CyberWorld | Solution: Automate Daily Backup of Remote Ubuntu Server Folder with a Bash Script

Introduction

In this article I will present you my way to automate daily backup with a Bash script of the folder on remote Ubuntu Server.

Backing up data is crucial for any system administrator to ensure data integrity and availability. Automating backups can save time and reduce the risk of human error. In this post, we will guide you through setting up a daily backup of a folder from a remote Ubuntu server using a bash script and rsync.

Prerequisites

Two Ubuntu machines (one acting as the backup server, another as the source).
SSH access between the machines. -> How to configure it: https://optimusing.dyndns.org/linux-tutorial-basic/solutions-connect-to-the-ubuntu-server-via-ssh-without-typig-the-password/
Basic knowledge of bash scripting and rsync.

The Bash Script

Create a script:

nano /opt/scripts/bkp_pi-share.sh

#!/bin/sh
runtime=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M)

# Createa a log entry for the executed backup
echo "Starting sync between remote host and folder on local host" >> /opt/scripts/log/bkp_pi-share_$runtime.log

# Write a exact time before start
echo $(date) >> /opt/scripts/log/bkp_pi-share_$runtime.log

# Source system: user@REMOTE_HOST_IP:/remote_folder/
# Destination: folder on the local server 

sudo rsync -avzh --ignore-existing --rsync-path="sudo rsync" ubuntu@192.168.20.116:/srv/share/ /opt/data/bkp_pi-share >> /opt/scripts/log/bkp_pi-share_$runtime.log

Script Breakdown

runtime=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M): This line sets the runtime variable to the current date and time, formatted as YYYYMMDD_HHMM.
echo “Start sync…” >> /opt/scripts/log/bkp_pi-share_$runtime.log: Logs the start of the sync operation.
sudo rsync -avzh –ignore-existing –rsync-path=”sudo rsync”: Uses rsync to synchronize the files from the remote server to the local backup directory. The --ignore-existing flag ensures that only new or modified files are copied, saving time and bandwidth.

Make the script executable: