Where Does BackupPC Store Backups and Config?
BackupPC keeps pools and host trees in TopDir with config in etc. Backup set and restore notes.
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BackupPC centers on one data root with config beside it. The TopDir holds per-host numbered backup trees plus the deduplicated pool they reference, all on a single filesystem. Config lives in the system etc tree with a main file, host list and per-host overrides.
The pool design makes naive copies wasteful: numbered trees share pool files by hardlink, so folder sizes lie. Back up config plus data with the daemon stopped, or use the tar helper for live hosts. Logs and the CGI frontend live in their own standard spots.
Where BackupPC stores this, by platform
/var/lib/backuppc
TopDir with pc/<HOST>/<num> trees and pool/cpool dedup store; keep on one filesystem. Config at /etc/backuppc/config.pl with hosts and pc/HOST.pl beside it. Logs in /var/log/BackupPC. Stop the daemon or use the tar helper for consistent copies.
Frequently asked questions
What do I back up for a BackupPC server move?
Copy /etc/backuppc for config plus /var/lib/backuppc for data with the daemon stopped. The pool must travel with the host trees since numbered backups reference it. Logs stay optional; history continuity needs the pair.
Why does du show BackupPC using double the disk?
Hardlinks: each numbered backup links pool files rather than copying them, and naive size tools count every link. Trust df for free space instead. The pool is the real storage; trees are mostly pointers.
Where are per-host settings?
In pc/HOST.pl files under the config dir, overriding config.pl per machine. Hosts themselves list in the hosts file. Edit with the config checker before restarting the daemon.
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