rsyncbackup

rsyncbackup is a command-line utility and a concept for performing backups using the rsync protocol. Rsync is a versatile file-synchronization tool that efficiently transfers and synchronizes files between two locations, typically a source and a destination. When used for backups, rsyncbackup leverages rsync's ability to only transfer changed parts of files, making backups significantly faster and more space-efficient than copying entire files each time.

The core principle of rsyncbackup is incremental backups. After an initial full backup, subsequent backups will only transfer data that has been added, modified, or deleted since the last backup. This is achieved through rsync's delta-transfer algorithm, which compares files at the source and destination and sends only the differences. This method is highly advantageous for large datasets or systems with frequent changes.

rsyncbackup can be implemented in various ways. Users can directly invoke the rsync command with appropriate options for backup purposes, often scripting these commands for regular execution. Many third-party backup tools and scripts are built around rsync, offering more advanced features like scheduling, retention policies, and different backup strategies (e.g., full, incremental, differential). The flexibility of rsync allows for backups to local drives, network shares (using SSH or its own daemon), or even remote servers. The simplicity and efficiency of rsync make it a popular choice for both personal and professional backup solutions.