Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Install rsnapshot from Ubuntu’s package repository with sudo apt-get install rsnapshot, then edit /etc/rsnapshot.conf to choose a snapshot disk, retention levels, and local or remote backup points. Run sudo rsnapshot configtest and a dry run such as sudo rsnapshot -t daily before enabling cron. rsnapshot stores successive file snapshots efficiently with hard links, so capacity depends on your source data, change rate, exclusions, and retention—not on a fixed “one snapshot equals one full copy” rule.
Need a server to try this on? Antihost offers Linux VPS plans with NVMe storage, full root access and a 14-day free trial.
What rsnapshot does on Ubuntu
rsnapshot is an rsync-based filesystem snapshot utility for local and remote filesystems. It creates directories that look like separate full backups while hard-linking unchanged files between snapshots. A daily snapshot can therefore share most of its data with the previous daily snapshot, while changed files receive new copies.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11This is file-level protection rather than a complete disk image. It does not provide a managed cloud-recovery service, and the supplied Ubuntu documentation does not describe bare-metal restoration, database-consistent snapshots, or cloud orchestration. It is a good fit when you want ordinary files in browsable directories, predictable Unix permissions, and control over where retained copies live.
Before you install
Choose a destination and failure domain
Set aside a filesystem for snapshot_root. A dedicated external USB hard drive is a practical Ubuntu destination: it keeps snapshots off the system disk and can be disconnected or stored separately when backups are not running. Ubuntu’s general backup guidance lists removable hard drives or tape as physical media, and identifies rsnapshot as a dedicated backup utility.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Do not choose capacity by multiplying the source size by the number of snapshots. rsnapshot’s hard links mean that unchanged files are stored once. Plan for approximately one complete copy of the protected data plus copies of files that change during the retention window, then leave headroom for growth, temporary files, and filesystem overhead.
Confirm access and workload
- Use an account that can run
sudoon the Ubuntu host. - Make sure the destination filesystem is mounted before a scheduled job runs. A missing mount can cause a backup to target the underlying empty directory on the system disk.
- List the directories you actually need, and decide which caches, build trees, or other high-churn data should be excluded.
- For remote sources, arrange key-based SSH access before testing rsnapshot.
Install the Ubuntu package
- Refresh package metadata if your system has not been updated recently:
sudo apt-get update - Install rsnapshot:
sudo apt-get install rsnapshot - Check the installed command and its manual page if you need to confirm options:
rsnapshot --version man rsnapshot
The Ubuntu Noble manpage crawl identifies package version 1.4.5-2. Package versions can differ on another Ubuntu release, so treat that number as the Noble package metadata rather than a promise that every release installs the same build.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Understand /etc/rsnapshot.conf before editing
The default configuration path is /etc/rsnapshot.conf. All rsnapshot configuration parameters must be separated by tabs according to the manpage. Spaces that look aligned in an editor are not a safe substitute. Start with the packaged example configuration when available, save a copy, and change only the settings that describe your host.
The three decisions that determine the behavior of a basic setup are the snapshot root, the retention levels, and the backup points. Exclude rules and rsync arguments refine those decisions but do not replace them.
Set the snapshot root
snapshot_root is the filesystem location that holds the retained snapshots. Point it at the mounted backup disk, not at a directory that is part of the data you are protecting. For example, if an external drive is mounted at /srv/backup-drive, a configuration line can use:
snapshot_root /srv/backup-drive/rsnapshot/The trailing slash convention used by the packaged example should be retained when you adapt the path. Create the mount point and verify the drive is mounted before the first run. rsnapshot will create its interval directories beneath this root as it rotates snapshots.
Define retention levels in the correct order
Retention levels are declared with retain. List them from most frequent to least frequent. The first level performs the filesystem sync; higher levels rotate snapshots created by the level below them. A common policy is daily, weekly, and monthly, but the names and counts are yours to choose.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
retain daily 7
retain weekly 4
retain monthly 6In this example, rsnapshot keeps seven daily positions, four weekly positions, and six monthly positions. The numbers are retention counts, not guarantees about how many unique full copies consume disk space: hard links allow unchanged files to be shared.
Keep the order consistent with your cron jobs. Running a weekly interval before any daily snapshots exist gives it nothing useful to rotate. Likewise, a monthly job should run only after the lower-frequency levels have been populated.
Add local backup points
A backup line maps a source directory to a directory name beneath the snapshot root. Ubuntu’s examples include /home/, /etc/, and /usr/local/, each mapped to a host directory such as localhost/:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutebackup /home/ localhost/
backup /etc/ localhost/
backup /usr/local/ localhost/Use a separate line for each source. Keeping the source paths explicit makes restores easier to understand and lets you omit directories that are disposable or recreated from packages. Protecting /etc/ captures service configuration; protecting /home/ captures user data; protecting /usr/local/ can preserve locally installed software and scripts.
Review permissions before the first real run. rsnapshot normally needs privileges to read all files and preserve metadata. Run the command as shown in the Ubuntu examples, with sudo, so the process can access protected directories.
Back up a remote host over SSH
Remote sources use rsync over SSH. A source line follows the form shown in Ubuntu documentation:
backup [email protected]:/home/ example.com/Replace the account, host, source path, and destination label with values for your environment. The destination label is a directory name under snapshot_root; it does not need to be the remote machine’s hostname, but a descriptive name prevents confusion when several hosts are protected.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Prepare passwordless key access
rsnapshot runs unattended, so the backup account must connect without an interactive password prompt. Configure an SSH key for the account that will execute rsnapshot, install the public key on the remote host, and verify a non-interactive login before scheduling anything. Test the exact source account and hostname that appear in the backup line. Host-key confirmation, firewall rules, DNS, and remote permissions are all outside rsnapshot itself; resolve them with a direct SSH test first.
Use a restricted remote account when your protection policy allows it. If the files require root privileges, the Ubuntu examples show a root source, but that choice carries greater impact if the key is compromised. Store private keys securely and document how they are rotated.
Validate the configuration before writing snapshots
After editing the file, perform checks in this order:
- Check syntax and required settings:
sudo rsnapshot configtestA successful result indicates that rsnapshot can parse the configuration. Fix every error before proceeding.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. - Preview the commands for one interval without changing data:
sudo rsnapshot -t dailyThe
-toption prints the commands that would run. Inspect source paths, destination paths, excludes, and rotation commands. For a different policy, substitute the interval name you defined. - Run the interval only after the preview matches your intent:
sudo rsnapshot dailyThis performs the first snapshot and creates the directory structure below
snapshot_root.
Repeat the dry run for weekly or monthly after daily data exists. A test run is especially important for remote backups: it exposes SSH failures, an incorrect remote path, or an unexpected destination before cron starts operating unattended.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Schedule snapshots with /etc/cron.d/rsnapshot
Ubuntu documents /etc/cron.d/rsnapshot as the default cron file. The following entries are Canonical’s example schedule:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
0 4 * * * root /usr/bin/rsnapshot daily
0 3 * * 1 root /usr/bin/rsnapshot weekly
0 2 1 * * root /usr/bin/rsnapshot monthly| Interval | Example time | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 04:00 every day | Runs the daily filesystem sync. |
| Weekly | 03:00 every Monday | Rotates a weekly position from the lower-frequency snapshots. |
| Monthly | 02:00 on the first day of each month | Rotates a monthly position. |
These times are examples, not universal requirements. Choose a window that matches your workload, network availability, and retention policy. Leave enough time between jobs for the lower interval to finish before the next rotation begins. Keep the cron user as root when your backup points include protected system directories.
After saving the cron file, confirm that the interval names exactly match the retain lines and that /usr/bin/rsnapshot is the installed executable path. Cron provides no convenient interactive prompt, so rely on logs and the next scheduled run to verify operation.
How much disk space does rsnapshot need?
The rsnapshot manpage describes the requirement as roughly one full backup plus a copy of each additional file that changes. Unchanged files in later snapshots can be hard links to the same data. The practical requirement therefore depends on:
- the total size of the source directories;
- how much data changes between runs;
- how many daily, weekly, and monthly positions you retain;
- which high-churn paths you exclude; and
- free space consumed by the operating system and other files on the destination.
There is no universal disk-size figure. Measure the current data set, estimate its growth and change rate, then add headroom before selecting long retention periods. A workload that rewrites large archives every day consumes space much faster than one that changes a few small documents, even when both have the same starting size.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Use a dedicated USB backup drive safely
Compare an external drive’s usable capacity—not its advertised decimal capacity—with your estimate. Confirm that Ubuntu supports the drive’s filesystem and that the USB connection remains reliable under sustained transfers. A portable drive is useful because it can be disconnected or moved off-site after a run, reducing exposure to ransomware or a power event. When it is disconnected, scheduled jobs cannot complete, so plan a reconnect window and check the next run.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Local and remote designs compared
| Decision axis | Local source | Remote source |
|---|---|---|
| Network dependency | Reads directories on the Ubuntu host; no network link is required. | Requires a working network path and reachable SSH service for each run. |
| Authentication | Uses local filesystem permissions and the account running rsnapshot. | Requires passwordless SSH, normally with keys, plus remote read permission. |
| Storage location | Snapshot root can be an attached USB disk or another mounted filesystem. | Snapshots still live at the local snapshot root unless you separately place that root elsewhere. |
| Failure domain | A system-disk failure can affect both source and snapshots if the root is not on separate media. | Source and snapshot host are separate machines, but the local destination remains a single point of failure unless copied again. |
| Restore access | Usually fastest because files are on the local backup disk. | Restores are local to the snapshot host; returning files to the remote machine requires a second transfer. |
For either design, retention depth is the policy choice that controls how far back you can browse. Combining a remote source with a local, detachable destination gives geographic and operational separation, but it also adds SSH key management and network troubleshooting.
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Restore files from a snapshot
rsnapshot presents each retained interval as a normal directory tree beneath snapshot_root. Browse the relevant interval and host directory, locate the needed path, and copy the file or directory back to its destination while preserving ownership and permissions appropriate to that application. Because unchanged files may be hard links, avoid modifying files in place inside the snapshot tree; treat snapshots as read-only reference data and copy items out for recovery.
Test a small restore before you need one. A restore check confirms that the external disk mounts correctly, that the expected interval names exist, and that you know which host directory contains the file you want.
Common mistakes and fixes
Configuration test fails
Recheck tab separation, spelling, trailing paths, and the placement of snapshot_root. Keep each directive on one line and compare interval names in backup commands, cron entries, and retain declarations.
The backup writes to the system disk
Verify that the external filesystem is mounted at the exact path used by snapshot_root before rsnapshot starts. A mount point is an ordinary directory when the drive is absent; rsnapshot can therefore create snapshots there without warning you that the intended disk is missing. Add a mount check to your operational routine and inspect available space after the first run.
Remote backup asks for a password or cannot connect
Run an SSH test as the same user and with the same hostname used by rsnapshot. Install the public key on the remote account, accept the host key interactively once, and correct DNS, firewall, or permissions problems. Only after the direct connection succeeds should you repeat sudo rsnapshot -t daily.
A rotation removes less than expected
Retention levels rotate positions; they do not erase every historical file immediately. Also remember that removing a backup line from the configuration does not automatically delete files already archived. The manpage warns that old snapshot data remains until you remove it manually. Review the affected directories and delete obsolete snapshots deliberately, after confirming they are no longer needed.
The destination fills sooner than expected
Check which files change between runs, especially logs, caches, virtual-machine images, and generated build output. Add targeted excludes, shorten retention, or enlarge the destination only after measuring the actual growth pattern. Hard links reduce duplication but cannot reduce space used by files that are rewritten each interval.
A first-day checklist
- Install with
sudo apt-get install rsnapshot. - Mount the dedicated destination and set
snapshot_rootto its path. - List
retainlevels from most frequent to least frequent. - Add local paths or passwordless-SSH remote sources as
backupentries. - Preserve tab separators in
/etc/rsnapshot.conf. - Run
sudo rsnapshot configtest. - Review
sudo rsnapshot -t dailyoutput. - Run
sudo rsnapshot dailyand inspect the resulting tree. - Add the cron entries only after the manual run succeeds.
- Perform a small restore and record how to mount the destination.
What rsnapshot does not provide
rsnapshot protects files according to the paths and intervals you configure. It is not a disk-image system, so a failed boot disk still requires a separate Ubuntu installation or recovery environment before files can be restored. It is not a managed cloud service, so you are responsible for the destination hardware, SSH keys, scheduling, monitoring, and off-site handling. Those limits are manageable when you want transparent, scriptable filesystem snapshots, but they should be part of the design from the start.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
