3 ms·

I've always liked the look of Restic. I should really start using it to backup my Linux servers. However for desktop use, I've always really struggled with th

by tailspin2019 5y ago

I've always liked the look of Restic. I should really start using it to backup my Linux servers. However for desktop use, I've always really struggled with the idea of not having a UI for my backup client. I'm not afraid of the command line, but the idea of browsing backup archives without a GUI feels awkward to me. I wonder if there is room for some sort of add-on GUI for Restic for those that are more visual (unless such a thing already exists?)

cpach 5y ago
I’ve thought a lot about this. One alternative solution could be this: Instead of backing the laptop up directly, sync it to a NAS. (Using rsync or a similar tool.) Then run Restic on the NAS and back up the data from the NAS to S3 or similar.
sandgiant 5y ago
You can use `restic mount` to mount a repository and browse and restore backed up files using your file browser GUI of choice. Works quite well.
- tailspin2019 5y ago
  Wow, that's awesome. I think many more people would use Restic if this was called out prominently on the home page. I've known about Restic for years and would likely be using it by now had I realised that! EDIT: Ah looks like it may not work on Windows. Part of the appeal of Restic, for me, would be being able to cover all of my Windows, Mac and Linux machines with the same system.
  - nightski 5y ago
    I'm guessing it would work in WSL.
- cpach 5y ago
  Ooh, didn’t know. Sounds very useful!
AnonHP 5y ago
Restic doesn’t have a GUI for backup/restore configuration and actions (yet), but I found that Borg has a GUI called Vorta [1] for macOS and Linux. This was mentioned on a HN comment several days ago by @crossroadsguy here. [2] [1]: https://vorta.borgbase.com https://vorta.borgbase.com [2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29089947 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29089947
- crossroadsguy 5y ago
  I really like that tool. I mentioned it on this post as well
jms703 5y ago
Check out Kopia. Seems similar to Restic.
mankyd 5y ago
Indeed, I feel the same way. I used to be a big user of CrashPlan, largely because it had a straightforward UI: highlight a bunch of directories; choose a backup destination; choose a backup frequency. I do like the idea of being able to tune and configure things from the CLI. It was frustrating configuring CrashPlan on a remote computer. With that said, I feel like both should be possible. Even just a basic wrapper GUI would be a start. Edit: and some basic searching has lead me to lots of options! Time to do some more research.
- tailspin2019 5y ago
  I also used (and loved) CrashPlan for years before they went in an odd direction!
crossroadsguy 5y ago
I am a restic user. Use it to backup to b2 and Scaleway. It is not without hiccups, but once setup, and as long as I don’t backup anything from those protected Mac folders, it has worked smooth so far. However I also acutely feel the lack of a standalone GUI so that I can get rid of the scrips and custom setup or at least that can be an option. (There’s a commercial third party UI I think which is a subscription) https://vorta.borgbase.com https://vorta.borgbase.com (a third party qt GUI for borg backup) has been really awesome. Another tool I’m looking at closely is https://kopia.io https://kopia.io. It comes with a UI by default (Electron I guess). Though its UI and logo has quite some work left.
- somishere 5y ago
  I trialed restic, kopia and borg and ended up with kopia, backing up to backblaze + opportunistic external hdd. Costs me cents a month for tb+ between all our devices. Agreed on the kopia UI (and logo, was only thinking that the other day!), it's pretty basic .. but to be honest it's all you need. I use it on my family's machines as well, including wife and parents (same bblaze, dif HDDs), and it means they can pretty much manage it without me. I liked restic and probably would have ended up with it if there was a decent oss/stock UI. Borg was significantly slower on my machine for backup and restore.

cpach 5y ago

I’ve thought a lot about this. One alternative solution could be this: Instead of backing the laptop up directly, sync it to a NAS. (Using rsync or a similar tool.) Then run Restic on the NAS and back up the data from the NAS to S3 or similar.

sandgiant 5y ago

You can use `restic mount` to mount a repository and browse and restore backed up files using your file browser GUI of choice. Works quite well.

tailspin2019 5y ago
Wow, that's awesome. I think many more people would use Restic if this was called out prominently on the home page. I've known about Restic for years and would likely be using it by now had I realised that! EDIT: Ah looks like it may not work on Windows. Part of the appeal of Restic, for me, would be being able to cover all of my Windows, Mac and Linux machines with the same system.
- nightski 5y ago
  I'm guessing it would work in WSL.
cpach 5y ago
Ooh, didn’t know. Sounds very useful!

AnonHP 5y ago

Restic doesn’t have a GUI for backup/restore configuration and actions (yet), but I found that Borg has a GUI called Vorta [1] for macOS and Linux. This was mentioned on a HN comment several days ago by @crossroadsguy here. [2] [1]: https://vorta.borgbase.com https://vorta.borgbase.com [2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29089947 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29089947

crossroadsguy 5y ago
I really like that tool. I mentioned it on this post as well

jms703 5y ago

Check out Kopia. Seems similar to Restic.

mankyd 5y ago

Indeed, I feel the same way. I used to be a big user of CrashPlan, largely because it had a straightforward UI: highlight a bunch of directories; choose a backup destination; choose a backup frequency. I do like the idea of being able to tune and configure things from the CLI. It was frustrating configuring CrashPlan on a remote computer. With that said, I feel like both should be possible. Even just a basic wrapper GUI would be a start. Edit: and some basic searching has lead me to lots of options! Time to do some more research.

tailspin2019 5y ago
I also used (and loved) CrashPlan for years before they went in an odd direction!

crossroadsguy 5y ago

I am a restic user. Use it to backup to b2 and Scaleway. It is not without hiccups, but once setup, and as long as I don’t backup anything from those protected Mac folders, it has worked smooth so far. However I also acutely feel the lack of a standalone GUI so that I can get rid of the scrips and custom setup or at least that can be an option. (There’s a commercial third party UI I think which is a subscription) https://vorta.borgbase.com https://vorta.borgbase.com (a third party qt GUI for borg backup) has been really awesome. Another tool I’m looking at closely is https://kopia.io https://kopia.io. It comes with a UI by default (Electron I guess). Though its UI and logo has quite some work left.

somishere 5y ago
I trialed restic, kopia and borg and ended up with kopia, backing up to backblaze + opportunistic external hdd. Costs me cents a month for tb+ between all our devices. Agreed on the kopia UI (and logo, was only thinking that the other day!), it's pretty basic .. but to be honest it's all you need. I use it on my family's machines as well, including wife and parents (same bblaze, dif HDDs), and it means they can pretty much manage it without me. I liked restic and probably would have ended up with it if there was a decent oss/stock UI. Borg was significantly slower on my machine for backup and restore.