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Incremental backup with hard links using rsync --link-dest

caution rootrsync and backupalle

Caution: This command changes the system. Understand what it does before you run it.

Adjust the values, the command updates live
root@server
rsync -a --link-dest=/backup/example.com/aktuell /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/ /backup/example.com/$(date +%F)/ && ln -sfn /backup/example.com/$(date +%F) /backup/example.com/aktuell

Creates a folder named after today’s date under the backup path. Files that have not changed since the last backup are created as hard links to the previous version via --link-dest and use no additional space. Afterwards, the aktuell symlink points to the new backup, which serves as the comparison base for the next run.

Note: Backup and previous version must be on the same filesystem. Old date folders can be deleted individually without damaging other snapshots.

Open question before approval: Prüfen, dass rsync beim allerersten Lauf ohne vorhandenes aktuell nur warnt, eine Vollkopie anlegt und mit Exitcode 0 endet, damit der Symlink gesetzt wird.

Also searched as

  • rsync snapshot backups
  • daily backups without using much space
  • time machine style backup linux
  • rsync incremental backup

Related one-liners

All in rsync and backup

Test rsync with a dry run

$rsync -av --dry-run /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/ /backup/example.com/httpdocs/
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Transfer files to another server with rsync over SSH

$rsync -avz -e 'ssh -p 22' /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/ webuser@backup.example.com:/home/webuser/backup/httpdocs/
cautionrsync and backup

Verify a backup against the original using checksums

$rsync -rcn --itemize-changes /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/ /backup/example.com/httpdocs/
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Copy a directory locally with all permissions and attributes

#rsync -aHAX --info=progress2 /var/www/vhosts/ /mnt/newdisk/vhosts/
cautionrsync and backup

Create a compressed tar backup with the date in the name

#tar -czf /var/backups/example.com-httpdocs-$(date +%F).tar.gz -C /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs .
cautionrsync and backup

Extract a tar.gz archive without overwriting files

$mkdir -p /tmp/restore && tar -xzf /var/backups/example.com-httpdocs-2026-10-09.tar.gz -C /tmp/restore --skip-old-files
cautionrsync and backup

Read first, then run.

The commands on myline.de act directly on servers, files and databases. A wrong path or placeholder can delete data irreversibly or make a server unreachable.

  • All commands are provided without warranty and are not tested on every system.
  • Understand what a command does before running it, and check every placeholder.
  • Make a backup first and, if possible, try it on a test system.
  • You run commands at your own risk. Liability for damages is excluded to the extent permitted by law.