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dar

dar is a Backup[1] and archiving tool. You can think of it as as more modern tar. It supports both streaming and random-access modes, supports correct incrementals (unlike GNU tar's incremental mode), Encryption[2], various forms of compression, even integrated rdiff deltas.

=> 1: /backups/ | 2: /encrypted/

It is an ideal tool for backups over Asynchronous Communication[3] for systems that don't or can't run ZFS[4].

=> 3: /asynchronous-communication/ | 4: /zfs/

=> Homepage: http://dar.linux.free.fr/

I have written a lot about Dar:

I first wrote about Dar in my 2008 roundup of backup software[5].
More recently, I covered it in my 2023 series on archiving, including these posts:

Recommendations for Tools for Backing Up and Archiving to Removable Media[6] and its followups: * Using dar for Data Archiving[7]

* Backing Up and Archiving to Removable Media: dar vs. git-annex[8].

=> 5: https://changelog.complete.org/archives/706-backup-software | 6: https://changelog.complete.org/archives/10500-recommendations-for-tools-for-backing-up-and-archiving-to-removable-media | 7: https://changelog.complete.org/archives/10527-using-dar-for-data-archiving | 8: https://changelog.complete.org/archives/10535-backing-up-and-archiving-to-removable-media-dar-vs-git-annex

My Mastodon thread about dar[9] is a summary of its best features.
I cover Dar in my Roundup of Data Backup and Archiving Tools[10].
You can use dar like rsync; see An Asynchronous rsync with Dar[11]
Dar makes a fantastic companion to NNCP[12] and Filespooler[13] for building a backup strategy.

=> 9: https://floss.social/@jgoerzen/110584716548088152 | 10: /roundup-of-data-backup-and-archiving-tools/ | 11: /an-asynchronous-rsync-with-dar/ | 12: /nncp/ | 13: /filespooler/

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How Gapped Is Your Air?[14]

=> 14: /how-gapped-is-your-air/

Sometimes we want better-than-firewall security for things. For instance:

An Asynchronous Rsync With Dar[15]

=> 15: /an-asynchronous-rsync-with-dar/

In my writing about dar[16], I recently made that point that dar is a filesystem differ and patcher.

=> 16: /dar/

Using Filespooler for Backups[17]

=> 17: /using-filespooler-for-backups/

Filespooler[18] makes an excellent tool for handling Backups[19]. In fact, this was the case the prompted me to write it in the first place.

=> 18: /filespooler/ | 19: /backups/

Roundup of Data Backup and Archiving Tools[20]

=> 20: /roundup-of-data-backup-and-archiving-tools/

Here is a comparison of various data backup and archiving tools. For background, see my blog post[21] in which I discuss the difference between backup and archiving. In a nutshell, backups are designed to recover from a disaster that you can fairly rapidly detect. Archives are designed to survive for many years, protecting against disaster not only impacting the original equipment but also the original person that created them. That blog post goes into a lot of detail on what makes a good backup or archiving tool.

=> 21: https://changelog.complete.org/archives/10500-recommendations-for-tools-for-backing-up-and-archiving-to-removable-media

Archives and Mirrors[22]

=> 22: /archives-and-mirrors/

I (John Goerzen[23]) maintain a number of archives and mirrors, with a particular emphasis on material important to computing history.

=> 23: /john-goerzen/

dar

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