BorgBackup

BorgBackup – Reliable Backups with Compression, Deduplication, and No Fuss What is BorgBackup BorgBackup (or just Borg) is one of those tools that ends up staying on your systems for years. It’s simple, dependable, and does exactly what you ask of it: take backups, deduplicate data, compress everything, and encrypt it if needed — all in one step.

It’s built with scripting in mind. No GUI, no background daemons, no hidden processes. You run a command, it snapshots your files, and you’re done. If

OS: Windows / Linux / macOS
Size: 0.0 MB
Version: 1.4.1
🡣: 12,223 stars

BorgBackup – Reliable Backups with Compression, Deduplication, and No Fuss

What is BorgBackup

BorgBackup (or just Borg) is one of those tools that ends up staying on your systems for years. It’s simple, dependable, and does exactly what you ask of it: take backups, deduplicate data, compress everything, and encrypt it if needed — all in one step.

It’s built with scripting in mind. No GUI, no background daemons, no hidden processes. You run a command, it snapshots your files, and you’re done. If the files haven’t changed, Borg won’t store them again. If they have, only the changed chunks get saved.

Under the hood, it uses content-aware deduplication and fast compression (lz4, zstd, or others), so the storage usage stays low even if you’re backing up big directories every day. For restores, you can mount archives as if they were regular folders — no need to extract tarballs or search in obscure metadata files.

It’s also secure: encryption is not bolted on, it’s baked in. And if something ever goes wrong, Borg gives you enough tools to inspect, repair, or rebuild a repository. That’s what makes it so popular with sysadmins.

Why It Works So Well

Feature What Makes It Useful
Deduplication Only stores chunks once — saves space across machines and snapshots
Compression Built-in support for lz4, zlib, zstd, lzma
Encryption Authenticated, with repokey/passphrase modes
Filesystem Support Works on any POSIX filesystem
Mountable Archives Browse backups like directories using `borg mount`
Remote Support Backup over SSH, nothing needed on the client except `borg`
Snapshot Retention Prune rules allow smart cleanup policies
Recovery Tools Verify, rebuild index, or extract manually if needed

Setup (Plain and Honest)

Install Borg from your package manager — it’s in most of them.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install borgbackup

macOS (Homebrew):

brew install borgbackup

Then, create a repository:

borg init –encryption=repokey /mnt/backup/borg-repo

Make a backup:

borg create /mnt/backup/borg-repo::$(date +%F) /etc /home /var/log

Want to browse it like a folder?

borg mount /mnt/backup/borg-repo::2025-07-29 /mnt/mounted

Listing archives:

borg list /mnt/backup/borg-repo

Cleaning up old stuff:

borg prune –keep-daily=7 –keep-weekly=4 –keep-monthly=6 /mnt/backup/borg-repo

No cron inside Borg — that’s your job. Use cron or timers like always.

Use Cases in Real Life

– Scheduled nightly backups from servers to local or remote storage
– Backup over SSH from laptops without any special server software
– Compressed, encrypted snapshots for laptops before travel
– Recovery of single files using FUSE mount instead of full restore
– Long-term archiving with retention rules and audit-ready encryption

What is BorgBackup?

BorgBackup is a free, open-source, and highly customizable backup tool designed to provide reliable data protection and efficient restore points. It is widely regarded as one of the best backup tools available, offering a range of features that make it an attractive option for system administrators, IT professionals, and individuals looking to safeguard their data.

Main Features

BorgBackup boasts a multitude of features that set it apart from other backup tools. Some of the key features include:

  • De-duplication: BorgBackup’s de-duplication feature ensures that only unique data is stored, reducing storage space requirements and improving backup efficiency.
  • Encryption: BorgBackup provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your data remains secure and protected from unauthorized access.
  • Compression: BorgBackup’s compression feature minimizes storage space requirements, making it ideal for large-scale backups.
  • Mountable backups: BorgBackup allows you to mount backups as a filesystem, making it easy to access and restore individual files.

Setting Up BorgBackup

Prerequisites

Before installing BorgBackup, ensure that your system meets the following prerequisites:

  • Python 3.5 or later
  • Linux, macOS, or Windows operating system
  • Enough disk space to store your backups

Installation Guide

Installing BorgBackup is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

  1. Download the BorgBackup repository from the official website.
  2. Extract the repository to a directory of your choice.
  3. Run the installation script using the command ./install.sh (for Linux/macOS) or install.exe (for Windows).

Configuring BorgBackup

Creating a Backup Repository

To create a backup repository, follow these steps:

  1. Run the command borg init /path/to/repository to create a new repository.
  2. Configure the repository settings, such as encryption and compression, using the borg config command.

Creating a Backup

To create a backup, follow these steps:

  1. Run the command borg create /path/to/repository::backup_name /path/to/data to create a new backup.
  2. Configure the backup settings, such as de-duplication and compression, using the borg create command.

BorgBackup Backup Policy and Retention Best Practices

Backup Policy

A well-defined backup policy is crucial for ensuring data protection and efficient restore points. Consider the following best practices:

  • Backup frequency: Schedule backups to run at regular intervals, such as daily or weekly.
  • Backup retention: Define a retention policy to determine how long backups are kept.
  • Backup verification: Regularly verify backups to ensure data integrity.

Retention Policy

A retention policy determines how long backups are kept. Consider the following best practices:

  • Short-term retention: Keep backups for a short period, such as 30 days, to provide quick restore points.
  • Long-term retention: Keep backups for a longer period, such as 6 months or 1 year, to provide historical data.

BorgBackup vs Veeam Agent Comparison

Overview

BorgBackup and Veeam Agent are two popular backup solutions. While both offer robust features, they differ in several key areas.

Feature BorgBackup Veeam Agent
Cost Free, open-source Commercial, licensed
Platform support Linux, macOS, Windows Linux, macOS, Windows
De-duplication Supported Supported
Encryption Supported Supported

FAQ

Q: Is BorgBackup free?

A: Yes, BorgBackup is free and open-source.

Q: Does BorgBackup support de-duplication?

A: Yes, BorgBackup supports de-duplication, which reduces storage space requirements and improves backup efficiency.

Q: Can I use BorgBackup on Windows?

A: Yes, BorgBackup supports Windows, as well as Linux and macOS.

BorgBackup: Comprehensive Technical Overview

Managing backups can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with large amounts of data. BorgBackup is a free, open-source backup software that provides a secure and efficient way to create and manage backups. In this article, we will explore how to use BorgBackup for offsite backups, as well as its local and offsite backup strategy.

Understanding BorgBackup Architecture

BorgBackup uses a unique architecture that combines the benefits of both local and offsite backups. It allows users to create encrypted repositories, which can be stored locally or offsite, providing a secure and reliable way to store backups. BorgBackup also supports repeatable jobs and retention rules, making it easy to manage and maintain backups.

BorgBackup Backup

BorgBackup also supports a variety of storage options, including local disk, network-attached storage (NAS), and cloud storage. This makes it easy to integrate BorgBackup into existing infrastructure and workflows.

Key Features of BorgBackup

BorgBackup offers a range of features that make it an attractive option for those looking for a reliable and secure backup solution. Some of the key features of BorgBackup include:

  • Encrypted repositories: BorgBackup uses AES encryption to protect backups, ensuring that data is secure and protected.
  • Repeatable jobs: BorgBackup allows users to create repeatable jobs, making it easy to manage and maintain backups.
  • Retention rules: BorgBackup supports retention rules, allowing users to define how long backups are kept.
  • Support for multiple storage options: BorgBackup supports a range of storage options, including local disk, NAS, and cloud storage.

Using BorgBackup for Offsite Backups

One of the key benefits of BorgBackup is its ability to create offsite backups. This provides an additional layer of protection and security, ensuring that data is safe in the event of a disaster or data loss. To use BorgBackup for offsite backups, follow these steps:

  1. Create a BorgBackup repository: Use the BorgBackup command-line tool to create a new repository. This will create a new encrypted repository that can be used to store backups.
  2. Configure offsite storage: Configure BorgBackup to use offsite storage, such as a cloud storage service or NAS.
  3. Create a backup job: Create a new backup job using the BorgBackup command-line tool. This will create a new backup that can be stored in the offsite repository.
Feature BorgBackup Competitor 1 Competitor 2
Encrypted repositories
Repeatable jobs
Retention rules

Comparison with Other Backup Solutions

BorgBackup is a popular choice for those looking for a reliable and secure backup solution. However, it is not the only option available. Here is a comparison of BorgBackup with two other popular backup solutions:

Feature BorgBackup Competitor 1 Competitor 2
Cost Free $50/month $100/month
Storage options Local disk, NAS, cloud storage Local disk, NAS Cloud storage
Encryption AES encryption No encryption SSL/TLS encryption

Conclusion

BorgBackup is a powerful and flexible backup solution that provides a range of features and benefits. Its encrypted repositories, repeatable jobs, and retention rules make it an attractive option for those looking for a reliable and secure backup solution. Additionally, its support for multiple storage options and offsite backups make it a great choice for those looking to protect their data. Whether you are looking for a local or offsite backup solution, BorgBackup is definitely worth considering.

BorgBackup features

BorgBackup: Streamlining Your Backup Infrastructure

As data continues to grow exponentially, having a reliable backup strategy is crucial for businesses and individuals alike. BorgBackup is a free, open-source backup software that offers a robust solution for local and offsite backups. In this article, we will delve into the world of BorgBackup, exploring its features, and providing a hands-on guide on how to use it for offsite backups.

Understanding BorgBackup’s Architecture

BorgBackup is built around a few key concepts: repositories, archives, and jobs. A repository is the central storage location for your backups, while archives are the individual backups themselves. Jobs are the scheduled tasks that create and manage these archives.

BorgBackup Backup

BorgBackup’s architecture is designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing you to create complex backup strategies with ease.

Setting Up BorgBackup for Offsite Backups

To get started with BorgBackup, you’ll need to download and install the software on your machine. Once installed, you can create a new repository and configure your first job.

Step 1: Create a new repository

  • Open the BorgBackup GUI and click on “Create Repository”
  • Choose a location for your repository and set a password
  • Configure any additional settings as desired (e.g., encryption, compression)

Step 2: Configure your first job

  • Click on “Create Job” and select the repository you created in Step 1
  • Choose the files and directories you want to back up
  • Set a schedule for your job (e.g., daily, weekly)

Managing and Restoring Backups with BorgBackup

Once your jobs are running, you’ll want to monitor and manage your backups. BorgBackup provides a range of tools for this, including the ability to view job logs, verify archives, and restore files.

Verifying Archives

  • Open the BorgBackup GUI and select the repository you want to verify
  • Click on “Verify” and choose the archive you want to verify
  • BorgBackup will check the archive for integrity and report any issues

Restoring Files

  • Open the BorgBackup GUI and select the repository you want to restore from
  • Click on “Restore” and choose the archive you want to restore from
  • Select the files and directories you want to restore
Feature BorgBackup Expensive Backup Suites
Cost Free, open-source Expensive, proprietary
Scalability Highly scalable Limited scalability
Security End-to-end encryption Variable security features

BorgBackup features

Software Backup Speed Restore Speed
BorgBackup High-speed backups Fast restore times
Expensive Backup Suites Variable backup speeds Slow restore times

In conclusion, BorgBackup is a powerful tool for managing your backup infrastructure. With its flexible architecture, robust feature set, and ease of use, it’s an ideal solution for businesses and individuals looking for a reliable backup strategy.

BorgBackup: Efficient Data Protection Strategy

Are you struggling to manage your data backups effectively? BorgBackup is an open-source backup software that simplifies the backup process, making it an ideal solution for businesses and individuals alike. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up BorgBackup, including creating repeatable jobs, retention rules, and encrypted repositories.

Understanding BorgBackup’s Key Features

BorgBackup is a free backup software that provides a comprehensive backup solution. Some of its key features include:

  • Repeatable jobs: Create backup jobs that can be run at regular intervals, ensuring your data is consistently backed up.
  • Retention rules: Configure retention policies to ensure that your backups are stored for the required amount of time.
  • Encrypted repositories: Store your backups in encrypted repositories, ensuring that your data remains secure.
  • Offsite backup capabilities: BorgBackup allows you to store backups on remote servers, providing an additional layer of protection.

BorgBackup интеграции

BorgBackup is an excellent alternative to expensive backup suites, offering a robust feature set without the hefty price tag. Its simplicity and ease of use make it an ideal solution for businesses and individuals looking to protect their data.

Setting Up BorgBackup for Local and Offsite Backups

To set up BorgBackup, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install BorgBackup from the official website.
  2. Create a new repository by running the command borg init in the terminal.
  3. Create a new backup job by running the command borg create in the terminal.
  4. Configure the retention rules and encryption settings for the repository.
  5. Test the backup job by running the command borg list in the terminal.

Comparison with Other Backup Software

Here’s a comparison of BorgBackup with other popular backup software:

Feature BorgBackup Acronis Backup BackupAssist
Repeatable Jobs Yes Yes No
Retention Rules Yes Yes No
Encrypted Repositories Yes Yes No
Offsite Backup Capabilities Yes Yes No
Cost Free Paid Paid

Creating a Backup Strategy with BorgBackup

Here’s an example of how to create a backup strategy with BorgBackup:

Step 1: Define the Backup Scope

Identify the data that needs to be backed up, including files, folders, and databases.

Step 2: Create a Backup Schedule

Create a backup schedule that includes the frequency and timing of backups.

Step 3: Configure Retention Rules

Configure retention rules to ensure that backups are stored for the required amount of time.

Step 4: Test the Backup

Test the backup by running the command borg list in the terminal.

BorgBackup интеграции

Backup Frequency Retention Period Encryption
Daily 30 days Yes
Weekly 30 days Yes
Monthly 1 year Yes

Conclusion

BorgBackup is a powerful and efficient backup software that simplifies the backup process. Its repeatable jobs, retention rules, and encrypted repositories make it an ideal solution for businesses and individuals looking to protect their data. With its simplicity and ease of use, BorgBackup is an excellent alternative to expensive backup suites. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a comprehensive backup strategy that ensures your data is consistently backed up and protected.

Backup Software Cost Features
BorgBackup Free Repeatable Jobs, Retention Rules, Encrypted Repositories, Offsite Backup Capabilities
Acronis Backup Paid Repeatable Jobs, Retention Rules, Encrypted Repositories, Offsite Backup Capabilities
BackupAssist Paid Repeatable Jobs, Retention Rules

BorgBackup: Technical Expertise for Data Protection

When it comes to data protection, businesses and individuals alike require robust backup solutions to safeguard their critical information. BorgBackup, a free and open-source backup software, has garnered attention for its comprehensive features, making it an ideal alternative to expensive backup suites. In this article, we will delve into the world of BorgBackup, exploring its capabilities, local and offsite backup strategies, and providing a hands-on backup checklist to ensure seamless data protection.

Understanding BorgBackup’s Core Functionality

BorgBackup operates on the principles of simplicity, security, and efficiency. Its core functionality revolves around creating encrypted repositories that store compressed and deduplicated data. This approach not only reduces storage requirements but also ensures data confidentiality and integrity.

Key features of BorgBackup include:

  • Support for local and offsite backups
  • Encryption and authentication mechanisms for secure data storage
  • Support for various compression algorithms
  • Deduplication and incremental backups
  • Retention rules for efficient data management

BorgBackup Backup

Local and Offsite Backup Strategies with BorgBackup

BorgBackup allows users to create both local and offsite backups, catering to diverse data protection requirements. Local backups are ideal for quick data recovery in case of system failures or data corruption, while offsite backups provide an additional layer of protection against site-wide disasters or data breaches.

For a comprehensive backup strategy, consider the following:

Backup Type Frequency Retention Period
Local Backup Daily 30 days
Offsite Backup Weekly 90 days

By implementing a combination of local and offsite backups, you can ensure that your critical data is always protected and easily recoverable.

Hands-on Backup Checklist with BorgBackup

To get started with BorgBackup, follow this step-by-step checklist:

Step 1: Installation and Configuration

1. Download and install BorgBackup from the official website.

2. Create a new repository and configure encryption and authentication settings.

Step 2: Creating Backup Jobs

1. Define backup jobs and schedules using the BorgBackup command-line interface or GUI tools.

2. Specify the data to be backed up, including files, directories, and system settings.

Step 3: Managing Retention Rules and Reports

1. Establish retention rules to automatically manage backup data and reduce storage requirements.

2. Generate reports to monitor backup job success, data storage, and potential issues.

BorgBackup features

Feature BorgBackup Expensive Backup Suites
Cost Free and open-source Commercial licenses with recurring fees
Compression and Deduplication Supported Supported, but may require additional licenses
Encryption and Security Robust encryption and authentication mechanisms Varying levels of security, often requiring additional configuration

By following this checklist and leveraging BorgBackup’s features, you can establish a robust backup strategy that protects your data and streamlines your backup processes.

Conclusion

BorgBackup offers a powerful and flexible backup solution for businesses and individuals seeking to safeguard their critical data. With its comprehensive features, local and offsite backup capabilities, and hands-on backup checklist, BorgBackup is an ideal alternative to expensive backup suites. By implementing BorgBackup in your data protection strategy, you can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your critical information.

BorgBackup: Comprehensive Offsite Backup Solution

Managing backups for your data can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with large amounts of information. BorgBackup is a free, open-source backup software that provides a reliable and efficient way to protect your data. In this article, we will walk through the process of using BorgBackup for offsite backups, covering jobs, reports, and test restores.

BorgBackup Backup

Setting Up BorgBackup for Offsite Backups

To get started with BorgBackup, you will need to download and install the software on your system. Once installed, you can create a new repository for your backups. A repository is essentially a container that holds all your backup data.

Here are the steps to create a new repository:

  • Open the BorgBackup command-line interface.
  • Run the command “borg init” to create a new repository.
  • Specify the location of the repository, such as an external hard drive or a network share.

Once the repository is created, you can start creating backups. BorgBackup uses a concept called “jobs” to manage backups. A job is essentially a set of instructions that tells BorgBackup what data to backup and where to store it.

Here are the steps to create a new job:

  • Open the BorgBackup command-line interface.
  • Run the command “borg create” to create a new job.
  • Specify the data that you want to backup, such as a folder or a file.
  • Specify the repository where you want to store the backup.

BorgBackup Retention Rules and Reports

BorgBackup provides a feature called retention rules that allows you to manage the number of backups that are stored in the repository. Retention rules can be used to specify how many backups to keep, how often to backup, and when to delete old backups.

Here are the steps to create a new retention rule:

  • Open the BorgBackup command-line interface.
  • Run the command “borg prune” to create a new retention rule.
  • Specify the repository where you want to apply the retention rule.
  • Specify the retention policy, such as keeping the last 7 days of backups.

BorgBackup also provides a feature called reports that allows you to view detailed information about your backups. Reports can be used to view the status of your backups, the amount of data that has been backed up, and the number of errors that have occurred.

Here are the steps to view a report:

  • Open the BorgBackup command-line interface.
  • Run the command “borg list” to view a list of all backups.
  • Run the command “borg info” to view detailed information about a specific backup.

Test Restores with BorgBackup

Test restores are an essential part of any backup strategy. A test restore is essentially a simulation of a real restore, where you restore a backup to a temporary location to verify that it can be restored correctly.

Here are the steps to perform a test restore with BorgBackup:

  • Open the BorgBackup command-line interface.
  • Run the command “borg extract” to extract a backup to a temporary location.
  • Verify that the extracted data is correct and complete.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your backups are complete and can be restored correctly in case of a disaster.

Feature BorgBackup Alternative 1 Alternative 2
Backup Type Full and incremental backups Full backups only Incremental backups only
Retention Rules Yes No Yes
Reports Yes No Yes
Software Cost Features
BorgBackup Free Full and incremental backups, retention rules, reports
Alternative 1 $100/year Full backups only
Alternative 2 $200/year Incremental backups only, retention rules
Feature BorgBackup Alternative 1 Alternative 2
Encryption Yes No Yes
Compression Yes No Yes
Backup Speed Fast Slow Average

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