Page 1 of 60 1231151 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 595

Thread: System Restore

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Beans
    14,781

    System Restore

    sysres has obtained its original goal. It now has all the features and a .deb installer, plus an icon and menu entry.

    For the code, see https://launchpad.net/sysres

    For the .deb, you can get 1.0 here: https://launchpad.net/sysres/trunk/1.0

    The future holds uncertainity, and we hope to enhance it without any feature creep.
    Last edited by LaRoza; September 16th, 2008 at 04:38 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: System Restore

    While working on a slightly similar project I came to the conclusion that a very robust and simple way to do that consists of taking a snapshot of everything in certain places and just offering to restore each item as it was just after installing. This would encompass places like /etc, home, and so on.

    This is based on the observation that it is easier to detect 'places' (directories) which hold things worth restoring than to enumerate which things you would actually need.
    ch
    In Switzerland we make it other
    with apologies to Gerard Hoffnung


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Beans
    14,781

    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by popch View Post
    While working on a slightly similar project I came to the conclusion that a very robust and simple way to do that consists of taking a snapshot of everything in certain places and just offering to restore each item as it was just after installing. This would encompass places like /etc, home, and so on.

    This is based on the observation that it is easier to detect 'places' (directories) which hold things worth restoring than to enumerate which things you would actually need.
    My goal is to have a simple windows with options to backup local settings, grub settings, video settings and perhaps others. It is simple to make, but I am looking for specific files or settings to backup.

    I want it to work on working systems, and be able to have more than one restore point to roll back to. This is rather simple, of course.

    I'll stick to the settings I listed until I get it working. (Just started it, and it is 0546, and I haven't slept yet, so it is still an infant idea). I have it creating restore points for GNOME at the moment. Just need to be able to restore from them. (A reverse of the creating the restore point)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: System Restore

    Looking at individual things worth saving and restoring, those come to mind:

    LAN and most especially WLAN settings
    Desktop effect settings
    Access settings for the SAMBA client
    User account data
    Bookmarks
    Cookies
    Mail account settings
    ISP related settings for accessing the internet

    Once you start thinking along those lines you can hardly stop any more, I fear. Where do you draw the line between 'settings' and 'data'?
    ch
    In Switzerland we make it other
    with apologies to Gerard Hoffnung


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Beans
    14,781

    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by popch View Post
    Looking at individual things worth saving and restoring, those come to mind:

    LAN and most especially WLAN settings
    Desktop effect settings
    Access settings for the SAMBA client
    User account data
    Bookmarks
    Cookies
    Mail account settings
    ISP related settings for accessing the internet

    Once you start thinking along those lines you can hardly stop any more, I fear. Where do you draw the line between 'settings' and 'data'?
    I am making a system restore program, not a backup program.

    I am sticking with settings for the system, not applications (except GNOME). Tarring up the home directory is not my goal (simpler, but not my goal).

    I think I am going to stick with what I listed and perhaps the network settings. Thanks for the suggestions.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by LaRoza View Post
    I am making a system restore program, not a backup program..
    I do not quite understand the objectives, then. Just out of curiosity: Where do the settings come from which you intend to restore? The original out-of-the-box settings?
    ch
    In Switzerland we make it other
    with apologies to Gerard Hoffnung


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Beans
    14,781

    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by popch View Post
    I do not quite understand the objectives, then. Just out of curiosity: Where do the settings come from which you intend to restore? The original out-of-the-box settings?
    Windows System Restore is the basis for this.

    The settings are whatever the user decides save.

    One could to the original settings, but this could be used to snapshot the system when it is working.

    Basically, when one adds new hardware (such as a video card) and then reconfigures xorg (sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg) they should make a backup, or when editing fstab, etc. This does everything in one step.

    It is meant to abstract the configuration. It is for those used to Windows (if I get it working)

    The motivations for this:

    * Boredom. I haven't slept at all this night (the sun will be rising in an hour or two) and have nothing to do
    * Practice. Need to program something
    * Mildly useful. I see system restore posts on occasion like http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=418309
    * Why not? I have nothing else to do. (Except writing my book, which I am in no hurry to finish)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: System Restore

    Ah, now I understand.

    Good luck, then, and have fun.

    Douglas Adams used to take baths for hours when he was in no particular hurry to finish his books. Writing computer programs in that kind of situation is definitely a new one for me. Good luck, there too.
    ch
    In Switzerland we make it other
    with apologies to Gerard Hoffnung


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Beans
    14,781

    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by popch View Post
    Ah, now I understand.

    Good luck, then, and have fun.

    Douglas Adams used to take baths for hours when he was in no particular hurry to finish his books. Writing computer programs in that kind of situation is definitely a new one for me. Good luck, there too.
    Douglas Adams, one of my favourite writers

    I have no publishing company (fortunately or unfortunately) with deadlines for me.

    I always code to relax. The book's subject is a bit depressing, to write at least, so I don't want to immerse myself in it.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Raytown, MO
    Beans
    460
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: System Restore

    LaRoza

    Sounds like (yet another) worthwhile effort. Keep up the good work!

    Steve

Page 1 of 60 1231151 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •