how to backup

[James Freer]

On Wed, 13 Aug 2014, David Fletcher wrote:

> On Tue, 2014-08-12 at 22:23 -0400, Robert Heller wrote:
>> You can install tar and create tar files on the fat32 file systems:
>>
>> tar cpzvf /media/usbstick/home.tgz -C /home .
>>
>> The tar file will retain the original file permissions.

Hi Dave

> that the file is a good backup. I long since learned not to blindly
> trust backups.
>
> One problem I seem to recall encountering - isn't there a file size
> limit for fat32? 4GB? That's why I reformat my sticks to ext3.
>
> Dave

The file size limit for FAT32 is 4GB I think. The only problem with formatting 
a stick to ext3 is the journaling - writing and checking to the stick will 
shorten it's life. That's why folk use FAT32 - for larger files (on the larger 
capacity sticks) it is wise to use ext2 (doesn't have journaling) or ext4 
(using the without journaling option).

EXT2 is supposed to be the best/well tested file system tried and proven over 
years... but I found a problem with it the other day with a new hard disk. It 
wouldn't format, tried it with ext4 and it would format... but then failed the 
check disk in gparted. Probably not the ext2 but some problem with the disk 
that ext4 didn't pick up in the check. I don't trust backups I do three 
backups of my data and hope!

james