Skip to main content
In this lesson, we cover two fundamental Linux backup tools:
  1. rsync for efficient file-level synchronization
  2. dd for creating bit-for-bit disk or partition images
While there are many advanced backup utilities, mastering these native commands ensures you can handle common backup and restore tasks on any Linux system.

​
Synchronizing Files with rsync

rsync (remote synchronization) efficiently copies and updates files between two locations, either locally or over SSH. It transfers only changes, saving bandwidth and time.

​
Basic Syntax

rsync [options] [source/] [user@remote_host:/path/to/destination/]
OptionDescription
-aArchive mode: preserves permissions, timestamps, symlinks, recursion
-vVerbose output
-hHuman-readable numbers
-PShow progress and keep partially transferred files
Always include a trailing slash on the source directory (source/) to copy its contents rather than the directory itself.

​
Examples

Sync local → remote: 
rsync -avhP Pictures/ [email protected]:/home/aaron/Pictures/
Sync remote → local: 
rsync -avhP [email protected]:/home/aaron/Pictures/ Pictures/
Sync two local directories: 
rsync -avh /path/to/source/ /path/to/destination/

​
Creating Disk Images with dd

The dd command performs a low-level copy of a disk or partition, producing an exact image file. This is ideal for full-system backups or forensic duplication.
Before imaging, unmount the target partition or disk to prevent data corruption:
sudo umount /dev/vda1

​
Basic dd Command

sudo dd if=/dev/vda of=diskimage.raw bs=1M status=progress
OptionPurpose
if=Input file (source disk/partition, e.g., /dev/vda)
of=Output file (destination image, e.g., diskimage.raw)
bs=Block size (e.g., 1M for faster transfer)
status=progressDisplay ongoing copy progress

​
Sample Output

$ sudo dd if=/dev/vda of=diskimage.raw bs=1M status=progress
1340080128 bytes (1.3 GB) copied,  3 s, 432 MB/s

​
Restoring a Disk Image

To write the image back to a disk (this will overwrite the target): 
sudo dd if=diskimage.raw of=/dev/vda bs=1M status=progress
Ensure you specify the correct of= target. Writing to the wrong device can destroy your data.

​
Next Steps

Continue your journey in Linux file management:
  • Explore advanced tar options for incremental backups
  • Automate backups with cron or systemd timers
  • Integrate encryption with gpg or LUKS for secure archives

Watch Video