bkp For Linux

bkp is a command line backup tool written in bash written in bash under GPL license, it allows you to make a solid backup of your data, keeping original files permissions. bkp has a date (dd-mm-YY) support, so you will be able to know when you have made your backups. In this way you can upgrade them.

The bkp project also support : gzip compression, background mode, md5 checking, backup encryption, secure copy transfer, backup description, events logging (and managing), default directory, updating. This program can convert relative pathname of file or directory to its absolute pathname; in this way bkp can also rebuild original directory tree.

OPTIONS --backup < file > | < directory > makes backup of file or directory.

--list this option shows content of backup database.

--inside < backup > lists content of backup; bkp will search it into database.

--info < backup > shows some useful informations about specified backup like size, permissions, last access:modify:change, file type, backup description and more.

--description < description > < backup > adds a short description to a backup (1 or more) ; the description can be viewed using the --info option. NOTE : The text description must be interpolated with double quotes.

--import [user@host:remoteport:/remodedir/rembackup] imports backup into database (backup made with bkp). If specified exists on local machine, bkp will simply import it into database. If it doesn't exist, bkp will search for the file 'hostconf' placed under '/var/bkp/$USER/'; in this file there are parameters that will be able bkp to make a secure file transfer (default is port 22) with another host. Ex: "bkp --import [email protected]:22:/bak/foo.tar.gz" : this command will connect to host "1.2.3.4" at port "22" as user "rollo" and will search for a bkpfile "foo" under remote directory "/bak/". In addiction, every time bkp is invoked like in the example, it will save on disk "user@host:remoteport:/remotedir" ([email protected]:22:/bak/) in 'hostconf' file ; so you will be able to invoke bkp in this way (referring to example) : "bkp --import foo" , very useful to stop write every time "user@host ..etc". Note that you don't have to specify the file you want to transfer from the remote host enterely, becouse bkp uses globbing.

--export < user@host:remoteport:/remotedir/ > < backup > this option acts like "--import", the difference is that it will export your backup on a remote host. Ex : "bkp --export [email protected]:22:/bak/ myfoo" or "bkp --export myfoo" if exist 'host- conf' file.

--restore < backup > restores content of specified backup; bkp will search for it into database. Note : the restore process for encrypted backups is the same for normal backups, the only difference is that obvi- ously, encrypted ones need passphrase. So you can do this : 'bkp --restore foo' , where 'foo' is the encrypted backup.

--remove < backup > erases backup specified (be careful).

--background < starting_dir > [[ stop ]] starts bkp in background mode. bkp analyzes starting from all files that have been modified more recentely, then makes backup of them. To stop daemon simply digit 'bkp --back- ground stop'.

--defdir [ < default_directory > ] uses default directory (default is $HOME/.bkp) as backups storing directory ; if no argument is specified, print actual default directory.

--check checks for bad or corrupted backups or database entries.

--update checks for a newer bkp version on 'http://www.geocities.com/bkp_project/releases/' , downloads and updates it.

--encrypt < gpgkey > < backup > encrypt backup (using GNU PGP) with gpgkey specified, using ASCII armored option.

--log [[ remove | all | error ]] views last log of all actions (/var/log/bkp/log). If 'remove' modifier is used, remove log; if 'all' mofidier is used, shows entire log; if 'error' modifier is used, shows errors log.

--source [[ edit ]] see program source code, or edit it by using 'edit' modifier.

--verbose shows more details when making a backup. This option must precede the files to backup on the command line. --version shows program info.

--help [[ < option > ]] see program help. If this option is used with an option, the help shows that option details.