10.2 File-Level Backup Tools

Content

• Overview and Objectives
  • Learning Objectives
• Using tar for backups
  • Exclusion patterns
  • Compression choice for backup work
  • Verification and the --verify constraint
  • Ownership on restore
• Incremental Backup Strategies with rsync
  • Advanced rsync Options and Network Optimization
  • Remote Backup Implementation with rsync over SSH
• Network Backup Solutions and Modern Tools
• Backup Verification and Integrity Checking
• Real-world context
• Common pitfalls
• Recommended reading
• Assessment
  • Multiple Choice Questions
  • Short Answer Questions

This chapter is available exclusively to members of The Server Room, my DevOps community of practice. You have multiple options for taking this course, for example self-guided or instructor-led. Check out the course details to learn more!

Updated 2026-03-10