Re: [BackupPC-users] [BackupPC-devel] FUSE / BackupPC

Hello Steven,

I do agree that restoration is sort of an arcane process with only a couple good options, and that FUSE is a good way to get around it. Perhaps working some client authentication in there that talks to the remote BackupPC server would also be a good idea.

If you're looking at the BackupPC source code and really do plan on making a read-only file system, you should look at lib/BackupPC/View.pm, lib/BackupPC/FileZIO.pm, and lib/BackupPC/Attrib.pm to get an idea of how the pool structure is read. this may also require some work on the server-side to handle authentication, as permissions for BackupPC pool access are handled through the daemon and various modules. Feel free to email me about any ideas or questions you have.

Adios,

On Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 3:41 PM, Stephen Day <sd AT unixtastic DOT com> wrote:

Hello Paul,

I did see something about a BSDfuse too.

I would not want users writting to the backups or using them for anything but
getting old versions of their files. I was thinking of something read-only
like netapps snapshots only very different in implementation.

The main reason for wanting backups as regular filesystems is so they can be
exported via NFS or samba to clients allowing users to use their native tools
to restore files. The web interface is great for people who have some idea
how backuppc works but making things as simple as possible from the user
point of view is a good aim. Many non-technical users have trouble with
anything more complex than drag and drop.

I have started on a fuse script. It will take some time to get it right and
even longer to get it up to the standard needed for possible inclusion in
BackupPC. I'll let this list know when I have something workable.

Stephen

On Tuesday 22 July 2008 21:35:36 Paul Mantz wrote:
> Hello Steven,
>
> FUSE is a very cool system and the idea is completely feasible. MacFUSE
> also exists, which would allow OS X users to use the FUSE filesystem.
> However, actually having a drive mounted on the machine may promote the use
> of the BackupPC pool as a storage unit in and of itself, which would be a
> mistake once older backups start getting deleted.
>
> BackupPC's web interface can be configured so that users can only look at
> the backups of their particular computer. I'd suggest reading the CGI
> options in the /etc/BackupPC/config.pl script if you'd like to go that
> route.
>
> Adios,
>
> On Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 1:04 PM, Stephen Day <sd AT unixtastic DOT com> wrote:
> > BackupPC developers,
> >
> > I use BackupPC at home and at work, thanks for this great tool.
> >
> >
> > What I would find useful is to be able to access point in time backups as
> > filesystems via fuse, with the original permissions and ownerships
> > intact. That way users could be able to restore their own files without
> > having to understand anything about BackupPC.
> >
> > I know this would only ever work on linux so maybe it belongs in a
> > separate project?
> >
> > Has this idea been considered? I searched google and could not find
> > anything
> > relevant.
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Stephen Day - System admin and unix guy.
> >
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's
> > challenge
> > Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great
> > prizes
> > Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the
> > world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url="">
> > _______________________________________________
> > BackupPC-devel mailing list
> > BackupPC-devel AT lists.sourceforge DOT net
> > List: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/backuppc-devel
> > Wiki: http://backuppc.wiki.sourceforge.net
> > Project: http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/

--
Paul Mantz
http://www.mcpantz.org
Zmanda - Open source backup and recovery http://www.zmanda.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge
Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes
Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world
http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/

_______________________________________________
BackupPC-users mailing list
BackupPC-users AT lists.sourceforge DOT net
List:    https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/backuppc-users
Wiki:    http://backuppc.wiki.sourceforge.net
Project: http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/