All NIMBioS workstations and servers are backed up regularly and automatically. NIMBioS utilises an rsync-based disk-to-disk backup service for all NIMBioS user files.

Backups are performed at pseudo-regular intervals: At the time of this writing, a backup is started every workday evening at 8pm – unless the backup from the previous workday has yet to complete, then the new backup instance is skipped until the next day. Backups are also done once over the weekend.

Backups are kept in time-stamped archive directories. Only files that have changed are transferred. Backups are handled in a round-robin method whereby older backups are kept for as long as space is available. The NIMBioS backup service is for temporary storage only, and is not intended as a long-term archival service. Backups are kept until the storage space on the backup servers fills up, and then the older backups are deleted to make space for new backups.

Users needing to retrieve files from backup should send email to help@nimbios.org with a list of pathnames to the desired files.

Please keep in mind – the backup servers are L-A-R-G-E. Large enough that searching for files is not feasible. With this in mind, here are some examples:

If you are using a privately-owned computer you may still be able to use the NIMBioS backup service. A unix-based operating system is assumed. (Although if you are running something different, and you have the expertise, then you can always experiment. If you are successful, the NIMBioS IT manager would love to hear your story and expand this document accordingly.)

1. Unix 101
2. Unix Permissions
3. Unix Processes
4. Remote Access

Requirements :

• A unix-based computer operating system with the following programs: rsync, and ssh.
  • Linux and OSX both come with rsync and ssh installed.
  • There are programs available for Windows, and, if nothing else, cygwin is a possibility.

Pros :

• You retain sole login access to your computer. (Security is maintained.)
• No SSH daemon service is required.
• You decide when to back up your files.
• You can turn off your computer or boot into other operating systems.

Cons :

• The responsibility to back up your files falls solely on you. If you forget to back up your own files then it's your own fault. However, any old backups belonging to you will still be available.

Setup :

• Obtain a login user account with NIMBioS.
• Log into your NIMBioS account, and create a directory where you will store your backup files. For example:

  $ ssh -l toejam home.nimbios.org "mkdir ~/Documents/Backup/toejam/"

• Back up your files with an rsync command.
  For example, the following command line will back up /home/toejam/ to ovis.nimbios.org in ~toejam/Documents/toejam/:

  /usr/bin/rsync \
    -a \
    -e "/usr/bin/ssh -l toejam" \
    -v \
    --partial \
    --delete \
    --delete-excluded \
    --force \
    --ignore-errors \
    --one-file-system \
    --progress \
    --stats \
    --exclude '/tmp' \
    --exclude '/var/tmp' \
    --exclude '**core' \
    ~toejam/ \
    ovis.nimbios.org:~toejam/Documents/toejam/

Simply log into your NIMBioS user account via SFTP, navigate to the file in your backup directory, and copy it back onto your machine.

• NIMBioS IT staff will not take responsibility for your personal machine. The reader is expected to know how to administrate his or her own machine.
• The documentation above is merely for guidance. Menus, options, and commands presented may not match the reader's particular operating system, software, or versions.
• None of these documents have a brain. Readers are expected to provide their own.