2013-07-31 18:51:01 +00:00
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.. include:: global.rst.inc
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.. _foreword:
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Foreword
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========
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2013-08-04 20:50:34 +00:00
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|project_name| is a secure backup program for Linux, FreeBSD and Mac OS X.
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|project_name| is designed for efficient data storage where only new or
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modified data is stored.
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2013-07-31 18:51:01 +00:00
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Features
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--------
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Space efficient storage
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Variable block size `deduplication`_ is used to reduce the number of bytes
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stored by detecting redundant data. Each file is split into a number of
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variable length chunks and only chunks that have never been seen before
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are compressed and added to the repository.
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Optional data encryption
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All data can be protected using 256-bit AES_ encryption and data integrity
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and authenticity is verified using `HMAC-SHA256`_.
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Off-site backups
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|project_name| can store data on any remote host accessible over SSH as
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long as |project_name| is installed.
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Backups mountable as filesystems
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Backup archives are :ref:`mountable <attic_mount>` as
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`userspace filesystems`_ for easy backup verification and restores.
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2013-08-04 20:50:34 +00:00
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Glossary
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--------
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.. _deduplication_def:
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Deduplication
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Deduplication is a technique for improving storage utilization by
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eliminating redundant data.
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.. _archive_def:
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Archive
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An archive is a collection of files along with metadata that include file
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permissions, directory structure and various file attributes.
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Since each archive in a repository must have a unique name a good naming
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convention is ``hostname-YYYY-MM-DD``.
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.. _repository_def:
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Repository
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A repository is a filesystem directory storing data from zero or more
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archives. The data in a repository is both deduplicated and
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optionally encrypted making it both efficient and safe. Repositories are
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created using :ref:`attic_init` and the contents can be listed using
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:ref:`attic_list`.
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Key file
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When a repository is initialized a key file containing a password
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protected encryption key is created. It is vital to keep this file safe
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since the repository data is totally inaccessible without it.
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