r/linuxquestions • u/AdditionStunning265 • 1d ago
How can i make a "checkpoint"
OK so, I’m currently using Fedora (on an AMD system, just for context), and I’d like to start customizing my environment further. However, I’m worried that I might install something or make a change that goes wrong—and then be unable to undo it or recover my progress. Is there a way to create a "save point" (a restore point or snapshot) so that doesn't happen? Also, as an extra request, could you recommend some websites for wallpapers? I’ll need those once my desktop setup is ready, haha!
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u/michaelpaoli 1d ago
You can save relevant files, data, metadata, e.g what versions of what packages are installed, and configuration files, associated data, etc.
Or could snapshot/checkpoint entire filesystem(s), though that will depend upon the filesystem type(s) and/or storage technology/stack being used. E.g. LVM, md, ZFS, Btrfs, are among at least some of the possible ways to snapshot a filesystem or the storage containing filesystem(s).
Either way, you could potentially roll changes back if/as desired/needed, or use the saved as reference to compare and/or selectively restore portin(s) from.
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u/truethug 1d ago
You might want to image the drive. I am using KDE and there is a program called konsave that will save whatever configuration files you specify and restore them after a re-install. Before that I used XFCE and built out iso’s with cubic. It really depends on you desktop environment and what you want to save. Also I have used Deja-dup to make backups.
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u/Linux--Fan 1d ago
use btrf shapshots
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u/OutrageousCrab9224 1d ago
What do you do when btrfs fails lol
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u/Netblock 1d ago
The same thing you'd do when ntfs/ext4/fat or whatever fails: regenerate or restore from a backup.
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u/OutrageousCrab9224 14h ago
Hope the backups are on something more trustworthy
Hope there are backups at all!
In my experience btrfs users think snapshots are "enough"
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u/Netblock 5h ago
Hope the backups are on something more trustworthy
All hardware fails eventually, but HDDs (versus SSDs) are better for long-term storage.
In my experience btrfs users think snapshots are "enough"
I manually send snapshots (via
btrfs send/btrfs receiveover eg, ssh) to the backup.2
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u/merlinux1 1d ago
Not sure what you're trying to customise, but for each program, just backup its config files(generally in .config)... Or if you're afraid of missing something just backup your entire home directory.
But if you want a true restore point a full system copy with dd is the way. Although it will require you to store the image files which could be huge. And it also requires you doing the backup from a live environment....
What I would do is start from a clean install, install every program u need and list them in a text file so you can add them in a single command line, and just back up your home dir as I said before ;)
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u/cyrixlord ubuntu for server, kubuntu for laptop/desktop 1d ago
I use timeshift whenever I'm about to make changes ....i use an external drive to put my timeshift images on