Linux backup to optical media

[Rusted]

I tried to find solution for my question with google, but most results were how to backup dvd to hdd not other way around.

 

I currently use Blu-ray for my off-site backups. I used to do folders where I store my pictures, when it reaches size of a disc I burn it to a disc. Then I create new folder and start to fill that up.

 

Now I'm planing to backup more than just the pictures so I'm searching program that would work with optical discs. I need get files that I can burn to disc and when updating the backup it would only touch the newest disc until it reaches size that I can burn to a disc. So I don't need to burn ten disc on every update. 

 

I have used couple backup programs for linux but only with external drive or to cloud service. So do you have any suggestions what aplications I should try?

[Spakes]

http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=44805

[Spakes]

And another find: https://www.debugpoint.com/2018/08/burn-blu-ray-disks-ubuntu-linux-k3b/

[Rusted]

20 minutes ago, Spakes said:

And another find: https://www.debugpoint.com/2018/08/burn-blu-ray-disks-ubuntu-linux-k3b/

Thanks, not quite what I'm looking for.

I'm searching for backup software that can do incremental backups to optical discs without altering previously made full discs, if a program that can do this even exists.

[Sauron]

I suggest you make incremental backups to a file, then burn that file at fixed time intervals

[mariushm]

I'd suggest NOT backing up to optical media, as it's not a reliable medium for long term.

Even if you store them well, after around 3-5 years, you'll start to get bit rot, air and humidity starts to get inside the layers and the layers can oxidize on the edges of the discs and you can begin to lose data or have difficulty retrieving it.

 

It's also not cheap...

Let's say you get a 50 pack for 36$ : https://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-BD-R-Blu-ray-Recordable-Media/dp/B00GSQ4DBM/

That's 1250 GB for 35$ or 0.028$ per GB.

 

You can buy mechanical hard drives for around the same price, and you don't have to hassle with burning.

ex.

4 TB for 90-100$ : https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16822235011?Item=N82E16822235011

6 TB for 140-150$ : https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16822183794?Item=N82E16822183794

 

That's 0.0225$ per GB for the 4 TB drive, and 0.0233$ per GB for the 6 TB version.

You can also buy two and copy contents on both drives ... it would still make more sense than optical media.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

HDDs are far more reliable, faster, and take up less physical space than the equivalent storage space in optical disks. They should be powered up every now and then to help keep the bearing lubricant from thickening up and causing the bearings to seize.

[Rusted]

1 hour ago, mariushm said:

I'd suggest NOT backing up to optical media, as it's not a reliable medium for long term.

Even if you store them well, after around 3-5 years, you'll start to get bit rot, air and humidity starts to get inside the layers and the layers can oxidize on the edges of the discs and you can begin to lose data or have difficulty retrieving it.

 

It's also not cheap...

Let's say you get a 50 pack for 36$ : https://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-BD-R-Blu-ray-Recordable-Media/dp/B00GSQ4DBM/

That's 1250 GB for 35$ or 0.028$ per GB.

 

You can buy mechanical hard drives for around the same price, and you don't have to hassle with burning.

ex.

4 TB for 90-100$ : https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16822235011?Item=N82E16822235011

6 TB for 140-150$ : https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16822183794?Item=N82E16822183794

 

That's 0.0225$ per GB for the 4 TB drive, and 0.0233$ per GB for the 6 TB version.

You can also buy two and copy contents on both drives ... it would still make more sense than optical media.

 

For price per GB HDD wins but with off-site backup, HDD get more expensive as I need to retrieve it first and then return it after the backup is updated. With discs it's just one trip to drop them off.

 

I have done my research on positives and negatives on different storage options, I have HDDs for local backup. I am asking advice on software to get some automation to my backup solution, not on the media to use.

[Wild Penquin]

I still think that backing up to optical media is a bad idea ... but you say you have done research on the pros and cons of different media, also you have not stated what is the actual use case. There might be some, so maybe it really makes sense to you to back up to optical media (I can think of mobility being one, in case some network transfer is not a possibility, and one needs to mobilize any part of the data at will).

 

However, that is probably the reason such software might not exist: as it doesn't make sense in most people's (and developer's) eyes, as they use some other solution for backing up - and hence, it doesn't make sense to develop one (I'm not saying it doesn't exist, just stating the reason why it might not exist - haven't actually looked into it).

 

However, in case your search comes up as zero and you absolutely need it, I'd make my own script. I know there are the usual command line tools for writing optical media (it's been a while since I've burned anything, but back in the day USB drives were uncommon, I frequently burned stuff on Linux - but up to DVD/BluRay era only occasionally). Look at man cdrecord.

 

The working of the script could be something like this:

 

### !!!Pseudo-Code!!!

DIR_TO_BACKUP=/home/you/some/dir


get_backupdir_size () {
    check size of current dir to be backed up. (du -chs ? )...
}

get_current_bluray_size() {
    Some command to check current bluray disk contents size (i.e. free space); again du -chs, or cd-info ?
}

clean_backup_dir() {
   REALLY DELETE THE FILES assumed to be backed up! Only run after you are sufficiently certain the backup is succesfull, or the files have already been backed up...
}

burn_disk () {
  check if disk empty
      some burn command
  if not empty
      some other burn command to append to disk (with a check if disk needs to be "closed" after this burn)
  if successful -> clean_backup_dir (or prompt?)
}

check if max_size > current_bluray_size + backupdir_size;
    burn OK, run burn_disk()
if not:
    a) ask user to decrease backupdir_size (to choose which files to burn on current disk)
    b) use some kind of automatic function to choose which files to include on this burn (and adjust clean_backup_dir()!)

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2019 by Wild Penquin
Spotted a fwe TTYPOs