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  1. #1
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    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
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    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
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    with apologies to Gerard Hoffnung


  3. #3
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by LaRoza View Post
    Windows System Restore is the basis for this.

    The settings are whatever the user decides save.
    You mean like aptoncd?
    Hate Coffee, Love Ubuntu!



  9. #9
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    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by LaRoza View Post
    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.
    Remember that you can take an inventory of installed packages with Synaptic that can be imported in Synaptic to re-install them as well... not sure if that is something you would want, but it would be appreciated by many I think.

  10. #10
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    Re: System Restore

    Quote Originally Posted by PrivateVoid View Post
    Remember that you can take an inventory of installed packages with Synaptic that can be imported in Synaptic to re-install them as well... not sure if that is something you would want, but it would be appreciated by many I think.
    Could you explain that? I know one can get all the packages installed with a command (forget it though) is there a a file to parse?

    Once I get this to work (GUI issues and restore not finished now), I will be very open to adding to it and probably have a little page for it somewhere.

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