (snap2) Added external logfile viewer config option
  • (snap2) Added LOGS & REPORTS main tab, rearranged and tweaked GUI for clarity
  • (snap2engine) adjusted age decision for promotion of snapshot from weekly to monthly
  • (snap2) Removed 'About' button
  • Updated readme.txt
  • Added manpage

4.14 released 6/02/2010 - (Puppy version only.  There is no 4.14 version for other distros)

  • Fixed non-working "snapshot backup now!" menu entry

4.13 (released 5/23/2010)  read more »

  • (snap2) Added code to properly deal with remote authentication when the remote hostname or remote login is changed
  • (snap2) removed "Save Backup Settings" button, converted it to global "SAVE" button
  • (snap2) fixed problem with deleting currently-active settings directory
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