btrbk

Print statistics about configured subvolumes and snapshots

$ sudo btrbk stats

$ sudo btrbk list

$ sudo btrbk [[-v|--verbose]] dryrun

$ sudo btrbk --progress [[-v|--verbose]] run

$ sudo btrbk snapshot

btrbk [options] [{dry-run|run|list|forget|clean|send|receive|validate}] [configfile]

-c FILE, --config FILE
    Load configuration from FILE (default: /etc/btrbk/btrbk.conf)

-v, --verbose
    Increase verbosity (repeatable for more output)

-q, --quiet
    Suppress non-essential output

-n, --dry-run
    Simulate actions without changes

-p, --print-only
    Print btrfs send streams instead of piping

-z, --progress
    Show transfer progress

-D LEVEL, --debug LEVEL
    Set debug level (0-4)

-l SEC, --lockfile-timeout SEC
    Lockfile timeout in seconds (default: 3600)

--keep-inc-req SIZE
    Minimum incremental backup size requirement

--target preserve_uid_gid
    Preserve UID/GID on remote targets

--snapshot_dir PATH
    Override snapshot directory (per-volume)

btrbk is a lightweight, command-line backup utility designed specifically for BTRFS filesystems. It excels at creating atomic snapshots of subvolumes and generating incremental backups using BTRFS's native send and receive features, minimizing storage usage and transfer times.

Key capabilities include local and remote backups over SSH, customizable retention policies based on date, count, or volume, and automated cleanup of old snapshots. Configuration is declarative via simple text files, defining sources, targets, and schedules. btrbk supports multiple backup targets like local disks or remote servers, with built-in locking to prevent concurrent runs.

It's ideal for servers, NAS, or desktops needing reliable, space-efficient backups without proprietary tools. No daemon required; runs via cron or systemd timers. Ensures data integrity through BTRFS checksums and allows easy restoration via btrfs subvolume operations.

Requires BTRFS kernel & tools (>=3.12). Snapshots non-bootable by default; use send-receive mode carefully over networks. No encryption/compression built-in (use BTRFS features). Config syntax sensitive to indentation.

run: Execute backups (default).
dry-run: Preview.
list: Show snapshots.
forget: Delete per retention.
clean: Remove unnamed snapshots.

INI-like format:
volume /
snapshot_dir /backup/snapshots
target ssh:myserver:/backup
snapshot_dir . retention daily 7 weekly 4

Developed by Axel Wetter starting 2011; initial release 0.10 in 2012. Actively maintained, current versions (2.10+) support modern BTRFS features like RAID, compression. Popular in Linux communities for reliable backups.

btrfs(8), snapper(8), rsync(1), ssh(1)