NAME

config - BackInTime configuration files.

SYNOPSIS

~/.config/backintime/config
 
/etc/backintime/config

DESCRIPTION

Back In Time was developed as pure GUI program and so most functions are only useable with backintime-qt. But it is possible to use Back In Time e.g. on a headless server. You have to create the configuration file (~/.config/backintime/config) manually. Look inside /usr/share/doc/backintime-common/examples/ for examples.
The configuration file has the following format:
 
keyword=arguments
Arguments don't need to be quoted. All characters are allowed except '='.
Run 'backintime check-config' to verify the configfile, create the snapshot folder and crontab entries.

POSSIBLE KEYWORDS

config.version
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
 
Default: 6
 
global.hash_collision
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Internal value used to prevent hash collisions on mountpoints. Do not change this.
Default: 0
 
global.use_flock
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Prevent multiple snapshots (from different profiles or users) to be run at the same time
Default: false
 
profile<N>.name
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
Name of this profile.
Default: Main profile
 
profile<N>.schedule.custom_time
Type: str Allowed Values: comma separated int (8,12,18,23) or */3
 
Custom hours for cronjob. Only valid for profile<N>.schedule.mode = 19
Default: 8,12,18,23
 
profile<N>.schedule.day
Type: int Allowed Values: 1-28
 
Which day of month the cronjob should run? Only valid for profile<N>.schedule.mode >= 40
Default: 1
 
profile<N>.schedule.mode
Type: int Allowed Values: 0|1|2|4|7|10|12|14|16|18|19|20|25|27|30|40|80
 
Which schedule used for crontab. The crontab entry will be generated with 'backintime check-config'.
 

0 = Disabled
 

1 = at every boot
 

2 = every 5 minute
 

4 = every 10 minute
 

7 = every 30 minute
 
10 = every hour
 
12 = every 2 hours
 
14 = every 4 hours
 
16 = every 6 hours
 
18 = every 12 hours
 
19 = custom defined hours
 
20 = every day
 
25 = daily anacron
 
27 = when drive get connected
 
30 = every week
 
40 = every month
 
80 = every year
Default: 0
 
profile<N>.schedule.repeatedly.period
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
How many units to wait between new snapshots with anacron? Only valid for profile<N>.schedule.mode = 25|27
Default: 1
 
profile<N>.schedule.repeatedly.unit
Type: int Allowed Values: 10|20|30|40
 
Units to wait between new snapshots with anacron.
 
10 = hours
 
20 = days
 
30 = weeks
 
40 = months
 
Only valid for profile<N>.schedule.mode = 25|27
Default: 20
 
profile<N>.schedule.time
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-2400
 
Position-coded number with the format "hhmm" to specify the hour and minute the cronjob should start (eg. 2015 means a quarter past 8pm). Leading zeros can be omitted (eg. 30 = 0030). Only valid for profile<N>.schedule.mode = 20 (daily), 30 (weekly), 40 (monthly) and 80 (yearly)
Default: 0
 
profile<N>.schedule.weekday
Type: int Allowed Values: 1 = monday - 7 = sunday
 
Which day of week the cronjob should run? Only valid for profile<N>.schedule.mode = 30
Default: 7
 
profile<N>.snapshots.backup_on_restore.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Rename existing files before restore into FILE.backup.YYYYMMDD
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.bwlimit.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Limit rsync bandwidth usage over network. Use this with mode SSH. For mode Local you should rather use ionice.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.bwlimit.value
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Bandwidth limit in KB/sec.
Default: 3000
 
profile<N>.snapshots.continue_on_errors
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Continue on errors. This will keep incomplete snapshots rather than deleting and start over again.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.copy_links
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
When symlinks are encountered, the item that they point to (the reference) is copied, rather than the symlink.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.copy_unsafe_links
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
This tells rsync to copy the referent of symbolic links that point outside the copied tree. Absolute symlinks are also treated like ordinary files.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.cron.ionice
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run cronjobs with 'ionice -c2 -n7'. This will give BackInTime the lowest IO bandwidth priority to not interrupt any other working process.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.cron.nice
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run cronjobs with 'nice -n19'. This will give BackInTime the lowest CPU priority to not interrupt any other working process.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.cron.redirect_stderr
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
redirect stderr to /dev/null in cronjobs
Default: False
 
profile<N>.snapshots.cron.redirect_stdout
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
redirect stdout to /dev/null in cronjobs
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.dont_remove_named_snapshots
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Keep snapshots with names during smart_remove.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.exclude.bysize.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Enable exclude files by size.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.exclude.bysize.value
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Exclude files bigger than value in MiB. With 'Full rsync mode' disabled this will only affect new files because for rsync this is a transfer option, not an exclude option. So big files that has been backed up before will remain in snapshots even if they had changed.
Default: 500
 
profile<N>.snapshots.exclude.<I>.value
Type: str Allowed Values: file, folder or pattern (relative or absolute)
 
Exclude this file or folder. <I> must be a counter starting with 1
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.exclude.size
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Quantity of profile<N>.snapshots.exclude.<I> entries.
Default: -1
 
profile<N>.snapshots.include.<I>.type
Type: int Allowed Values: 0|1
 
Specify if profile<N>.snapshots.include.<I>.value is a folder (0) or a file (1).
Default: 0
 
profile<N>.snapshots.include.<I>.value
Type: str Allowed Values: absolute path
 
Include this file or folder. <I> must be a counter starting with 1
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.include.size
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Quantity of profile<N>.snapshots.include.<I> entries.
Default: -1
 
profile<N>.snapshots.keep_only_one_snapshot.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED. Remove all snapshots but one.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.local.nocache
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run rsync on local machine with 'nocache'. This will prevent files from being cached in memory.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.local_encfs.path
Type: str Allowed Values: absolute path
 
Where to save snapshots in mode 'local_encfs'.
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.log_level
Type: int Allowed Values: 1-3
 
Log level used during takeSnapshot.
 
1 = Error
 
2 = Changes
 
3 = Info
Default: 3
 
profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_inodes.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Remove snapshots until profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_inodes.value free inodes in % is reached.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_inodes.value
Type: int Allowed Values: 1-15
 
Keep at least value % free inodes.
Default: 2
 
profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_space.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Remove snapshots until profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_space.value free space is reached.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_space.unit
Type: int Allowed Values: 10|20
 
10 = MB
 
20 = GB
Default: 20
 
profile<N>.snapshots.min_free_space.value
Type: int Allowed Values: 1-99999
 
Keep at least value + unit free space.
Default: 1
 
profile<N>.snapshots.mode
Type: str Allowed Values: local|local_encfs|ssh|ssh_encfs
 

Use mode (or backend) for this snapshot. Look at 'man backintime' section 'Modes'.
Default: local
 
profile<N>.snapshots.<MODE>.password.save
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Save password to system keyring (gnome-keyring or kwallet). <MODE> must be the same as profile<N>.snapshots.mode
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.<MODE>.password.use_cache
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Cache password in RAM so it can be read by cronjobs. Security issue: root might be able to read that password, too. <MODE> must be the same as profile<N>.snapshots.mode
Default: true if home is not encrypted
 
profile<N>.snapshots.no_on_battery
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Don't take snapshots if the Computer runs on battery.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.notify.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Display notifications (errors, warnings) through libnotify.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.path
Type: str Allowed Values: absolute path
 
Where to save snapshots in mode 'local'. This path must contain a folderstructure like 'backintime/<HOST>/<USER>/<PROFILE_ID>'
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.path.host
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
Set Host for snapshot path
Default: local hostname
 
profile<N>.snapshots.path.profile
Type: str Allowed Values: 1-99999
 
Set Profile-ID for snapshot path
Default: current Profile-ID
 
profile<N>.snapshots.path.user
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
Set User for snapshot path
Default: local username
 
profile<N>.snapshots.path.uuid
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
Devices uuid used to automatically set up udev rule if the drive is not connected.
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.preserve_acl
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Preserve ACL. The source and destination systems must have compatible ACL entries for this option to work properly.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.preserve_xattr
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Preserve extended attributes (xattr).
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.remove_old_snapshots.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Remove all snapshots older than value + unit
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.remove_old_snapshots.unit
Type: int Allowed Values: 20|30|80
 
20 = days
 
30 = weeks
 
80 = years
Default: 80
 
profile<N>.snapshots.remove_old_snapshots.value
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Snapshots older than this times units will be removed
Default: 10
 
profile<N>.snapshots.rsync_options.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Past additional options to rsync
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.rsync_options.value
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
rsync options. Options must be quoted e.g. --exclude-from="/path/to/my exclude file"
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.smart_remove
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run smart_remove to clean up old snapshots after a new snapshot was created.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.smart_remove.keep_all
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Keep all snapshots for X days.
Default: 2
 
profile<N>.snapshots.smart_remove.keep_one_per_day
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Keep one snapshot per day for X days.
Default: 7
 
profile<N>.snapshots.smart_remove.keep_one_per_month
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Keep one snapshot per month for X month.
Default: 24
 
profile<N>.snapshots.smart_remove.keep_one_per_week
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-99999
 
Keep one snapshot per week for X weeks.
Default: 4
 
profile<N>.snapshots.smart_remove.run_remote_in_background
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
If using mode SSH or SSH-encrypted, run smart_remove in background on remote machine
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.check_commands
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Check if all commands (used during takeSnapshot) work like expected on the remote host.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.check_ping
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Check if the remote host is available before trying to mount.
Default: true
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.cipher
Type: str Allowed Values: default | aes192-cbc | aes256-cbc | aes128-ctr | aes192-ctr | aes256-ctr | arcfour | arcfour256 | arcfour128 | aes128-cbc | 3des-cbc | blowfish-cbc | cast128-cbc
 
Cipher that is used for encrypting the SSH tunnel. Depending on the environment (network bandwidth, cpu and hdd performance) a different cipher might be faster.
Default: default
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.host
Type: str Allowed Values: IP or domain address
 
Remote host used for mode 'ssh' and 'ssh_encfs'.
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.ionice
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run rsync and other commands on remote host with 'ionice -c2 -n7'
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.max_arg_length
Type: int Allowed Values: 0, >700
 
Maximum argument length of commands run on remote host. This can be tested with 'python3 /usr/share/backintime/common/sshMaxArg.py USER@HOST'.
 
0 = unlimited
Default: 0
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.nice
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run rsync and other commands on remote host with 'nice -n19'
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.nocache
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run rsync on remote host with 'nocache'. This will prevent files from being cached in memory.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.path
Type: str Allowed Values: absolute or relative path
 
Snapshot path on remote host. If the path is relative (no leading '/') it will start from remote Users homedir. An empty path will be replaced with './'.
Default: ''
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.port
Type: int Allowed Values: 0-65535
 
SSH Port on remote host.
Default: 22
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.prefix.enabled
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Add prefix to every command which run through SSH on remote host.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.prefix.value
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
Prefix to run before every command on remote host. Variables need to be escaped with \$FOO. This doesn't touch rsync. So to add a prefix for rsync use profile<N>.snapshots.rsync_options.value with --rsync-path="FOO=bar:\$FOO /usr/bin/rsync"
Default: 'PATH=/opt/bin:/opt/sbin:\$PATH'
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.private_key_file
Type: str Allowed Values: absolute path to private key file
 
Private key file used for password-less authentication on remote host.
Default: ~/.ssh/id_dsa
 
profile<N>.snapshots.ssh.user
Type: str Allowed Values: text
 
Remote SSH user
Default: local users name
 
profile<N>.snapshots.take_snapshot_regardless_of_changes
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Create a new snapshot regardless if there were changes or not.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.use_checksum
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Use checksum to detect changes rather than size + time.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.snapshots.user_backup.ionice
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Run BackInTime with 'ionice -c2 -n7' when taking a manual snapshot. This will give BackInTime the lowest IO bandwidth priority to not interrupt any other working process.
Default: false
 
profile<N>.user_callback.no_logging
Type: bool Allowed Values: true|false
 
Do not catch std{out|err} from user-callback script. The script will only write to current TTY. Default is to catch std{out|err} and write it to syslog and TTY again.
Default: false
 
profiles
Type: str Allowed Values: int separated by colon (e.g. 1:3:4)
 
All active Profiles (<N> in profile<N>.snapshots...).
Default: 1
 
profiles.version
Type: int Allowed Values: 1
 
Internal version of profiles config.
Default: 1

SEE ALSO

backintime, backintime-qt.
Back In Time also has a website: https://github.com/bit-team/backintime

AUTHOR

This manual page was written by BIT Team(<[email protected]>).

Questions & Answers

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