Difference between revisions of "Excluding Select Folders From Being Backed Up"
 
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There are times when you might be storing a large ''static'' dataset in your home directory, but you do not need that data backed up to our  nightly tape/disk-based backup system.  If this is the case, you may configure your data not to be backed up by that system.
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There are times when you might be [https://support.cs.jhu.edu/wiki/Storing_Large_Amounts_Of_Data_On_Our_Systems storing a large ''static'' dataset in your CS home directory], but you do not need that data backed up to our  nightly tape/disk-based backup system.  If this is the case, you may configure your data not to be backed up by that system.
  
 
To exclude your data from our backups:
 
To exclude your data from our backups:
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* cd to your new data folder.
 
* cd to your new data folder.
  
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* In your new data folder, create a file named '''''.nsr''''' and edit it to include the following:
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* In your new data folder, create a file named '''<code>.nsr</code>''' and edit it to include the following line:
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skip: .
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'''NOTE:'''  An ''alternative'' easy way to create the file ''without'' editing it by-hand is to first make sure you're in your new data folder, and then use the following command:
  
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skip: .
 
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'''NOTE:'''  An easy way to create the file without editing it by hand is, first, make sure you're in your new data folder, and then use the following command:
 
 
  echo 'skip: .' >.nsr
 
  echo 'skip: .' >.nsr
  
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Having the '''''.nsr''''' file in place in your new data directory will exclude the ''entire'' data directory, including non-static items (code that changes, notes that are appended to, etc.), so we recommend keeping any code or  
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Having the '''<code>.nsr</code>''' file in place in your new data directory will exclude from backup that same ''entire'' data directory, including non-static (dynamic) files (e.g., code that changes, notes that are appended to, etc.), and its subfolders, so we recommend keeping any code or  
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other data that can change in a different directory from the dataset(s).
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other data that can change in a different directory than where you are storing your dataset(s).
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[[Category:Backups]]

Latest revision as of 20:49, 9 September 2021

There are times when you might be storing a large static dataset in your CS home directory, but you do not need that data backed up to our nightly tape/disk-based backup system. If this is the case, you may configure your data not to be backed up by that system.

To exclude your data from our backups:

  • Move your static data (including its subfolders) into a separate folder in your home directory.
  • cd to your new data folder.
  • In your new data folder, create a file named .nsr and edit it to include the following line:
skip: .

NOTE: An alternative easy way to create the file without editing it by-hand is to first make sure you're in your new data folder, and then use the following command: 

echo 'skip: .' >.nsr

Having the .nsr file in place in your new data directory will exclude from backup that same entire data directory, including non-static (dynamic) files (e.g., code that changes, notes that are appended to, etc.), and its subfolders, so we recommend keeping any code or other data that can change in a different directory than where you are storing your dataset(s).