backing up

[NoOp]

On 09/25/2014 02:14 PM, Sajan Parikh wrote:
> On 09/25/2014 12:51 PM, Liam Proven wrote:
>> On 25 September 2014 19:48, Scott Blair <scott.blair at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> What directories should I include in my back up. I included all
>>> but proc and tmp files, when I went to restore it stopped when
>>> it hit the kernal restore.
>>
>> As a general rule. everything in /home/$yourusername is good.
>>
>>
> Going to disagree here.  While it's true that generally you don't need 
> anything OUTSIDE of /home/$yourusername, I wouldn't backup EVERYTHING 
> inside /home/$yourusername, you'll end up wasting a ton of backup space.
> 
> Instead, go through the hidden folders, if they are for an application 
> you want the configs backed up for, go for it.  If you don't need the 
> configs, skip the folder.  If you use something like GMail or your own 
> IMAP email server, backing up your whole Thunderbird profile will just 
> be a waste of space and time.
> 
> I think Steam also installs certain games inside your home folder as 
> well, so definitely don't include those.
> 
> The only things guaranteed you'll want to backup are 
> /home/username/{Desktop|Documents|Music|Pictures} and any other folders 
> you created.  I'd even exclude the Downloads folder as well.  If you 
> want to save something you downloaded, get in the habit of moving it out 
> of your Downloads folder.
> 
> Sajan Parikh

I'd *highly* recommend going a bit further... example:

$ ls -a /opt
.                                                H2
..                                               java
Adobe                                            libreoffice4.3
BitDefender-scanner                              lightscribeApplications
calibre                                          MaSSHandra
dassault-systemes                                master-pdf-editor
epson-inkjet-printer-escpr                       openoffice4
epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-635-nx625-series  Opticks
epson-pc-fax                                     seamonkey
extras.ubuntu.com                                vmware
ffmpeg                                           XnConvert
google                                           y