Let describe this automatic tool by its author, Manuel Iglesias: (extracted from email exchanges): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To make it easier to use I have written a shell script with the following features: -It assumes all backup files are in an accessible directory. From there the user can copy them to removable media. -Easy to configure different backups: Make a copy of the script and edit 'BACKUP SETUP.' in the new file. Configuration file 'darrc' is not necessary. -Mounts, makes a backup and then un-mounts filesystems: A mounted file system could be an external H.D. where the backup files could be written. -Decides/recommends which backup mode is the most suitable: Create FullBackup, Rewrite FullBacup, Create DiffNN, Rewrite DiffNN, ....... -Fully automatic: Use '-auto' option to use with cron. I have studied my system (I am new to Linux :-(.) and cron only sends mail if files in /etc/cron.{hourly,daily,weekly,monthly} exit with code != 0. I have written some shell scripts to handle cron jobs. -Different backups can use the same 'Destination' directory: Backups are created with base names made up of the shell script name: Shell script 'LoveLettersBackup' creates: -LoveLettersBackupFull.1.dar -....... -LoveLettersBackupFull.N.dar -LoveLettersBackupDiff01.1.dar -....... -LoveLettersBackupDiff01.N.dar -....... -LoveLettersBackupDiffNN.N.dar -LoveLettersBackupDataBase -Creates and keeps updated a Data Base file for later use by dar_manager. The backup mode algorithm is the following: -If there are not FullBackup files then create FullBackup. -If there are not DiffBackup01 files then create DiffBackup01. -If the sum of all DiffBackup files is less than %OfFullBackup (% set in 'BACKUP SETUP.') then rewrite DiffBackup01. -If the sum of all DiffBackup files is greater than %OfFullBackup (% set in 'BACKUP SETUP.') then rewrite FullBackup. -If DiffBackupXX is less than sum(DiffBackup(XX+1)..DiffBackupNN) then rewrite DiffBackupXX. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In my last E-mail I forgot to mention another condition which the backup mode algorithm takes in account: NrOfDiffBackups. In the copies of the script I sent you: -If NrOfDiffBackups is greater than MaxNrOfDiffBackups (set in 'BACKUP SETUP.') then rewrite FullBackup. In the meanwhile I have decided it is better to rewrite DiffBackup01 in that situation and I have modified the script accordingly. The backup mode algorithm is now the following: -If there are not FullBackup files then create FullBackup. -If there are not DiffBackup01 files then create DiffBackup01. -If the sum of all DiffBackup files is less than %OfFullBackup (% set in 'BACKUP SETUP.') then rewrite DiffBackup01. -If NrOfDiffBackups is greater than MaxNrOfDiffBackups (set in 'BACKUP SETUP.') then rewrite DiffBackup01. -If the sum of all DiffBackup files is greater than %OfFullBackup (% set in 'BACKUP SETUP.') then rewrite FullBackup. -If DiffBackupXX is less than sum(DiffBackup(XX+1)..DiffBackupNN) then rewrite DiffBackupXX. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------