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The 15 Best Backup Software For Linux Desktop

To recover from some unexpected situations like human errors, Disk failure or RAID, Corruption of file systems, we need a good backup plan. The following Top 15 Free Open Source Backup Software for Ubuntu/Linux, which we are going to discuss, is very much helpful to avoid these types of situations.

But before going to our main discussion, let’s discuss some necessary things we need to know about backup software.

Open source software – we should use software that has the source code is available and may be free and have the authentication for modifying. It will help us ensure that we can recover data if the vendor/project stopped working on software or refused to provide patches.

Cross-platform support –We need to ensure that backup software will work on all OS platforms on all desktop and server operating systems.

Data format – We need to check that if It has an open data format that ensures that we can recover data if the vendor or project stopped.

Auto-changers – Auto-changer is a backup device. They include a library, near-line storage also autoloader. Auto-changers allows us automatic loading task, mounting, and labeling backup media.

Backup media – Before starting, we need to make sure about backup of our data in other external files.

Encryption DataStream –We need to make sure all client-to-server traffic is encrypted.

Database support – We need to make sure all backup software can backup database servers such as MySQL or Oracle.

Best Backup Software for Linux


Here we are coming with the Top 15 Best Backup Software for Linux. This list is a generic order and doesn’t follow any sequence.

1.  Bacula


Bacula

Bacula is an Open Source Backup Software. This enterprise-level computer backup system can work in various networks. It is an automated task that need not require intervention from a systems administrator or computer operator. Bacula supports Linux, UNIX, and Windows backup clients.

It also supports a wide range of professional backup devices and tape libraries. Administrators and operators can configure the system via a command-line console, GUI, or web interface. Its back-end is a catalog of information that is stored in MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite.

Features:

  • Backport code from BEE
  • New Qt-based Tray Monitor
  • Maximum Concurrent Jobs for Devices
  • Allow Compression and Accurate Backup    
  • Accurate File set Options  
  • Tab-completion for Console
  • ACL Updates and Extended Attributes
  • Virtual Backup and Duplicate Job Control                     
  • TLS Authentication

Download

2.  Amanda


Amanda Backup Solution

Another very interesting Open Source of Backup Software for Linux is Amanda. It can work on GNU or Unix/Linux also Windows. It has native backup facilities and formats which can backup on Unix/Linux. We can use a single backup server, too, to back up from several machines on a network.

Features:

  • Broad platform protection
  • Database and application protection
  • Backup Fault Tolerance
  • Flexible Media Options
  • Rapid Installer
  • Intelligent Scheduler
  • Automated Data Retention and Disposition Policy

Download

3.  Rsync


Rsync

Rsync is a command-line Linux backup tool, but now it has a graphical user interface also. Linux users, especially System Administrators, like it very much. Its graphical interface is called Grsync. Through the command line, an automated backup can be done through experienced System Administrators.

Features:

  • Requires less memory to run
  • Incremental backups
  • Update whole directory tree and file system
  • Both local and remote backups
  • Preserve file permissions and ownership

Download

4.  Time Vault


Time Vault

Time Vault is an Open Source Backup Software for Linux. It’s equivalent to Time Machine from Apple. It creates incremental backup files that can be restored at a later date. It can take snapshots, which can be stored in a directory at a certain point in time. These snapshots are very little spaced, so we need not entire backup files.

Features:

  • Creates incremental backups
  • Take a snapshot of the entire store as a backup
  • Creates more versions backed up data available for restoration
  • Nice looking graphical front end
  • The installation process is pretty straightforward.

5.  Clonezilla


Clonezilla

Symantec Ghost Corporate Edition launches the Open Source Backup Software Clonezilla based on DRBL. The primary mechanism of this software includes Image partition, partial clone, udpcast, etc. To bare metal backup and recovery udpcast. There are two types of Clonezilla available. These are Clonezilla live and Clonezilla SE. For single machine backup and restore, Clonezilla live is used, and for a server, Clonezilla SE is used.

Features:

  • Multi-file System Support
  • BIOS or UEFI Machine Bootable
  • Unattended Mode
  • Customizable Imaging & Cloning
  • Single Image Restore to Multiple Local Devices
  • Image Encryption
  • Whole Disk/Partition Save and Restore
  • Multicast Support for Massive Cloning

Download

6.  Duplicity


Duplicity backups

Duplicity backups directories by producing encrypted tar-format volumes. It uploads them to a remote or local file server. Duplicity uses librsync, which is incrementally archived. It only keeps recording the parts of files that have changed since the last backup. Duplicity uses GnuPG to encrypt and/or sign this archive.

Features:

  • Easy to use
  • Encrypted and signed archive
  • Bandwidth and space-efficient
  • Standard file format
  • Choice of remote protocol

7.  FlyBack


FlyBack

Flyback is created based on Rsync. It creates incremental backups of files like the other Rsync-based backup, which can be restored later. A chronological view of a file system allows individual files or directories to be previewed or retrieved one at a time. They present a view of a standard file manager that enables additional controls to go forward and backward.

Features:

  • Automatically run selective backups
  • Selectively delete specific backups
  • The ability to backup user-specified directories to any place includes an external disk.
  • Scans the entire directory structure when performing a backup
  • Schedule multiple backups are possible
  • User control over the backup location, inclusion, and exclusion list
  • Has a friendly graphical user interface

Download

8.  BackupNinja


BackupNinja

Backupninja is a useful reinforcement backup tool for Linux. Backupninja enables clients to plan reinforcement action design documents. Those documents can be hung in /etc/backup.d/ Directory. Backupninja performs secure, remote, and incremental reinforcements over a system.

Features:

  • Easy to utilize reinforcement set maker called Ninja partner
  • Works with Linux virtual servers
  • Database reinforcement arrangement included
  • Scheduled reinforcements
  • Email alarms

Run the following command to install BackupNinja on Ubuntu Server:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install backupninja duplicity rdiff-backup

9.  Kbackup


Kbackup

Kbackup is a straightforward backup tool for Linux OS, which can also be used in UNIX. After creating archives and compressing them using tar, gzip utilities, it takes backup. It’s very user-friendly and has a lot of menu items to operate. It also supports encryption and double buffering.

Features:

  • compression, encryption, and double buffering supported
  • Supports full or incremental backups
  • High reliability
  • support for tape drives, floppies or removable media, remote backup across networks
  • Document extensively

Run the following command to install Kbackup:

sudo apt-get install kbackup

10.  BackupPC


BackupPC is a fully cross-platform software that can run on all OS. This software is designed for enterprise use. BackupPC supports full file compression and uses small disk space. BackupPC doesn’t need any client-side software to run. This can provide a very high-performance backup.

Features:

  • Very flexible Flexibility during the backup restoration
  • No client-side software is needed
  • Full set of restore options is supported
  • Huge documentation is available
  • Powerful web user interface

Download

11.  Fwbackups


Fwbackups

Fwbackups is another Free Linux Open Source Backup Software that supports the cross-platform. Fwbackups has vibrant features and a user satisfaction rate. One of the exciting things about Fwbackups is that the user can take part in developing this software and only can use it as a tester. It has a very user-friendly interface that can be used as a secure backup.

Features:

  • An excellent and simple interface
  • Very much flexible in the backup configuration
  • Backup can be done remotely
  • The entire file can be backed up
  • Options for excluding files and directories

Download

12.  Simple Backup Suite


Simple Backup Suite

Gnome interface is used as a backup configuration where users can access all. Mostly used for the Gnome desktop. Regex can be used for specifying files and directories. The friendly and good-looking interface is easily customizable.

Features:

  • Multiple backup profiles
  • Compressed and uncompressed backups
  • Login and mail notification is available
  • Two types of backup- schedule and manual
  • local and remote backups

Download

13.  Back In Time


Back In Time

It is straightforward and simple to utilize the backup tool for Linux operating systems and works by taking snapshots of determining indexes and sponsorship.

Features:

  • Two types of backups Manual or automatic.
  • Directories backup.
  • Back in Time Backup
  • Scheduled backup

Download and Installation

14.  Mondorescue


Mondorescue

This is one of the best and free open source backup software. Mondorescue is very much reliable because it has an extensive collection of comprehensive features. It can perform backups from personal computers, workstations, or servers. Backup directories can be circle partitions, tapes, NFS, CD-[R|W], DVD-R[W], DVD+R[W], etc.

Features:

  • Linux installation can be cloned
  • Non RAID backup can be restored as RAID
  • system running on one format and restore as another
  • Verify the integrity
  • can backup Linux/Windows systems, including the boot sectors

Download

15.  Box Backup Tool


Open source and utterly automatic backup software for Linux. Backup data can be stored on the server and can be restored very quickly. The user can choose optimized and documented if their files in a local server or backed up in the live server.

Features:

  • Online backups
  • Automated backups
  • Backups in files
  • Behaves like tape
  • Easy and cheap to run a server

Download and Installation

Honorable Mention


# CloudBerry Backup

CloudBerry BackupCloudBerry Backup is a free cross-platform cloud backup solution that provides decent backups of your computer or server. It has advanced backup customization features and supports Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, as well as Windows and Mac OSs. This backup software is featured with a command-line console, GUI, and web interface.

With CloudBerry Backup, you can back up files and folders to your local drives or cloud storage: it is compatible with more than 20 popular cloud storage services, including Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, and more.

Features:

  • Scheduled backup
  • Incremental backup
  • Retention policy
  • Symlinks support
  • Local backup and network locations backup
  • Customizable email notifications

Final Thought


Backup of personal computers or servers is always essential to prevent permanent information misfortune. Therefore, becoming acquainted with different backup tools is very important, particularly for System Administrators who work with extensive enterprise-level information and even personal computers.

It is always a conventional practice to keep on going down information on our computers; this should either be possible physically or configured to work consequently. Numerous backup tools have different features that allow users to set the backup, time of backup, what to backup, logging backup exercises, and some more.

Did you like this list of best and free open source backup software for Linux? If that happened so, please share this with your friends on social media, and apparently, this will keep UbuntuPIT alive.

Mehedi Hasan
Mehedi Hasan
Mehedi Hasan is a passionate enthusiast for technology. He admires all things tech and loves to help others understand the fundamentals of Linux, servers, networking, and computer security in an understandable way without overwhelming beginners. His articles are carefully crafted with this goal in mind - making complex topics more accessible.

14 COMMENTS

  1. I am a single user with an Ubuntu 20.04 Gnome basic setup.
    I like unencrypted, uncompressed COPY style backup, today’s external storage is cheep, more convenient to have my backups in the original file format, not in tar files.
    I tried several systems over the past few weeks, because most articles do not mention detailed features and I wasted a lot of time, downloading, installing, removing…

    But, thank you

    • Hi Alex,
      On my laptop, I have Windoze 10, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, and 20.04 LTS. I tend to agree with your comments which however were truncated. Would love to learn your final choice.

  2. For something purporting to be in 2020 there are some obvious gaps and the article does not make a clear distinction between file level and image level backups. I’m a timeshift/backintime user – no mention of timeshift, no mention of luckupbackup.

    For image backups, clonezilla is the grand-daddy of them all, but very unfriendly for new users. No mention of redo, now relaunched as rescuezilla or foxclone. Both have simple to use GUI interfaces.

  3. Please stop listing Bacula so high up: that beautiful picture of an admin tool is for the paid edition. The free edition of that tool is nowhere to be found. The community edition is all command line (except a useless PHP GUI that only shows some data). Also it’s impossible to use, even for experimented users.

  4. Great list, thanks for listing this and give features!
    What i am missing here is pros and cons, but i guess you haven’t test all software and maybe are unable to tell this.

    It’s hard to make a desicion from this list and will have to test multiple packages or find reviews before this list make sense.
    So altho i really like this information…it’s still missing some important information for people to make a desicion based on this post.

  5. AMANDA/ZMANDA is a backup solution that allows the IT administrator to set up a single master backup server to back up multiple hosts over network to tape drives/changers or disks or optical media. Amanda uses native utilities and formats (e.g. dump and/or GNU tar) and can back up a large number of servers and workstations running multiple versions of Linux or Unix.
    The main advantage of this product is Amanda/Zmanda supports both tape-based and disk-based backup. Amanda supports tape-spanning – i.e. if a backup set does not fit in one tape, it will be split into multiple tapes. Among its key features is an intelligent scheduler which optimizes the use of computing resources across backup runs.

    Amanda Enterprise Edition is a commercial version of Amanda which has been developed by Zmanda. It includes a management GUI—Zmanda Management Console (ZMC)—and other features such as scheduler, plugin framework, and also an optional cloud backup service support. The cloud backup option uses the Amazon S3 service from Amazon Web Services as the cloud storage provider and enables safe offsite storage of the Amanda backup data.

  6. Thanks for sharing Backup Software for Linux. very greatful article, I hope you will share more information for your Blog. Keep us sharing more interesting posts.

    thank you!

  7. Few commands in cron / shell script solve all of these features.
    I never used any backup software instead of script, even I early backup on tape.

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