On this tutorial, we will learn how to install Timeshift (backup/restore software) version 20.03 on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS operating system.
Introduction
To secure our system from damage or data loss, we need an application that can backup and restore in case of an incident. And if our system is Linux, then Timeshift is one of the backup/restore applications that can be a priority choice. Timeshift is an application that will create a Backup and Restore Point on our Linux Environment. On this article we will show you how to install Timeshift on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS operating system.
Timeshift Installation on Ubuntu 20.04
The Timeshfit installation guide will be divided into several topics as described below :
- Add repository
- Update system
- Install Timeshift Application
- Verify Timeshift Installation
- Take System Backup
Adding Timeshift Respository
Timeshift packages are available in Launchpad PPA (ppa:teejee2008/ppa repository), so we will add it to our repository packages by submitting command line :
$ sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/ppa
Output :
ramans@ubuntu:~$ sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/ppa
[sudo] password for ramans:
Hit:1 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:2 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal-updates InRelease
Hit:3 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal-backports InRelease
Hit:4 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal-security InRelease
Get:5 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease [17.5 kB]
Get:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu focal/main amd64 Packages [800 B]
Get:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu focal/main Translation-en [392 B]
Fetched 18.7 kB in 13s (1,447 B/s)
Reading package lists… Done
Update System
Then we update our repository packages by submitting command line :
$ sudo apt update
Output :
ramans@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt update
Hit:1 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:2 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal-updates InRelease
Hit:3 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal-backports InRelease
Hit:4 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal-security InRelease
Hit:5 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Install Timeshift Application
Afer all are set, then we will install Timeshift application by submitting command line :
$ sudo apt install -y timeshift
Output :
ramans@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt install -y timeshift
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
timeshift
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 415 not upgraded.
Need to get 640 kB of archives.
After this operation, 3,323 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://kambing.ui.ac.id/ubuntu focal/universe amd64 timeshift amd64 20.03+ds-2 [640 kB]
Fetched 640 kB in 5s (118 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package timeshift.
(Reading database … 180253 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack …/timeshift_20.03+ds-2_amd64.deb …
Unpacking timeshift (20.03+ds-2) …
Setting up timeshift (20.03+ds-2) …
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) …
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.24-1ubuntu2) …
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.64ubuntu1) …
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) …
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1ubuntu1) …
Verify Timeshift Installation
We can check our installation by starting Timeshift application from command line or we can also call Timeshift application from GUI (Activities » Search for Timeshift). Calling Timeshift via command line (console) will be shown below :
ramans@ubuntu:~$ timeshift
Timeshift v20.03 by Tony George (teejeetech@gmail.com)
Syntax:
timeshift --check
timeshift --create [OPTIONS]
timeshift --restore [OPTIONS]
timeshift --delete-[all] [OPTIONS]
timeshift --list-{snapshots|devices} [OPTIONS]
Options:
List:
--list[-snapshots] List snapshots
--list-devices List devices
Backup:
--check Create snapshot if scheduled
--create Create snapshot (even if not scheduled)
--comments <string> Set snapshot description
--tags {O,B,H,D,W,M} Add tags to snapshot (default: O)
Restore:
--restore Restore snapshot
--clone Clone current system
--snapshot <name> Specify snapshot to restore
--target[-device] <device> Specify target device
--grub[-device] <device> Specify device for installing GRUB2 bootloader
--skip-grub Skip GRUB2 reinstall
Delete:
--delete Delete snapshot
--delete-all Delete all snapshots
Global:
--snapshot-device <device> Specify backup device (default: config)
--yes Answer YES to all confirmation prompts
--btrfs Switch to BTRFS mode (default: config)
--rsync Switch to RSYNC mode (default: config)
--debug Show additional debug messages
--verbose Show rsync output (default)
--quiet Hide rsync output
--scripted Run in non-interactive mode
--help Show all options
Examples:
timeshift --list
timeshift --list --snapshot-device /dev/sda1
timeshift --create --comments "after update" --tags D
timeshift --restore
timeshift --restore --snapshot '2014-10-12_16-29-08' --target /dev/sda1
timeshift --delete --snapshot '2014-10-12_16-29-08'
timeshift --delete-all
Notes:
1) --create will always create a new snapshot
2) --check will create a snapshot only if a scheduled snapshot is due
3) Use --restore without other options to select options interactively
4) UUID can be specified instead of device name
5) Default values will be loaded from app config if options are not specified
Take System Backup
On this stage we will take system backup using Timeshift.
- Running Timeshift from the Graphical interface
Activities » Search for Timeshift.
Enter password to get an authentication.
Follow the backup wizard to configure Timeshift.
- Running Timeshift from Command line
Submit the command line timeshfit then press enter
We will be prompted timeshfit menu
Conclusion
On this short article, we have learnt how to install Timeshift on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS operating system.
