Which folders and files do I need to exclude from TimeShift?

Also is there a way to also exclude programs installed as .deb ?

I doing this to reduce Backup size as I have limited storage.

100GB - Windows 11
400GB - Storage
400GB - Mint
100GB - TimeShift
    • @[email protected]OP
      1•6 months ago

      If you only want backups of your files

      Actually, I want to backup my system as I’m new to Linux, there is that I will break the system. So, setting up my system from ground again due to some silly mistake I made is tiresome. Also I have separate Storage drive for personal files.

      BTRFS.

      I’m afraid about the compatibility of BTRFS ( not like system drive need any compatibility ). Does it have a good community support as ext4?

      It’s not very friendly when it’s almost full

      ?

  • @[email protected]English
    5•6 months ago

    I put /var/lib/flatpak in a separate btrfs subvolume. Timeshift only takes a snapshot of the root and home subvolumes.

    • @[email protected]OP
      3•6 months ago

      Oh. BTRFS is alien to me man. But a lot of people recommending it to counter the storage constraints. I have to learn it first.

  • @stuner
    3•6 months ago

    You can make this work using ext and Timeshift rsync. I have also opted to exclude /var/lib/flatpak/ because it’s quite large. With that, my 5 snapshots currently take up about 34 GB.

    However, I would recommend backing up your deb applications/packages (typically installed under/usr), as those can be critical for your system.

  • @mrvictory1
    2•6 months ago

    When I did dual boot (good riddance) I gave Linux <100 GB and rest to Windows. I had additional storage partitions but in long term they made management harder for me so I mounted Windows partition for additional space. Here are my recommendations:

    • Merge “Mint” and “Timeshift” partitions.
    • Use BTRFS if you can. In rsync mode of timeshift, the disk will hold 2 copies of your current system + changes between snapshots. In BTRFS there will be 1 copy + changes. BTRFS also supports compression.
    • System wide flatpaks are in /var/lib/flatpak/app. Flatpak installed for one user only are installed somewhere in ~/.var. Keep in mind that home directory is not backed up by default.
    • If you can, ditch dual boot. If the reason of keeping Windows is MS Office or Adobe apps, you can install them on Wine.
    • @[email protected]OP
      2•6 months ago

      Merge “Mint” and “Timeshift” partitions.

      I thought (also most people said) keeping the Backup in same partition as root defeats the purpose of Backup and brings certain inconvenience like can’t just delete the partition. Also I don’t know if its possible to restore a backup from a partition to the same partition itself.

      Use BTRFS if you can.

      I’m aware that BTRFS has certain adavantages. But the whole BTRFS is alien to me, as I’m new to Linux. Also I assumed that BTRFS doesn’t have enough community support as ext4 is default on Linux and many people just aren’t bothered to change it.

      If you can, ditch dual boot. If the reason of keeping Windows is MS Office or Adobe apps, you can install them on Wine.

      I only use Windows for DaVinci Resolve Free. And for the possibility of requiring Windows exclusive programs in the future as I’m an Engineering Student.

      System wide flatpaks are in /var/lib/flatpak/app. Flatpak installed for one user only are installed somewhere in ~/.var. Keep in mind that home directory is not backed up by default.

      Thank You.

      • @[email protected]English
        6•6 months ago

        Btrfs is well supported.

        Btrfs uses snapshots and subvolumes. It is not a traditional partition and can restore to itself.

        I think Timeshift is primarily a snapshotting tool for a quick rollback if something breaks. I would not consider it a full backup tool, there are tools that are much more robust and configurable for keeping files safe and elsewhere.

        • @mrvictory1
          1•6 months ago

          I would recommend using Timeshift. BTRFS mode can create local snapshots and rsync mode can be used to backup to external media. Timeshift can exclude directories based on user preferences.

        • @[email protected]OP
          1•6 months ago

          there are tools that are much more robust and configurable for keeping files safe and elsewhere.

          But AFAIK, Only Pika Backup has intuitive GUI. And It’s auto backup doen’t work on Mint 21.3 cause of some old packge. So I sticked to TimeShift.

      • @[email protected]
        3•6 months ago

        As the other user says, btrfs is well supported. In fact it is preferable in your case, as it allows you to use transparent compression for the whole system. In addition, btrfs snapshots are also drastically safer and faster.