Christian WellsRegularly backing up your server is crucial for any system administrator. It ensures that your data is protected and can be easily recovered in the event of data loss or system failure. UrBackup is an open-source client/server backup system specifically designed for Linux operating systems. It supports both file and image backups without interrupting ongoing processes. With its easy setup and web-based interface, UrBackup offers a convenient way to manage and monitor backups. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing and using UrBackup Server and Client on Ubuntu 20.04.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- Two servers running Ubuntu 20.04
- Root access to both servers
Step 1: Update the System
First, let’s update the system packages on both the server and client machines. Open a terminal and run the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
This will ensure that your system has the latest updates and security patches.
Step 2: Install UrBackup Server
By default, UrBackup is not available in the Ubuntu default repository. To install it, we need to add the UrBackup repository to our system. Run the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:uroni/urbackup
Once the repository is added, update the package list and install the UrBackup server:
sudo apt update sudo apt install urbackup-server -y
During the installation, you will be prompted to provide a backup location. Choose an appropriate directory where you want to store your backups and click “OK” to proceed.
Step 3: Start and Enable UrBackup Server
After the installation is complete, start the UrBackup service and enable it to start at system boot:
sudo systemctl start urbackupsrv sudo systemctl enable urbackupsrv
To verify that the UrBackup service is running, use the following command:
sudo systemctl status urbackupsrv
If everything is functioning correctly, you should see the status as “active (running)”.
Step 4: Access UrBackup Web Interface
To access the UrBackup web interface, open your web browser and enter the following URL:
http://your-server-ip:55414
Replace your-server-ip with the actual IP address of your Ubuntu server. You should see the UrBackup login screen.
Step 5: Create an Admin User
To manage and configure UrBackup, we need to create an admin user. In the UrBackup web interface, click on the “Settings” tab and navigate to the “Users” section. Click on the “Create” button to create a new admin user. Enter a username, password, and click “Create”.
Step 6: Add UrBackup Client
Next, let’s add a client to the UrBackup server. In the UrBackup web interface, go to the “Status” tab and click on the “Add new client” button. Enter a name for the client and click “Add client”. The client installation information will be displayed.
Step 7: Install UrBackup Client
Now, switch to the client machine and open a terminal. Copy the installation URL from the previous step and run the following command:
TF=`mktemp` && wget "http://your-server-ip:55414/x?a=download_client&lang=en&clientid=1&authkey=LJCRqGL0va&os=linux" -O $TF && sudo sh $TF; rm -f $TF
Replace your-server-ip with the IP address of your UrBackup server. This command will download and install the UrBackup client on the client machine.
Step 8: Verify UrBackup Client Installation
To verify the installation of the UrBackup client, check the status of the client service:
sudo systemctl status urbackupclientbackend
If the client service is running without any errors, you have successfully installed the UrBackup client.
Step 9: Add a Backup Directory
Now, let’s add a backup directory on the client machine. In this example, we will back up the /etc directory. Run the following command:
sudo /usr/local/bin/urbackupclientctl add-backupdir -x -f -d /etc
This command adds the /etc directory as a backup directory in the UrBackup client configuration.
Step 10: Perform a Backup
To perform a backup, go back to the UrBackup web interface and click on the “Status” tab. You should see your client listed. Click on the client and select “Incremental file backup” to initiate the backup process.
Step 11: Verify Backup Status
To check the status of your backups, navigate to the “Backups” tab in the UrBackup web interface. Click on the client name to view the available backups. You can also download the backups to your local system if needed.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have covered the installation and usage of UrBackup Server and Client on Ubuntu 20.04. By following these steps, you can set up a reliable backup system for your Ubuntu servers, ensuring the safety and recoverability of your data. UrBackup’s user-friendly web interface and powerful features make it an excellent choice for Linux backup solutions.
Remember to regularly monitor the backup status and perform tests to ensure that your backups are working correctly. With UrBackup, you can have peace of mind knowing that your data is protected.
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