rsync from MAC to backup disk to use in windows

[lakshmik]

I am trying to backup from my MAC laptop to backup disk to use in windows laptop using below command,

rsync -vaPh --chmod=ugo+r,ug+w,ugo+X /Users/lakshmi/ /Volumes/BACKUP

The rsync is supposed to copy all files for the first time and second time onwards it has to only copy modified files, but it is doing complete backup second time too. This is because the rsync treats each file as new one due to different permission on BACKUP disc.

Could anybody suggest how to overcome this problem.

Thanks.

 

[switon]

RE: rsync...

Hi lakshmik,

Yes, I believe you are right, rsync thinks the files are new because they differ by permissions from the old ones already rsync-ed. These files are different, and I think this is proper behavior on rsync's part. But I think you can get around this by not using the "-a" switch on rsync, that is, do not require rsync to preserve the group and owner permissions which "-a" does automatically. You can leave out the permissions preserving from subsequent rsyncs by using the individual switches instead of the catchall "-a" switch.

Regards,
Switon

 

[lakshmik]

rsync from MAC to backup disk to use in windows

Switon,

Thanks for the response. If it does not preserve the ownership, then wouldnt there be issues when I try to copy it to windows computer. In windows the owner is different from MAC computer.

 

[switon]

RE: preserve permissions...

Hi,

What I meant is to change the ownership and group permissions on the first rsync, but then on subsequent rsyncs do not preserve the permissions (i.e., don't use the -a switch --- see the "man rsync" manpage for documentation).

Switon

P.S. I don't know whether this will get around your problem or not, but it is worth a try. You might also think about having the same user on both Max OS and Windows, although I'm not familiar enough with Windows to know how to do that, but in the Linux world it is easy to do.

 

[old-wiz]

If you are planning to backup to use in windows in the sense of booting the backup on a windows machine you will be disappointed. there is more to the issue than just copying the files.