Backing-up just my Home folder...

[Timmy]

Hi,

Currently, I use SD! to perform smart clones of "Backup all Files".

This method has been working well for me.
Since I use File Vault on my main Home directory I log-in to an alternate Admin account before performing the clone.

I am contemplating adding a different backup script to my rotating backup routine.
Here is my reasoning: Should the File Vault .sparseimage which holds my Home directory become corrupted (which seems to happen to lots of folks, but has yet to happen to me), my current 'backup all files' would likely become useless, since I would just be cloning a corrupted .sparseimage during the backup...

What I am thinking is that I could create a copy script to 'copy /Users/MyHome' to a disk image.

This would give me a backup of my Home directory that I could mount at anytime to retrieve individual files if necessary.

This should work with SD! right?

SuperDuper 2.1.3
MacOS X 10.4.7 PPC

-Tim

[dnanian]

Unfortunately, no -- it'll just copy the same image you're copying now. The whole "FileVault" image is stored in that folder, and the underlying mounted volume is hidden by the OS.

What I'd suggest, if this is something you're concerned about, is consider un-file-vaulting your Home and using a program like Knox to encrypt only the data that needs it...

[Timmy]

I think I understand what you're saying here Dave.

However, when I was creating the copy script, I was able to use the SD! 'script commands' script creation dialog to navigate to /Users/MyHome and it was showing the contents of my home folder, rather than the actual .sparseimage file (which was also visible in the SD! navigation window) which you suggest would wind up being copied instead of the contents of my home folder...

I'm not doubting, you, just trying to clarify

[dnanian]

That's because it's showing you what the Finder shows you. But when you copy, we won't follow the symlink (because we shouldn't), and while your Home folder will be copied when you select it, it'll actually copy the FileVault volume.

[Timmy]

Well, I just noticed that my FileVaulted home folder shows up in SD! as it's own volume in the Source pop-up menu list!!

So, it looks like I can just select it as my source and choose 'Backup all files'...

[Timmy]

Our posts crossed at the same time, Dave.

[dnanian]

Ah, it now shows up as a source? That's great, as it didn't used to. That'll work fine, with "Backup - all files".

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by dnanian

Ah, it now shows up as a source? That's great, as it didn't used to. That'll work fine, with "Backup - all files".

Yeah, it's there as it's own volume in the source list.

I think this will work!

One last thing (for now), I don't see an option within SD! to encrypt a destination disk image. Am I missing it?

I assume that if I use Disk Utility to create an empty encrypted disk image that it will still work as a destination for SD!, right?