Write a backup script using tar and save it as /usr/local/bin/backup.sh, 2. Add timed tasks via sudo crontab -e to achieve daily or weekly automatic backup, 3. Optionally add logging to /var/log/backup.log to monitor success or failure status, and after completing the setup, you can achieve reliable automatic Linux backup without additional tools.
Automating Linux backups doesn't have to be complex — using just tar and cron , you can set up reliable, lightweight backups that run automatically. Here's how to do it step by step.
? 1. Write a Simple Backup Script with tar
First, create a script that uses tar to compress your important directories (like /home , /etc , or custom folders). Save it as something like /usr/local/bin/backup.sh :
#!/bin/bash # Set backup directory and filename BACKUP_DIR="/backups" DATE=$(date %Y%m%d_%H%M%S) BACKUP_FILE="$BACKUP_DIR/backup_$DATE.tar.gz" # Create backup directory if it doesn't exist mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR # Run the tar command (adjust paths as needed) tar -czf $BACKUP_FILE /home /etc 2>/dev/null # Optional: Remove backups older than 7 days find $BACKUP_DIR -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime 7 -delete
Make it executeable:
chmod x /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
? Tip :
-
-ccreates archive -
-zcompresses with gzip -
-fspecifies filename -
2>/dev/nullsuppresses errors (optional — remove during testing)
Test the script manually first:
sudo /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
Check /backups/ to confirm the .tar.gz file was created.
? 2. Schedule with cron
Now use cron to run this automatically. Edit the root crontab (since backups often need elevated permissions):
sudo crontab -e
Add a line like this to run daily at 2 AM:
0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
Or weekly on Sundays at 3 AM:
0 3 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
? Cron Format Reminder :
min hour day month weekday command
? 3. (Optional) Add Logging for Peace of Mind
Modify the script to log success/failure:
#!/bin/bash
LOGFILE="/var/log/backup.log"
{
BACKUP_DIR="/backups"
DATE=$(date %Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
BACKUP_FILE="$BACKUP_DIR/backup_$DATE.tar.gz"
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
tar -czf $BACKUP_FILE /home /etc
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
echo "? Backup successful: $BACKUP_FILE"
else
echo "? Backup failed!"
fi
# Clean old backups
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime 7 -delete
} >> $LOGFILE 2>&1Now you can check logs:
tail -f /var/log/backup.log
Final Notes
- Store backups on a separate drive or mount if possible (eg, external or network storage).
- Test restores! Run:
tar -xzf backup_2024*.tar.gz -C /restore/path - Avoid backing up
/proc,/sys,/dev, or/tmp— they're virtual or temporary.
That's it — no extra tools needed. Just tar cron = solid, automatic Linux backups.
Basically just set it and (mostly) forget it.
The above is the detailed content of How to Automate Linux Backups with `tar` and `cron`. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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