CCT Backup Script

• Backup a your files once
• Incrementally backup your files at any point when you feel that it is appropriate
• Automatically backup your files on a daily basis

1. Download the script
   Right click (ctrl-click on a Mac) on the following link and choose 'Save link as' (Firefox) or 'Download linked file' (Safari). Choose a location to save the file and remember it.
   Download the script
2. Configure the backup script settings
   Open a terminal window and go to the directory where you saved the script. Before you run it, you will have to make it executable. This is done by running "chmod u+x <name of file>". Then you should run the script with the --configure parameter. Example: if the script was saved as /tmp/cctbackup, you would run the following:
   
   $ cd /tmp
$ chmod u+x cctbackup
$ ./cctbackup --configure

   At this point, you will be asked a few questions. For each one, you can accept the default by pressing <enter> or <return>.
   • Which directory (on this machine) should be backed up?
     The default setting (your home directory) should be fine.
   • Which server should we backup to?
     The default setting (is.cct.lsu.edu) should be fine.
   • What is your username on is.cct.lsu.edu?
     This will be your LDAP username. This is the same as the part of your CCT email address before the @ symbol.
   • Where on is.cct.lsu.edu should your backups be stored?
     You may choose any name you like, but the default should be fine. If choose to run this script from multiple computers, make sure that this setting is always unique.
   • At what hour should automatic backups be performed?
     This will only affect automatic backups if you choose to enable them. It defaults to 3 (03:00) local time.
   • Automatic authentication
     This will configure SSH keys so that the script can perform automatic backups. You will not be able to use the backup script unless this step is completed. You will be asked for your password on the backup server, but this password will not be stored anywhere.
3. Perform a one-time backup or an incremental backup
   After the configuration is complete, a backup can be performed by running the script with the --sync parameter.
   
   $ ./cctbackup --sync
   
   You should see the name of each file as it is being copied. If anything is wrong, an appropriate error message should be displayed.
4. Setup the script to automatically backup files daily (optional)
   To make the script run automatically every day, simply run the script with the --activate parameter. If at a later time you decide that you no longer want this to run, you can unschedule it with the --deactivate parameter.
   
   $ ./cctbackup --activate
Backups will now automatically be performed daily at 03:05 local time.
$ ./cctbackup --deactivate
Scheduled backups have now been cancelled.