I no longer use Git or Github, so let me post the Backup Station Guide here. :-)
Backup Station Guide
Getting Started
- Open the application menu and launch Backup Station.
- Enter your administrator password if prompted.
- The main window will display a list of your existing boot environments.
Main Window Overview
| Column | Description |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------|
| BE Name | Name of the boot environment. |
| Active | Indicates whether the boot environment is active. |
| Mountpoint | Mount location of the boot environment. |
| Space | Disk space used by the boot environment. |
| Date | Creation date of the boot environment. |
| Time | Creation time of the boot environment. |
At the bottom of the window, you’ll find buttons for managing boot environments.
Step-by-Step Guide
Create a New Boot Environment
- Click the Create BE button.
- Enter a name for the new boot environment (e.g.,
BeforeUpdate or TestEnv).
- Click OK to confirm. The new boot environment will appear in the list.
Rename a Boot Environment
- Select a boot environment by clicking its name.
- Click the Rename BE button.
- Enter the new name and click OK. The list will update with the new name.
Activate a Boot Environment
- Highlight the boot environment you want to activate.
- Click the Activate BE button.
- Reboot your system to switch to the selected environment.
Delete a Boot Environment
- Select the environment you want to delete.
- Note: You cannot delete the active environment. Switch to another one first.
- Click the Delete BE button.
- Confirm the deletion. The boot environment will be removed.
Mount a Boot Environment
- Select the desired boot environment.
- Click the Mount BE button. The mount point will appear in the Mountpoint column.
Unmount a Boot Environment
- Select the mounted boot environment.
- Click the Unmount BE button. The mount point will disappear.
Pro Tips for Efficient Management
Use Descriptive Names
Name your boot environments based on their purpose (e.g., BeforeUpgrade, StableSetup, or ExperimentEnv) to stay organized.
Backup Before Changes
Always create a boot environment before system updates, software installations, or major configuration changes.
Clean Up Regularly
Delete old or unused environments to free up disk space and keep the list manageable.
Monitor Disk Usage
Use the Space column to track how much space each environment uses. Enable ZFS compression to save space.
Test Safely
Create separate boot environments for testing new software or configurations. This way, your stable environment stays untouched.
Document Changes
Maintain a simple log of what each environment contains and the changes made to it for quick reference.
Inspect with Mount
Use the Mount feature to access or troubleshoot files in a boot environment without activating it.
Enable Snapshots
Consider using ZFS snapshots alongside Backup Station for an additional layer of data safety.
Don’t Overdo It
Avoid clutter by limiting boot environments to key milestones or checkpoints.
Troubleshooting
Backup Station Won’t Open
If the app doesn’t launch, try starting it from the terminal:
sudo backup-station
This will display any error messages.
Password Issues
Ensure you’re entering the correct administrator password. Backup Station requires elevated permissions to manage boot environments.
